Fluting allows one to make the joints between ribs thicker for a broader gluing surface. The luthier can start with a slightly deeper, heavier rib and then remove the excess mass by carving out excess wood along the span of the rib while leaving the glued joints broad. Another possible advantage is that fluting functionally places much of an instrument's back in suspension, freeing it from contact with the body of the player and allowing it to resonate more freely. This makes sense for atypical, non-carved fluted backs like that of the "Chambure" vihuela.
Eugene At 11:40 PM 9/22/2004, bill kilpatrick wrote: >is there anything to be gained from fluted rib >construction in bowl back instruments? ... extra >strength? ... "better" sound? ... esthetics? seems >like a lot of trouble to go to if the technique is >only used for esthetics. > >- bill To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
