Perhaps a clue would be if the hole were the correct size to hold a peg, presumably, though not necessarily, it would be the same size as the other peg holes. Also, the hole would be slightly conical to accommodate the shape of the peg. There might also be a residue of chalk, soap or whatever was used to dope pegs back then.
To me that might seem most likely to indicate an early experiment with 6 courses on a guitar. Would that make more sense historically? -Carl Donsbach --On Wednesday, September 15, 2004 1:21 AM -0500 Antonio Corona <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear Alexander, > > From what you tell, I can gather that your argument > rests mainly on identifying the eleventh hole in the > head as designed to be fitted with a peg. There lies > the problem. We don�t know if it was part of the > original design, which to me seems rather unlikely. We > dont know if at some point the instrument underwent a > conversion and an extra peg-hole was drilled. We don�t > know if the hole was ever fitted with a peg. We don�t > know if a misguided owner drilled this hole to hang > the instrument on the wall. There are too many "ifs" > to consider this hole (rather crude and ill-placed in > an instrument of such exquisite facture) as definitive > proof that the instrument was strung - if ever - with > six courses. This is why I consider that your case > rests on speculation to make its point; sadly, there > is no way we can take it as proof of the instrument�s > identity as a six-course vihuela. As a matter of > curiosity, I should like to quote what you yourself > state on your website: > > (Quote): "The inlay design on the peg head, however, > gives no ?provision? for this additional peg and, as > we can see in both instruments, the peg holes are all > encircled in the rope-like purfling ornament which is > uniquely represented on the peg heads of both > instruments. Whether the lack of this ?provision? is > conclusive enough evidence to say that the 11th peg > was added at a later stage (as a mean of conversion > from 5 to 6 courses) still remains the question to > answer." (end of quote). > > In this I must agree, the matter remains open until we > know more - if we ever able to find anything else > about this particular instrument. >
