Hi Sean and all,
Mindful of the fact that HIP frets should be double, in the late 1980s I
had double frets on one of my lutes for some time. I found that I could
flatten the strand nearest the nut slightly by rubbing it with my
thumbnail and this speeded up the process of wearing them in. I had no
trouble with unclear notes.
I can't remember when or why, but eventually I went back to single
frets. Then there was a discussion on this list about the virtues of
double frets, including the idea that they gave a clearer and/or more
sustained sound. So I was inspired to try them again (same lute) and
had some trouble getting clear notes - only in one or two places, but it
was enough to put me off. Perhaps I should have used Sean's
double-single method (non-HIP) which allows you to have a thinner fret
on the nut side and would also make it easier to separate them if you
wanted to go in for a bit of tastino!
I was also attracted to the idea that double frets slip less and might
be more secure in terms of strings slipping sideways, because of the
greater surface area in contact with the string. This was an especially
attractive idea for playing slurred passages on the theorbo. When I
refret the theorbo, I think I'll have to try it.
It's also interesting that most players nowadays use huge frets (single)
while the old guys (the Ambassadors painting, Dowland) used very thin
(double) frets. Is there a connection?
Best wishes,
Martin
Sean Smith wrote:
Well, Dan, there's that special tomato knot that defies comprehension
standing between me and HIP in this case. Can you imagine doing that
w/ those monster 1mm 1st and 2nd frets? Brrr.
I don't know if anyone answered the question on how often to change
frets but I remember Jacob Herringmann saying he swapped them all out
before concerts. A lot of work tho I'm sure it gets easier as time
goes by. He uses singles as far as I've ever seen. But there is
nothing quite as clean-sounding as a newly fretted instrument.
Grant Tomlinson taught that we should have a good cradle for the lute
to work with changing frets and expect to take your time. Then he
mentioned Jacob did it all sitting on the couch, lickety split. Me,
I'm an all afternoon kinda guy.
Even new doubled frets at their best never quite sounded as clean as
singles --just my opinion and I'm sure there are pros who really have
it down. Personally, I think the extended surface absorbs the high
frequencies. Same goes for old single frets.
Sean
On Feb 18, 2010, at 12:13 PM, Daniel Winheld wrote:
Do it twice!
HEY! It's the SINGLE frets that ain't HIP - look at that damn picture
again- (you know, the one with the boreless Oboe Muto) Is there any
known historical information about single frets? Maybe Mace mentioned
them? Don't want to make trouble- just askin'....
Dan
Honestly, it works though it doesn't seem HIP whatsoever. The
advantage being you only need to replace one half (always take off
the more worn fret and replace it w/ a new one on the bridge side).
Anyway, I've done the double fret experiment for a few years on my
main ax. It has worked, I've learned a few things but I'm ready to
come back to the single fret club.
Sean
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