Lute challenge

[seeaxe]

So my mate who passed away last Christmas, like most of us had more than one unfinished project. He also had this

On the basis that I can't do a worse job than something that isn't finished I said I would have a go at finishing it. To my untrained eye it seems most of the hard work is done. Back is built, rosette is cut, neck is on.

A few challenges remain but... Such as the tuning pegs. Rob apparently turned these by hand on his lathe ...and there are no plans.

There are 15 holes for pegs... How many sets of strings would that be?

I picked this up tonight so yet to do any research but if anyone wants to chime in with suggestions please fire away!
Cheers
Richard

[kiwigeo]

Richard,

If you thought building acoustics was moving to the dark side......getting into lute building is an even darker side!!

15 pegs...15 strings. 7 double strings (courses) and a single chanterelle (top) string.

You have a choice of going for gut strings, nylgut or nylon strings. I get my lute strings from Aqullia: http://www.aquilacorde.com/?lang=en

Be warned a set of strings for that baby is going to set you back a bit....I think I paid around $120 a set for strings for my lute. Youll also need to buy some gut frets.....you'll need a variety of gauges as neck relief on a lute is achieved by decreasing the fret height up the neck as well as the dishing of the belly.

Looking at that lute I'd say its a Renaissance lute and I'd hazard a guess that your mate made it using the CD tutorial put out by David Van Edwards: http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/. If this is the case then the best thing you can do is get a hold of the tutorial....it's got all the building instructions and along with Lundbergs book it's one of the two best references on lute construction.

If you're doing any lute work I'd also firmly recommend you get a holds of Robert Lundberg's book: http://www.luth.org/books/lute_book.html. I'd class this and van Edwards books/CD as essential library for any lute building/repair.

[kiwigeo]

Now that Ive had a closer look at the photos...there's actually quite alot left to do. So far I can see the following jobs that need doing:

1. parchment paper reinforcing strips on inside of rib joints.
2. Is the top bracing in place? Judging by the way the top is laying flat on the table it looks like bracing hasn't been done yet. You definitely need the plans for this...especially important for placement of the "J brace" near the bridge.
3. top needs to by shaped to fit fretboard "tips".
4. bridge to be made up and fitted. I used pear wood for mine. Scale length on my lute was around 606mm from memory.
5. Top to be glued on.
6. Optional ebony half binding to go in.
7. Nut to be made up.
8 Finishing. On my lute French Polish for the body and burnished coats of Restorer's wax on the top.

[seeaxe]

Thanks Martin, that's given me something to think about.
I'll check with the family and see if they can find the cd
Cheers
Richard

[kiwigeo]

Thanks Martin, that's given me something to think about.
I'll check with the family and see if they can find the cd
Cheers
Richard

The CDROM should be in a large portfolio cardboard box along with hard copies of plans

[kiwigeo]

Here's a video of a Renaissance 15 string lute the same as yours being tuned to a G tuning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODjEf_zKeaU

[kiwigeo]

You need to also check if the sides of the belly have been "scooped" to provide the relief in the top when it's fitted. because the neck is soi short on a lute the relief is attained by varying fret height and also scooping the top. Important if you dont want 15 strings buzzing and driving you nuts

[seeaxe]

Crikey

I'm beginning to understand why he didn't finish it.

Thanks again Martin

[kiwigeo]

Crikey

I'm beginning to understand why he didn't finish it.

Thanks again Martin

The first thing you discover when building a lute is that it has not much in common with a guitar. The other amazing thing you discover is that in some ways this ancient instrument was ahead of it's time. Eg the solution to intonation issues was to make the frets moveable....if things arent quite in tune you just nudge the gut frets around a little. The body of the instrument is basically a monocoque.....very light but also very strong....like a modern F1 race car.

[kiwigeo]

Richard,

G tuning for an 8 course Renaissance alto lute as follows Treble to Bass:

8 Renaissance Lute (Alto) G (Type 1) G4 D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 F2 D2

G4 is a single string all the rest are unison double courses.

The Aquila strings I'm using on my 7 course lute. String length is 140cm:

G4 - Nylgut 0.40
D4 - Nylgut 0.52
A3 - Nylgut 0.64
F3 - Nylgut 0.82
C3 - Wound Nylgut 1.08
G2 - Wound Nylgut 1.45
F2 - Wound Nylgut 1.55
D2 - Wound Nylgut Not sure, check out the Aquila website for gauge.

Another cheaper option is to buy an off the shelf string set such as this: http://www.handcraftedworldinstruments. ... rbslt8.htm

[seeaxe]

Thanks Martin, that's great info.
You're going to have your name in this lute as "consultant" at this rate.
Cheers
Richard

[kiwigeo]

Thanks Martin, that's great info.
You're going to have your name in this lute as "consultant" at this rate.
Cheers
Richard

Nah....Ill just be happy to see the instrument finished. Will be a fitting tribute to your friend to get it strung up and singing.

[kiwigeo]

For any of you with an interest in lutes here's an excellent video on David van Edwards, a luthier based in the UK.

https://vimeo.com/50766784