Alain, The instrument is often called a Waldlaute; sometimes a Wanderlaute; and frequently, a lutar or guitar-lute. This list has featured fairly thorough discussions of them within the past year or so. Sorry, I can't quote dates. Apparently, they were associated with the "Wandervogel" movement in Germany in the late 19th (I believe) and early 20th centuries. I saw a new one in a large music store in Paris in the mid 1980's, but don't recall many of its details. These instruments frequently show up on ebay, in various states of disrepair, under the heading of "lute." Commonly, they feature a scalloped fingerboard, fixed frets, individual tuning machines for each string, and a decorative soundhole treatment not necessarily carved from the top. Some have a flatter back. All are strung, tuned, and played as nylon-string guitars. They pretty much sound like nylon-strung guitars, too. As I recall, someone on the list who knows a lot more about them than I, suggested they were constructed so those who played guitars could play a lute-like or lute-appearing instrument, without having to learn a whole new instrument and notation system. The idea on not having to deal with twelve friction pegs undoubtedly holds some appeal, as well. The major drawback of many of these instruments as they are found on ebay is the neck has risen, thus the action is too high for correct intonation. Others on the list will have far more info on these instruments than I. Best regards, Steve
Alain Veylit <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: This item for sale on E-Bay seems to have some characteristics of the English guitar, but with a lute bowl, and the ornamentation seems to me more late 19th century than late 18th... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10179&item=3749859419&rd=1 Any luthier cares to comment?? Alain To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
