This is the knot I mostly use, I saw it in Germany in th '70s so it
has been in use for a while.
Once, when tying this know, I was burning the end with a lighter, and
the lighter had an unusually long flame, which instantly incinerated
all seven of my long strings on the theorbo.
Oh for a photo of that moment.....
dt
At 06:20 AM 2/18/2010, you wrote:
>Hi All,
>
>The breakthrough for me came when I changed my method of fret knotting.
>I used to tie a slip knot ("granny knot" - a reef knot with the
>second turn the wrong way). Works fine for thin frets, and with
>smooth-finished gut, but otherwise the slip knot is not so willing
>to slip. So I tried the method someone suggested to me (Pat
>O'Brien?) which is to tie a single overhand knot near the end and
>pass the free end through it - the ultimate slip knot, not really a
>knot at all.
>Surprisingly, the gut has enough friction that when you pull this up
>it holds without slipping back, so you tighten it nearer the nut
>than you want to end up (a choix), trim off the free end and burn it
>down to lock it, then slide the fret up to where you want it. It's
>very neat, too.
>But as for double frets.....
>
>Best wishes,
>
>Martin
>
>Martyn Hodgson wrote:
>>
>> The gut should be pre-stretched before fitting. Mace (1676 p 69)
>> confirms this and provides good practical advice:
>>
>> ' And you will find, that the first Fret, will be ever the hardest to
>> Tye well on, for two Reasons.
>> First, because it is the Thickest, therefore not so ready to ply, and
>> stretch.
>> 2sly. Because there is but a little narrower room above It, by reason
>> it is so near the Nutt: Therefore you must be the more careful , to
>> stretch it very well, before you settle It.'
>>
>> He also recommends tying it higher (ie to wards the nut) and stretching
>> by forcing down to its alotted position a number of times: 'Thus do it
>> three or four times, till at last you find it stiff,....'
>>
>> Finally he suggests a second knot to prevent any possible slipping:
>> '... you are (after all stretching) to Tye it, of another hard Knot,
>> and then it is firmly fast'.
>>
>> MH
>> --- On Wed, 17/2/10, Christopher Stetson <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> From: Christopher Stetson <[email protected]>
>> Subject: [LUTE] Re: New frets
>> To: "Lute List" <[email protected]>
>> Date: Wednesday, 17 February, 2010, 20:35
>>
>> Neat tricks, Sterling and Leonard! They've allowed me to yet again
>> put
>> off refretting.
>> While we're here, does any have any tricks for getting and/or
>> keeping
>> the 1st fret really tight?
>> Best to all,
>> Chris.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
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>>
>
