Lute Progress -

[charangohabsburg]

The binding channel is 0.7mm deep and was cut with a home made channel cutter.

Did you make it according to Lundberg's channel cutters?

The lute is now structurally complete. All that needs doing is fitting of tuning pegs and finishing of the body, neck and fingerboard of the instrument.

...plus wash and cut into stripes the intestines of your avatar.

[kiwigeo]

The binding channel is 0.7mm deep and was cut with a home made channel cutter.

Did you make it according to Lundberg's channel cutters?

The lute is now structurally complete. All that needs doing is fitting of tuning pegs and finishing of the body, neck and fingerboard of the instrument.

...plus wash and cut into stripes the intestines of your avatar.

The channel cutter was made according to van Edwards tutorial. Lundberg's modified miniature plane would be my choice of tool for removing material from the channel next time around.

The strings.....Im still working out where do go with these. Ill probably go for a combination of nylgut and gut.

[Sergy]

What thickness of strings? How recommends Lundberg?

[charangohabsburg]

I can't recall Lundberg mentioned string thickness, at least not in his book. But I also may be wrong here.

This is an interesting article about strings of historical lutes.

The website of Aquila Corde provides a lot of useful and very interesting information about strings, with a focus on gut strings. Mimmo Peruffo is certainly one of the best informed experts worldwide when it comes to gut strings.

[Nick]

The strings.....Im still working out where do go with these. Ill probably go for a combination of nylgut and gut.

Just go with your gut instinct, badom bishhh (*GROAN* ).

Looks really purrdy Martin, do you paint or stain the little brace doobries under the rosette ?

[kiwigeo]

Looks really purrdy Martin, do you paint or stain the little brace doobries under the rosette ?

Nick, I inked up some of the rose braces but not all of them.....just plain forgot.

[kiwigeo]

What thickness of strings? How recommends Lundberg?

Lundberg recomends strings...a mixture of Pyramid and La Bellas with guages specified. Cant quote the figures as my copy of his book is out in the workshop right now and its pouring with rain!

[charangohabsburg]

Lundberg recomends strings...

... which makes clear I have to re-read the book.

[needsmorecowbel]

That Fingerboard looks fierce. You blended the "fangs" in amazingly! Top Stuff!

[Sergy]

I can't recall Lundberg mentioned string thickness, at least not in his book. But I also may be wrong here.

This is an interesting article about strings of historical lutes.

Thanks for link, very interesting
charangohabsburg, I scanned some pages from the book -

File0003.jpg (47.02 KiB) Viewed 21662 times

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Lundberg recomends strings...a mixture of Pyramid and La Bellas with guages specified.

I read many good responses about Aquila brown nilgut strings.
Aquila nilgut + Pyramid silver wound, too a good combination.

[kiwigeo]

Thanks for the information Sergy.

I like that picture of Lundberg on the last page of his book......the book wasnt quite finished when he passed away.

[Sergy]

Unfortunately it all is very sad...
Robert now in "other world", but he has had time to give many valuable knowledge...
Its book also is very useful and interesting for guitarbuilders.

[charangohabsburg]

charangohabsburg, I scanned some pages from the book

Perfect!

I really couldn't remember these last pages, except the photo of Lundberg which in my eyes is such a great portrait.
I think that without Lundbergs work (not only the book but also his seminars and his research in general) there would have been built many lutes less since then.

[kiwigeo]

Unfortunately it all is very sad...
Robert now in "other world", but he has had time to give many valuable knowledge...
Its book also is very useful and interesting for guitarbuilders.

I have an image in my mind of heaven......theres a couple of angels plucking away on harps with a few people gathered around looking pretty bored....and then there's Robert playing one of his lutes with a huge crowd gathered around listening intently.

[zendo]

Hi, Martin
Excellent work!
Lute peg set is ready? What wood for this?

[zendo]

A day in the workshop today. Got the ebony fingerboard thicknessed down to 2mm, shaped the finger points, cut the soundboard to fit the points and then glued up the fingerboard and points. Hardest part of this job was cutting the recesses into the soundboard to get a tight fit with the points. My Pfeil violin knives proved the best tool for the job. The Swiss do really make some good ****.....they make some pretty decent people too. The origin of the fingerboard points is interesting..one theory is that they came about when instruments with a small number of courses got modified for more courses. To widen the fingerboard strips were added either side of the original fingerboard and let into the soundboard with the points.

[kiwigeo]

Having a bit of trouble there Robert?

[Kim Strode]

Hi Martin,

I am absolutely overawed at the detailed work you have done on this beautifully fine instrument. You have showed great skill and tenacity and are an inspiration to us all. I have watched this lute progress with amazement from the very start. I hope to hear it soon.

Kim

[kiwigeo]

Hi Martin,

I am absolutely overawed at the detailed work you have done on this beautifully fine instrument. You have showed great skill and tenacity and are an inspiration to us all. I have watched this lute progress with amazement from the very start. I hope to hear it soon.

Kim

Thanks Kim,

No work on the lute today.....I cut the ends of my fingers on the ebony half binding yesterday while scraping back same. Death by a thousand paper cuts!

[charangohabsburg]

I cut the ends of my fingers on the ebony half binding yesterday while scraping back same. Death by a thousand paper cuts!

This kind of injury honors you much more than the one caused by bicycle accidents.

[kiwigeo]

Ok , Ive spent alot of time looking at strings and have decided on following Aquila strings:

g' - Nylgut 0.40mm
d'/d' - Nylgut 0.52mm
a/a - Nylgut 0.64mm
f/f - Nylgut 0.82mm (also ordered 0.42mm for an alternative octave tuning on this course)
c/c - Copper wound Nylgut 1.08mm
G/g - as above 1.45mm / Nylgut 0.73mm
F/f - as above 1.55mm / Nylgut 0.76mm

Also ordered was a variety of fret gut from .70mm up to 1.00mm.

[Sergy]

So what? These strings have already been received?
Very interesting topic, but there is no complete...
Martin, when you show a lute and play on it?

[kiwigeo]

So what? These strings have already been received?
Very interesting topic, but there is no complete...
Martin, when you show a lute and play on it?

Hi Sergy,

The lute isnt quite finished yet...I still have to turn the pegs and do the finish. Ive had other things going on in my life of late so the lute is a low priority project at present.