Dear David
What tension are you actually using?
It is true that the new loaded strings are better at a fairly high
tension, although I have been getting away with 2K7, with 3K3 Venice
octaves. Nevertheless, a higher tension would probably be better. I
know someone using around 4Kg, and very happy with this.
I don't think I would dare do that myself.
$
It might be a good idea to have a page on Ning lute, where people can
list the tensions they are using, and a few comments. I am thinking
here of loaded basses, but it could be interesting for all gut types.
Of course each player has their own technique, but examples of actual
stringing tensions, used by different lutenists could become a useful
reference.
$
Personally, if I didn't have the benefit of loaded strings on my 11c
lute (I mean if they did not exist, or were no longer made), I think I
would go for a 12c lute that would allow me to use thinner pure gut
(more or less the same from 7c down to 11c).
This is actually, more or less what we are getting with Mimmo's newest
loaded strings, as the core stays fairly stable.
I believe, two new "antique" ingredients, that Mimmo found in some old
recipes, allowed him to make a much thicker but smoother loading, as we
could all see at his talk at the London string conference.
Thus it is mainly the loading which increases as you go from 6c down to
11c, not the core.
At least that is what I understood, but perhaps Mimmo may contradict me
if he sees this.
Regards
Anthony
--- Message d'origine ----
>De : "David van Ooijen" <[email protected]>
>A : "lutelist Net" <[email protected]>
>Objet : [LUTE] loaded guts
>Date : 05/12/2010 21:16:15 CET
>
>A question for experiences of other users of loaded guts from Aquila.
> I've used them on courses five, six and seven of a 61cm lute at 30 to
> 33N (around 3kg, if you prefer).
> I love the sound: gutsy yet with a bite without being metallic. But
> they buzz. I tend to have a heavy thumb, so I first blamed myself.
> Soon I discovered it was not my thumb but string buzz against frets
> because these strings are so flexible. Before the latest concert on
> this instrument I decided to change all the frets to get rid of the
> buzzing (steeper incline from highest to lowest fret, whatever to get
> rid of the buzzing). But with only the first fret (thick one!) in
> place I discovered the strings buzz high up on the fingerboard even
> without other frets, so no scheme of fretting would have helped.
> I have a similar problem with a loaded gut string on my theorbo
> (single string six). But here an extreme fretting scheme seems to
keep
> the buzzing mostly under control.
>
> I get the impression Mimmo prefers to see his strings used under a
> higher tension and I get the impression these strings are better
> suited as non-fretted strings (B-lute 7 and down or the short
> extension of attiorbatos), which would both reduce the risks of
> buzzing.
> But still, these are nice strings to use on the fingerboard. Any
> people with (dis)similar experiences? Any comments welcome.
>
> David - like dt's expression TFZ but regrets to say Mille Regrets is
> supposedly not written by Josquin, likes Karamazov's Bosnian fado but
> gets an occasional admonition to get rid of his own tics and facial
> expressions yet also has fans who enjoy these facial expressions face
> during concerts and other people who approach him after concerts only
> to tell how fascinating his eyebrows were and who never mention the
> music he played - still, it makes a living
>
> --
> *******************************
> David van Ooijen
> [email protected]
> [1]www.davidvanooijen.nl
> *******************************
>
>
>
> To get on or off this list see list information at
> [2]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
>
--
References
1. http://www.davidvanooijen.nl/
2. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/%7Ewbc/lute-admin/index.html
