The basic answer is that 63cm is too long to comfortably tune to G at modern pitch A440. You could tune to G at A=415Hz - ie a semitone lower equivalent to F# modern pitch - fine for solos and singers and a lot of viol players, but not for playing with instruments at modern pitch, unless you use a capo on the first fret- no not very authentic, but very practical. You could tune it to F, fine for solos and singers, and tone apart duets with a lute in modern G, but you would need a capo on the first fret to play with viols at 415. I have a flamenco style capo made by my lute maker with a peg matched to the tuning pegs and it works fine. Be aware though that if you use equal temperament fretting, there is no problem, but if you use something else like 1.6, mean tone fretting, you have to move some of the frets a significant distance. I use a piece of paper with the frets marked on which I slip under the strings to the nut, and slide along the frets to match to get them about right. Nick
-----Original Message----- From: Steve Walters [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 16 January 2006 20:43 To: List - Lute Subject: [LUTE] Question on Lute stringing Hi Lute Loverz, I'm new to the lute email list and need some help. I have an old Larry Brown 8-course Rennaisance lute with 63 cm mensur. The strings are ancient. I haven't played for a really long time due to an injury but I'm now trying to get back to playing. It was strung with nylon for 1st, 2nd and 3rd courses, unison wound strings for the 4th and 5th courses, and nylon octaves + wound strings for the 7th and 8th courses. The 1st course is tuned to G. For my first question, is this the normal stringing arrangement (ie. use of wound strings and use of octaves)? I ask because I ordered some new La Bella Lute strings from "Just Strings". This set has 1st, 2nd and 3rd as nylon, 4th as unison wound strings, 5th, 6th 7th and 8th as nylon octave + wound fundamental. Besides being a different setup these strings have far too much tension for a 63 cm mensur, the wound 4th strings broke as did the 5th and 6th octave nylon string. Once I realized what was going on, I released the tension on these to avoid destroying the lute. I am guessing these strings are for 59 cm or less but that's what came when I ordered them. I did try it for a bit and found the 5th and 6th courses sounded very strange to my ear being in octaves. Anyway, I am open to any specific suggestions as to what strings to use on this lute and where I can purchase them. Lastly, I am curious if anyone else on this list lives in New Jersey, I'd like to meet some other lutenists and get some tips/help first hand. Thanks! Steve... Retirement: The job I was born for... To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
