Dear Stephan, These are good questions, and it is an age - old problem with gut trebles. We all want to use longer string lengths for the other gut strings, but specifically for the treble, it may need to be at a lower pitch than we use for synthetic strings.
I do not know about what type of file to use, but I do have 2 questions: 1. What is the mensur, i.e., vibrating string length of the instrument? 2. At what pitch are you using? Is it a= 415? If so, the longest treble that will work, in my opinion, is around 68 cm. The diameter of the string does not matter, as some have tried using a very thin, i.e. .36 or .38 gut treble in attempts to lower the tension and therefore make the treble last. If you have any length longer than 68 at 415, you will have to lower the pitch. For example, if your baroque lute is 70 + cm longer in mensur, you will not be able to keep a gut treble on it at 415, as that length exceeds the upper limits of gut. So, if you are at 68 cm or shorter, the pitch "f" at 415 should work. If over 70 cm, try a = 392, a semitone lower. Then, a gut treble will work. ed At 03:05 PM 8/26/2007 -0700, Stephen Arndt wrote: >Here is my most recent post without the typos: > >Dear Lutenet, > >I have been using Savarez KF strings on my 13-course baroque lute, but >recently I have tried gut on the first two courses. I have had no problems >on the second course, but three first course strings broke at the nut >after a very short period of time, (once after a day, twice after a couple >of minutes). My string supplier recommended that I use a needle file to >smooth out the groove, and thus I did an Internet search and ordered the >smallest file I could find, but it turned out to be way too big. The >company from which I purhased the file recommended a "diamond coated bead >reamer," which you can preview here: >http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/CTGY/bead-reamer. My first question >is: Would this instrument do the job? If not, can anyone tell me where to >purchase the appropriate file? > >Second, I have been wanting to try Nick Baldock's strings, but have been >unable to find a web site for him. Some time ago I did find an e-mail >address, which, if I remember correctly, had a ".de" suffix. I wrote him a >letter of inquiry in German, but never received a response. Can anyone >tell me how to order strings from him? > >Thanks to anyone who can supply me with the appropriate information! > >Stephen Arndt > >-- > >To get on or off this list see list information at >http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.484 / Virus Database: 269.12.8/973 - Release Date: 8/25/2007 >5:00 PM Edward Martin 2817 East 2nd Street Duluth, Minnesota 55812 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] voice: (218) 728-1202
