Crazy but interesting. Maybe the Pakistani pseudo-lute sellers could incorporate this into their manufacturing process.... Another alternative would be to find a cat with a volvulus (this is where the gut wraps around itself, causing obstruction). Careful removal of the offending segment might provide pre-tied fretgut. However, you'd have to find a lot of cats with bellyaches. Al ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jon Murphy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Lute List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 03, 2004 1:40 AM Subject: Gut Frets, a crazy idea
> 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 > > > > >
