Hi Herbert: All of what you mention is critical but you have left out the process of tuning the sound board by careful trimming of the base and treble bars and the occasional thinning of the sound board in a couple of places around the bridge. The trick is to get rid of dead spaces that can be revealed by taping on the bridge with the index finger. Usually the dead spots are in the middle ranges. It becomes necessary to trim the afore mentioned bars to get these dead or tight spots to lighten up.
Vance Wood. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Herbert Ward" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 12:18 PM Subject: How do lute makers achieve good sound? > > How do good lute makers achieve excellent sound? I'd guess > > 1. skill, connections, and high standards in > acquiring (soundboard) wood > > 2. skill in selecting (soundboard) wood from > acquired stock, and in matching the two > soundboard halves > > 3. ability to plane a soundboard of precise > (but varying) thickness > > 3. knowledge of how to make the bracing > > 4. slight adaptations of plans to fit the > wood at hand > > 5. good blueprints > > 6. precision in overall construction > > 7. neat glue joints > >
