Hello, Stephan. It is difficult to explain in a few words with out holding the lute & demonstrating the manner I have found that works. Particularly the lower or deeper basses need to be played fast; that is, when playing through the fundamental and octave together, if one plays those 2 strings with a bit more speed than usual, a clearer sound is obtained.
Another view is to play with slightly more pressure than usual. 2 years ago in the summer, I re-strung my 13 course with synthetic strings, and I immediately notice that in playing the basses, they were too "loud", or present with synthetics. I accommodated this by playing slower through the course, and with less pressure. At that point, I think I had the "right touch" for the synthetic strings. When I went back to gut, I noticed again that I had to increase the pressure and speed through the course, in order to get a clean, clear sound. Also, when I play through the course, I actually try to push the string down toward the belly, & then release the course with the thumb. I think this is what can get a clearer sound with gut basses. I notice that when I hear others play my lute, they do not sound as clear (that is, as clear as I think I sound), and it is because of what I explained. It took a great deal of time in working with gut basses in learning to get the sound I was after. Thanks for asking, ed At 12:14 PM 12/3/2007 +0100, Stephan Olbertz wrote: >Am 2 Dec 2007 um 16:07 hat Edward Martin geschrieben: > > > that is, it does > > take a different approach with the right hand in learning how to use gut > > appropriately & beautifully. > >And that would be? > >Thanks and regards, > >Stephan > > > > > > Down to only 4 instruments? Too bad.... > > > > ed > > > > > > > > > > > > At 10:44 AM 12/2/2007 -0500, Daniel Shoskes wrote: > > >Ed, as you know I have gone through phases of experimentation with > > >gut on my barqoue lutes. Even though we both live in cold climes, I > > >have not been successful keeping gut easily in tune, at least not on > > >my bass rider. With my limited time to practice, it is simply not > > >possible to spend a good chunk of time tuning. Also, and I know this > > >is sacrilege, I don't find the sound difference to be worth it to me. > > >I think that gut requires a different right hand technique to sound > > >at it's best and too often I have heard gut played poorly with I > > >suppose the implicit message being "well it's on gut, so it must > > >sound great and be authentic". OTOH, I'm not criticizing anyone who > > >spends the time and effort to make a fully gut strung instrument > > >sound great and I've heard that many times too (eg. Earl Christy at > > >LSA, the recent luteduo videos and of course YOU Ed). > > > > > >I'm not a recording or performance artist and even with the > > >occasional amateur concert or youtube video I'm pretty much playing > > >for my own enjoyment, so this is what has worked for me so far. > > >Having said that, I am interested in new developments in gut > > >technology and always willing to try something new, once it has been > > >vetted by the gut experts on the cutting edge. What has peaked my > > >interest again is this swan neck discussion. I love the volume and > > >balance of the Jauch but don't want to devote my RH thumb to damping > > >every bass I strike. That's why the idea of a Jauch with long thick > > >gut basses and "best current technology" trebles is appealing. For > > >crying out loud, I'm down to only 4 instruments at the moment! > > > > > >Danny > > >www.dshoskes.com > > >www.youtube.com/kidneykutter > > > > > >On Dec 2, 2007, at 9:41 AM, Edward Martin wrote: > > > > > >>Why not stringing it all in gut? > > >> > > >>ed > > >> > > >>At 08:36 AM 12/2/2007 -0500, Daniel Shoskes wrote: > > >>>That is what I find interesting though. Long gut strings seem to be > > >>>much more stable in terms of keeping in tune (and getting them > > >>>there). I like the idea of long guts in the basses of a Jauch and > > >>>then nylgut and KF for the fingerboard strings. > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >>Edward Martin > > >>2817 East 2nd Street > > >>Duluth, Minnesota 55812 > > >>e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >>voice: (218) 728-1202 > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >>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: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: > > >269.16.12/1163 - Release Date: 12/1/2007 12:05 PM > > > > > > > > Edward Martin > > 2817 East 2nd Street > > Duluth, Minnesota 55812 > > e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > voice: (218) 728-1202 > > > > > > > > > > > >-- >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG Free Edition. >Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.13/1165 - Release Date: >12/2/2007 8:34 PM Edward Martin 2817 East 2nd Street Duluth, Minnesota 55812 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] voice: (218) 728-1202
