Official Luthiers Forum! http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
My new 8-course lute http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=7149 |
Page 1 of 2 |
Author: | Colin S [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:17 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
My latest, an 8-course lute after a mid 16th century lute by Giovanni Heiber is finally finished. The Shell is 13 staves of EIR and London Plane, neck is European Cherry with an EIR veneer, EIR pegbox with ebony pegs. The top is Swiss spruce with a rosewood and cherry bridge. The top is not a true book match but does come from the same billet of very old (preWW1) spruce, their partners seem to have been misplaced before I got the wood. It is one of the stiffest tops I've ever found and eventually ended up with a thickness of about 0.075" in the centre tapering to 0.065" at the lower bass. I thought you might like to see the bracing, standard ladders with one large and two small 'tone' bars behind the bridge. The braces are relatively narrow and tall, most at 3mm x 9mm and the two main braces 4mm x 18mm. I'm going narrower and taller on my guitars in future. I built this one to sit next to my chair at home so that I can pick it up for a quick twiddle whenever the mood takes me. I'm please with the final sound, which seems to be clean and balanced with that 'silvery' Renaissance lute tone. ![]() ![]() ![]() Joshua has kindly put a couple of pieces of music, that I have recorded using this lute, onto his site, if you'd like to hear what it sounds like click the links. I've reduced the bit rate so that they shouldn't take too long to download. Music: Harlequin Terpsichore Hope you enjoy them. Colin |
Author: | RussellR [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:20 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
None to shabby for a Crusty old English Academic ![]() Colin Seriously the look looks and sounds stunning, class act all round. Did I say I think it's fantastic ![]() |
Author: | Dave White [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:40 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Colin, What can I say - you are one of the few really worthy of the title "luthier". That is majestic. The rosette alone is a masterpiece but when it's put with the whole instrument it is inspired. And the sound and your playing are wonderful - Julian Bream would have been proud. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Author: | Shawn [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:29 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Well done. Really nicely executed. Often on historic instruments the top halfs did not match or were asymmetrical so I think that it is in keeping with the overall look. Looks super and then the soundtracks aare a bonus, making me want to be there to play it. |
Author: | LanceK [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:34 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
What Dave said! ![]() Wow Colin! I am so impressed! |
Author: | Dave Anderson [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:52 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
AbsoLUTEly stunning! Great job and sounds good too! WTG ![]() ![]() |
Author: | Jeff Doty [ Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:30 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Colin, Words don't describe how amazing that lute is. Beautiful work, and that rose is gorgeous. Wow, to have such skill. Jeff |
Author: | John Elshaw [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:17 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Wow Colin, that is incredible, and the sound is awesome! I'll never play lute music capo 3 on a guitar again. How many hours does it take you to build a lute? Boy, I'd really like to commission a lute from you. Cheers! John |
Author: | Arnt Rian [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:28 am ] |
Post subject: | |
I don't know the first thing about lutes, but it sure looks and sounds nice! I feel very inferior but also honored to "know" a real LUTHIER. A qouple of questions if you don't mind: I notice a couple of the upper (gut?) frets are tied on somewhat angeled. Is this customary, for some special tuning, or something you would adjust before playing? A couple of years ago a German lute was brought to me for repair (which I turned down), and I remember the soundboard was unfinished. The owner told me lute tops usually were like this, but your top looks finished; is it? |
Author: | Wade Sylvester [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 1:08 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Ya, I think you can now call yourself a Luthier there Colin! Spectacular as always. That rosette is wonderful. I love the adjustable frets too. Wade |
Author: | Robbie O'Brien [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 1:09 am ] |
Post subject: | |
WOW!!! ![]() |
Author: | John How [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:21 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Very beautiful and very skill handwork Colin. Thanks for the pics, I'll have to wait till I go to work to check the sound files as my BW is limited at home. |
Author: | Michael McBroom [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:30 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Geez, Colin, that's got to be one of the nicest sounding lutes I've ever heard. The player ain't too shabby neither ![]() Got some questions: what type of strings are you using? Did you use the same material for the frets? What tuning are you using? Best, Michael |
Author: | Don Williams [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:33 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Wow...I DIG that soundhole carving thingamajiggy-whatchacallit! Gorgeous Colin! Hey Colin....you should see the set of curly mahogany I'm getting.....zowie! |
