Such a thing has been partly done; a carbon fibre belly was used on a lute by Charles Besnainou (reported on this list once or twice long ago). There's a bit of a story and a photo at http://www.msen.com/~violins/news/strad/apr99/space_age_strad.html
Regards, Peter ----- Original Message ----- From: Christopher Schaub <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Mon, 27 Oct 2003 17:29:21 -0800 (PST) To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Non-glue construction. > I would like to see someone use modern technology and make a lute from > something like carbon fiber. The tolerences would be very tight and permit > almost perfect intonation with synthetic strings. There was a really nice > electric guitar called the Steinberger that my college roomate played -- made > from carbon fiber and it was very, very in tune -- even way up the neck and > with small intervals. Thirds were very possible to tune at very low pitches. > Very nice for experimenting with alternate tunings. Anyway, you wouldn't need > any glue to build a carbon fiber lute! > > --- "S. Walsh" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 16:47:15 -0800, Bruno Cognyl-Fournier > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Why would you want to build a lute without glue? how would you > > > assemble the ribs? The idea sounds crazy if you ask me.....and I see no > > > benefit, even if it were possible.... > > > > > > Bruno > > > > > > Herbert Ward wrote: > > > > > >> 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? > > >> > > >> > > > > Many years ago Eph Segerman proposed a method of lute-making without glue. > > He was thinking of (early?)medieval lute making and (if I remember > > correctly) he somehow thought that there were no glues around at that > > time. So he gave an elaborate account of how a lute could be made - not > > with screws - but with wedges. > > > > He published this masterpiece of ingenuity in a little newsletter, FomRHI. > > In the next edition someone > > pointed out that there was lots of evidence for the use of glue at that > > period in history and Ephraim very graciously bid adieu to his conjecture. > > > > > > > ===== > web: http://www.christopherschaub.com > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- __________________________________________________________ Sign-up for your own personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup CareerBuilder.com has over 400,000 jobs. Be smarter about your job search http://corp.mail.com/careers
