On Thursday 18 September 2008 17:34, [EMAIL PROTECTED] rattled on the keyboard: > Greetings to everyone, > > I've only joined this list a week or so ago and finally have worked up the > nerve to ask a few questions as a potential beginner. > > I play classical guitar at an intermediate level, although I have been > drawn to the lute for many years. And while I am thankful for the > renaissance and baroque lute repertoire which has been transcribed for the > guitar, I hunger for the opportunity to play them on their original > instruments. Cost, finding a suitable teacher, and the thought of cutting > my nails are all reasons I have not taken the plunge before now. My hope > is that you might help me with a few questions. > > First, I am torn between the Renaissance and the Baroque, making it hard > for me to narrow down my search for an appropriate lute (probably 8 course > renaissance or 13 course baroque.) As I am disabled and live on a fixed > income, cost seems to to be pushing me toward the 8 course. I'm sure > others have struggled with this question and I am curious about your > suggestions for a first lute. > > Next I wanted to ask about the inexpensive EMS lutes. Are they playable > instruments and what do they sound like? I know they have nylon frets (not > preferable), but that could be changed in time I suppose. I also wonder if > anyone has purchased a baroque lute from Rob Dorsey at Lutecraft.com and > what is your opinion. They seem to be quite inexpensive compared to other > Baroque instruments. > > Also, about the nail question. Are there those of you who play both the > guitar and the lute? I have found that I can keep my nails relatively short > when I play the guitar to good effect if I slightly change my angle of > attach. > > Finally, I am considering moving to the Asheville, NC area. Does anyone > know of good teachers in that area? > > Greetings once again! > Duffy > Hi, If you've a limited budget I would suggest you take a look at second hand lutes offered on the site of wayne cripps http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute/forsale.html Opinions about the the lutemaker you can always ask on this list. It's often better to have an old quality instrument than a bad cheap new one. A good second hand is however not necessarily cheap. 8 course lutes are popular but there is actually not much music for this instrument although you can of course play almost everything until 1610 on this instrument. On the other hand many 8 courses are offered second hand, so there is more choice there. This question occurs many times on this list so you can find also answers in the archive of this list. A 10 course renaissance lute is actually already a baroque lute. I play on one but it's less suited for early renaissance and even Dowland, but the ideal situation is a costly business: 6 course, 7 course, 10 course, 11 course baroque, 13 course baroque, theorbo...... Welcome to an expensive hobby. Taco
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