Ladies and gents, As I looked at a drawing in Damiani's Method today I noticed the knot on the fret to be singular (a bit of artistic license in the drawing). But it looked to me to be square. I immediately pictured those things we in the computer business called "cable tie-ties". Plastic (oh my, anathema) that comes in varying lengths and of a thickness that might resemble "fret gut". They have a "head" at one end that has an internal "gripper", and the inside diameter is serrated so that it can be pulled tight once it surrounds the cable. Once attached they can only be adjusted tighter, and have to be clipped off and replaced if they need to be larger. But a bag of them is only a couple of bucks at any electronics store, and they come in lengths up to about eight or ten inches, maybe twelve.
Just a suggestion for those not totally invested with a passion for absolute "originality". Or for those needing a "quick fix" when out of the proper fret gut supply and facing a broken fret. I'd be curious if it would work, I can't try it as my single "lute" is fixed fretted (as you all know by now). I haven't measured the thickness of my "tie-tie" supply, but it seems to be close to right, and a bit of shaving wouln't hurt. Best, Jon
