Hello Everyone! Quick question to all the experts out there (if it's possible for me to ask a quick question, LOL -- sorry! :-)
What is the "ideal action" at the neck/body joint on 13 course baroque lute with a 72 cm vibrating string length "supposed" to be? I realize that this could be "subjective," based upon individuals and their playing styles, etc...But is there a general consensus of a "range" that most people consider ideal? IF interested, here is more background as to why I am asking the question: I have played ten course renaissance lute for the past 20 years, and was told by a great luthier that "4 mm of clearance is acceptable at the neck/body joint for a 63 cm vibrating string length, 10 course renaissance lute." He also said that on smaller renaissance lutes, such as six course lutes, (especially with those with shorter string lengths...) the ideal action is even lower than that at the neck/body joint -- say, "around 3 mm of clearance at the neck/body joint." I am NOT a luthier and have no clue...I am only repeating what I was told by a very reputable luthier who knows his stuff. He gets this newsletter, so perhaps he'll answer this question along with others? :-) Anyhow, the reason I ask is that soon, I am going to be blessed with a 13 course baroque lute with a 72 cm vibrating string length, and I am wondering what the general consensus is on the action for such a lute? Is 4 mm to 5 mm of string clearance at the neck/body joint acceptable? Or is that too low? Or too high? I realize that we are talking about millimeters here...I don't literally mean to splice hairs, LOL :-). I am also wondering if the action on a 13 course baroque lute of 72 cm should/could/would be even higher than 5 mm? Personally, having only played renaissance lute up to 10 courses thus far, I have always preferred the lowest action possible without buzzing...But since the 72 cm,13 course baroque lute I am referring to is so much longer than what I am currently used to with the 10 course, 63 cm lute I play, I want to make sure I know what to expect... (I am happy to make the transition and adjust accordingly...no worries!) Thanks in advance, BJ To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
