[VIHUELA] RCM Catalogue

[Monica Hall]

   I wonder whether many people have seen the Royal College of Music's
   catalogue of stringed instruments in their museum



   It is Absolutely Fabulous.



   I also have a query for those of you who are more expert than I am on
   instrument construction.



   I assume that the "tailblock" is a block at the bottom end of the
   instrument (opposite end from the pegbox).



   I have been reading about the Tessler guitar (on which my guitar is
   based).



   It says "The vertical chequerboard strip at the rib joint on the
   tailblock stops short at the top strip of the ribs, the remainder
   being filled by a plain wooden inlay.   This as well as some lifting
   and distortion of the tailblock, ribs and front suggests that there was
   a stage when the strings were hitched to the tail.   The bone nut is
   scalloped between the strings which may disguise the modification of
   the original paire notches."



   I'm not sure what all this means but could it imply that the instrument
   was at one stage wire strung?



   It only gives front and back views of the instrument - not the bottom
   end.



   Monica





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