No! Because each joint and their integrity play a critical part in how the Lute sounds. If you attempted to put the staves together by only joining them at the block and end cap, the gaps between the staves are going to vibrate against each other instead of with each other. Of course we are forgetting that the basic strength in the instrument is focused in the construction of the body/back/shell, or what ever you choose to call it. The whole purpose of the back of the Lute and its relationship with the top is to create a vibrating air chamber. Without this being glued you no longer have a real air chamber but something more like a sieve with all kinds of air leaks in other than optimal places.
Some of you know that I have built my own Lute/Lutes from scratch. I am not saying that they are real good instruments but they are playable and the sound is not half bad. I plan on making more till I get it right. However I digress, once I noticed that the Lute I was playing seemed to have lost its voice. It seemed dead and thunky. I looked it over and found that in one area where the belly/top joined to the back was loose. I promptly unstrung the Lute took it into the shop and regaled the belly. Once restrung and tuned it was back to normal. You can build your Lute with bubble gum and natural adhesive if you desire but it is going to sound like it as well. It might, if you are lucky, sound like a bunch of rubber bands stretched over a cigar box. Not meaning to be totally negative but it sounds to me like you are on your way to building a Frankenlute. Your question: Is it possible to build a GOOD LUTE. I'm not even sure you could build a real crumby one this way, but a good Lute?, in my opinion,---its not possible. Vance Wood. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Herbert Ward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 11:59 AM Subject: Non-glue construction. > > Is it possible to build a good lute using screws instead of glue? > > Aluminum screws could be used to reduce the "dead weight" effect. > > The screws could be "locked" in with a tiny drop of glue at the head. > > 1. How much of the gluing could be replaced with screws? > 2. How would the sound suffer? > 3. What are the main reasons to use glue instead of screws? > > > >
