Jim (et al)--
After years of trying straps and foot-stools and leg-crossings, with
combinations thereof, I found the best thing is a low stool (12 inches
high). I'm 6 feet tall, so sitting on it brings my thighs up high enough to
support the lute very securely without the use of a strap or foot-rest.
It's easily portable and doubles as an aid to reaching the occasional
fugitive window shade. The only negative aspect for me is getting my
middle-aged body up to a standing position after playing for half and hour
or so!
I haven't tried this on my lute, but for playing hurdy-gurdy
standing up one needs both a shoulder strap to support the instrument and a
waist strap to stabilize it while cranking away. It seems that a similar
arrangement might help those who need to play lute standing or walking.
Best regards to all,
Leonard Williams
PS--I am in currently recovery from recent hand surgery for release of
Dupuytren's Contracture, about which I wrote in the fall of 2005. At some
point I'll apprise the list of the gory details and what one might expect
from this situation.
On 5/16/07 4:57 PM, "jandaparker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jandaparker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 3:53 PM
> Subject: Fw: [LUTE] Re: cleaning a soundboard + Strap
>
>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "jandaparker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> To: "Anthony Hind" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 10:50 PM
>> Subject: Re: [LUTE] Re: cleaning a soundboard + Strap
>>
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> My name is Jim Parker. I have been reading messages on the list for a
>>> month or so, but have not posted (I think they call that "lurking",
>>> although that sounds a little creepy to me so I'll just say "quietly
>>> observing from the sidelines"). I have enjoyed reading the posts and
>>> have learned much from following the different threads.
>>>
>>> I would like to ask more about straps, if you all don't mind helping
>>> another beginner. I began playing in January and cannot seem to get
>>> comfortable holding my lute. The best position for me has been crossing
>>> my left leg over the right, but this isn't comfortable for long periods
>>> of time, so I would like to try a strap.
>>>
>>> My questions are: 1) what length should a strap be for an 8 course (62
>>> cm) lute? 2) where can I get a strap that will fit (will the local guitar
>>> shop have one)? 3) Will a guitar strap be the correct length? and 4) what
>>> is the best way to attach the strap? I have two strap buttons on my
>>> lute; one on each end of the body, but it seems that a lot of players tie
>>> their straps to the pegbox. Is one way better than the other?
>>>
>>> Thanks up front for any advice you send my way.
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Anthony Hind" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>> To: "Caroline Usher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Lute Net" <[email protected]>
>>> Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 12:06 PM
>>> Subject: [LUTE] Re: cleaning a soundboard + Strap
>>>
>>>
>>>> Thank you Caroline
>>>> I have indeed adopted a leather belt in natural leather so I don't
>>>> seem to be out of order here, but my way of tying it (as I explain to
>>>> Sean) has received some comment .
>>>> If I understand you correctly, there are paintings showing lute
>>>> straps, I will look more closely.
>>>>
>>>> There is a strap maker here in Paris who makes wide straps from
>>>> padded woven natural silk, on which he makes subtle gold markings.
>>>> They look very beautiful, but I have not tried them myself. I had not
>>>> thought of the possibility of varying the colours according to mood
>>>> and dress. I seem to remember that there was a French watch maker who
>>>> sold his watches with a variety of straps, for that reason. Perhaps,
>>>> lute makers could similarly cater for the fashion conscious lutist .
>>>> No, as you say, it is indeed the music on which we should focus, but
>>>> I did find the person wearing this new woven-silk lute-strap
>>>> extremely elegant.
>>>> Regards
>>>> Anthony
>>>>
>>>> Le 14 mai 07 à 17:55, Caroline Usher a écrit :
>>>>
>>>>> Anthony Hind wrote:
>>>>>> On two slightly different topics.
>>>>>> I have seen lutists using a wooden tool to turn pegs. I wouldn't
>>>>>> mind buying one of these myself; however, is there not a risk of
>>>>>> breaking a peg or even the peg-box?
>>>>>>
>>>>> Not if you know when to cease and desist. It should be pretty
>>>>> obvious when a peg is really jammed and needs to be tapped out, or
>>>>> allowed to dry out in lower humidity. If your pegs are in good
>>>>> working condition there should be no danger.
>>>>>
>>>>> The peg-turner helps you to turn the peg more smoothly.
>>>>>> I have not noticed any paintings of lute players showing them with
>>>>>> a lute strap, and yet most players use a strap today. Might these
>>>>>> be absent from paintings, but nevertheless have been used when
>>>>>> the lutist actually played? Are there any signs on the old lutes
>>>>>> themselves that straps were indeed used?
>>>>>>
>>>>> Search the archives of this list.
>>>>>> There seem to be many ways of wearing these straps.
>>>>> Yes. Remember that the clothing worn in the heyday of the lute was
>>>>> very different from ours. That makes a big difference.
>>>>>> Would either of these methods be beneficial or tend to inhibit
>>>>>> resonance?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have noticed that the lute remains most stable when the strap
>>>>>> is tied nearer the extremity of the peg-box.
>>>>>>
>>>>> That works for you and probably most men. I find that since my
>>>>> shoulders are narrower and more rounded, I have to attach the strap
>>>>> close to the neck or it slips off my shoulder.
>>>>>> Furthermore, some people use colourful cloth material, while
>>>>>> others use a very solid guitar-strap. Is it just the case of 'use
>>>>>> what works for you", or are there serious reasons for adopting a
>>>>>> particular method?
>>>>> De gustibus non disputandum. Wider is better, as is non-slippery.
>>>>> You want something that will grip your back.
>>>>>
>>>>> Remember that how you look does affect how people perceive you. A
>>>>> psychedelic strap may remind you of your hard-rockin' college days
>>>>> and comment ironically the instrument you now favor, but would be
>>>>> out of place in the Collegium concert. Black or natural leather is
>>>>> never out of place.
>>>>>
>>>>> When I play in costume I have a strap that matches my dress. BTW
>>>>> my costume is in subdued colors with low contrast--in other words
>>>>> it's not a "stage" costume with lots of stripes, gold braid etc.
>>>>> The idea is to focus on the music after all. The costume helps set
>>>>> the mood.
>>>>> Caroline
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Caroline Usher, Dept. of Biology
>>>>> Box 90338
>>>>> Durham NC 27708
>>>>> 613-8155, fax 660-7293
>>>>> "So that its subjects will view it with admiration, as a chicken
>>>>> which has the daring and courage to boldly cross the road, but also
>>>>> with fear, for who among them has the strength to contend with such
>>>>> a paragon of avian virtue? In such a manner is the princely
>>>>> chicken's dominion maintained." - Machiavelli
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> To get on or off this list see list information at
>>>> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
