Seems to me that you are getting wonderful advice on this list. You are very lucky to have picked up a used instrument. I had to by a brand new lute from the beginning, but I am very happy with the lute I bought. I only respond because I am a beginner on the lute. It is best if you hire a teacher. As I understand it, bad habits in lute playing are easy to acquire, but they are very difficult to un-learn.
Good luck cartago delendum est alan -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
