Despite the caveats as to the probable sound, I have this beastie strung and the sound is close to that of a lute. (Of course, I can't evaluate that truely as I have no other lute to compare it to - I have to judge from recordings I've heard). But I had noticed that the McFarlane Scots tunes I was working with on the guitar had a lot of lower tones that carried through a measure as half or full notes, and the retuned guitar wouldn't hold those tones - this instrument does, the lower tones ring through in a quiet but effective bass. I can't be sure yet, as I've a bit of fine tuning (pun intended) of the frets and the nut in order to make the action what I want. And I may angle the bridge saddle a bit for the action on the chanterelle and trebles. (An advantage to the modern construction, after all I don't have years to make this thing).
I thank those of you who have offered suggestions directly. I think it was Jose who sent me some sites with downloads for Dowland and others, and Nancy, Mat and Ed (and others) have been supportive. But now I burden you all again. In a long email the other day I asked whether the 5mm separation between courses was nominal, it is of course closer than I'm used to on the classical guitar. But I can handle it. And I'd really like to know if there is a web site with instructions for the right hand. Now that I'm on the actual beastie I find that there is a problem with my right hand angle when playing the doubled courses. I've found that by putting my right arm at the end of the instrument (parallel to the strings) I can better stroke the single note on the doubled courses. But I yet wonder about the use of the fingers. I hear rolled chords on the recordings, but I don't know if some of them are rolled by a brush of the thumb (when the strings are contiguous), and others by a rolled "pick". I find myself setting to the next chord with thumb and three (fourth a rest station), but sometimes the sound seems better by keeping the 1,2,3 on the trebles, including the chanterelle, and using the thumb for the other three, plus the seventh course. Can anyone suggest to me a site where I can get the basics (or a book not too expensive for a retired senior citizen). Best, Jon