Author: | Colin S [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:05 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Thanks everyone. Russell, I work hard at the crusty academic image, Professors are supposed to be eccentric and absentminded, sorry where am I? John, I hope you tune the G down a semi-tone before capoing 3. I started playing that way on a steel string when I was building my first lute. It can sound very effective on a nylon strung guitar but remember to play nearer to the bridge. I'd say it takes mw about 250hrs of work, but I tend to go slow. Arnt, no I had just put the frets on and hadn't accurately positioned them, but yes you do have to check them everytime you take it out of the case. I use my wife's ears to tell me when they are wrongly positioned. Many of the Germanic lute makers didn't finish their tops, I once repaired a Brunner archlute that had never been finished on the top but they tended to use thicker tops than the Italians, Italian lutes had a finish on them, I just used a very thin coat of French Polish on this one. Michael, generally I use gut strings on my lutes but have used Nylgut on this one as I want to be able to pick it up and play it without having to spend 10 minutes getting back in tune first, and I want it to be more stable than gut as it's my house lute. The Nylgut strings are gaining a lot of fans among lute and early guitar players over here. It's tuned D F G C f a d g, the first course is single the next three are in unison and the lower four are in octave. As John says, capo on 3 with the 3rd dropped a semi-tone. Colin |
Author: | RussellR [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:14 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Colin I'm only teasing you and Shawn of Course, you have to be ecentric to make guitars too ![]() ![]() I can't stop looking at the pics of the Lute and listening to it, it is truely a master piece ![]() Do you make the pegs as well ? |
Author: | Larry Davis [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:32 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Colin, please indulge a quick question I have. What is a good length and width to cut lute ribs? I've been saving back a nice piece of quartered Yew with an extra wide sap band for lute ribs. I've not had much luck locating a good "average" size to cut. Any thoughts to share? I always cut to produce the most options. |
Author: | JBreault [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:36 am ] |
Post subject: | |
OK...I throw in the towel...just amazing Colin. ![]() ![]() |
Author: | Colin S [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 3:58 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Larry, For a standard sized tenor Renaissance lute 60cm x 5 cm (24"x 2") should get you there, with a bit to spare, for 13 stave shells. For more staves, you can of coarse go a little narrower but the above will give the builder an option. An Archlute of Theobro would need longer staves. The largest staves on this one are the two top ones that are at their biggest 57cm x 4.5cm. Finished thickness is about 2-2.5mm I've used English Yew (Taxus baccata) on two lutes it is a fantastic wood for the staves. I've still got half the tree in bits at the bottom of my garden, it blew over in a storm in 1987. It was an ancient tree when my house was built and that was 600 years ago! Russell, Yes I make the pegs as well. See that little bit of London Plane on the end of the peg box? That's the bit you sent me! Colin |
Author: | Don Williams [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:25 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Wow....I just listened to those recordings, and all I can say is... Colin, I could listen to your playing for hours and hours. Goodness! That's some beautiful playing, and your lute sounds magical. We are truly honored to have you as part of this community. Bravo! ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Author: | charliewood [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:27 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Indeed!!!What everyone else said, and more of the same !!!!- Wow just fantastic! - when I see instruments like that I yearn to hold and play one - Thanks for the priveledge of letting us see the guts of the beast and pick your brain about lute construction, I feel that alot of innovation comes from the merging of different musical instrument technologies, [even though guitars were derived from lutes] you give us the chance of potentially seeing something we would like to eventually re-implement in guitar {or banjo ![]() ![]() You are a true luthier no doubt - fantastic work and a joy to behold and to listen to! Thanks Charliewoood |
Author: | Philip Perdue [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 4:41 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Colin, Before I knew anything about building I would have said that you lute looks nice. Now that I have learned more I can only join in with the others and say WOW. Fantastic job! I know this is not your first but it looks an sounds wonderful. Allow youself to take a good deal of pride on this one and enjoy that wonderful sounding instrument. ![]() Philip |
Author: | old man [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 6:37 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Very impressive, Colin!! Ron |
Author: | ATaylor [ Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:29 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Awesome Colin, It is so good to see people upholding this style of instrument building. And to such a high degree of execution. Good on ya! |
Page 1 of 2 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |