A trick I learned from Grant Tomlinson forlarger fret sizes is to bend the section you that you will use to tie the knot back and forth a few times. This softens it up a bit and makes tying a knot much easier. It probably weakens the gut a bit, but there's more than enough strength left, and the softened section won't fall under any strings.
Guy ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 11, 2006 12:03 PM Subject: [LUTE] Re: tying gut frets > Van: Stuart Walsh [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Anyone got any suggestions for a really easy way of tying knots? start with soft cotton line. The knot you mentioned (van edwards first) is a simple overhand knot in one end, the other end is passed thru it, all is cinched tight and the end swelled with heat to prevent it pulling back. This particular knot is troublesome in larger fretgut, say 0.8mm> (frets 1 and two typically). Fret one has its own issues, being the widest part of the neck, and the shortest distance of neck available to 'stretch' it. A pair of needle-nose plyers helps when pulling (round jaws best, half-round ok, prefer smooth to serated), you need an extra length of gut when using them; also, first grab the gut in the jaws, the wind the gut around the closed jaws, this not only keeps the jaws tight it also avoids sharp edges cutting the gut where you least need that (you will pull sideways). Form the knot at a higher (narrower) place on the neck and work it tight, then use the taper of the neck as a wedge by slideing the fret towards the bridge to compress it just a little tighter. Repeat. Gradually the knot will get tighter, hopefully you will get it tight enough that it takes a degree of force to bring it to its proper position, where it just might stay. Here is where you swell the end and trim it. good luck -- Dana Emery To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html<http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html> --
