The fact that something is more mechanically complex doesn't necessarily mean it's more sophisticated. To the contrary, sometimes complex mechanics are really a kludge to get around the fact that you haven't been able to come up with a simple and truly sophisticated solution. Ptolemaic (sp?) astronomy, for example.
Guy ----- Original Message ----- From: Wayne Cripps<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: lute@cs.dartmouth.edu<mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 10:20 AM Subject: [LUTE] limits of technology So - I am wondering whether a luthier in 1580 could have made a D-18 Martin replica or a Hauser classical guitar. It strikes me that they could have, if they wanted to. They had hide glue, and they could saw thin flat boards for the soundboard, so why not for the back. I think they could not have made the geared tuners, and I think they could not have made steel strings that would withstand the tension of strings on a modern bluegrass guitar. And they could have worked out the more contemporary patterns of bracing. Maybe some of the woods were not available then. But all in all I think they could have done it. And while we are at it, could medieval craftsmen made glued up instruments? When was good glue invented? This is all working up to an response when someone says that lutes and renaissance guitars are "primative." Wayne To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html<http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html> --
