Peter wrote... Did anyone else ever notice that if you play the lute wearing a cowboy hat-- yes, my fellow Brits, a bowler hat will do too, or for that matter any hat with a rim-- you have your own private acoustic shell which allows you to hear your lute better?
Why yes, I occasionally wear a wide brimmed 17th century felt hat with an ostrich feather. The brim is turn down slightly to give a gently dished effect that would collect the soundwaves from below. Cowboy hats and bowlers curve upwards and I assume therefore they would lose most of this effect. The Panama hat sounds good. Odd though that most paintings of lute-players depict men wearing soft 'Van Dyke' hats? Best Wishes Ron (UK) To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
