To those of you following this neurotic obsessive probe down the rabbit hole: I just put on the ancient 1.53 mm (physical diameter) 1st generation loaded gut on the low "D" position on my new Larson lute. Perfect! -matches the tone color of the 1.38 pistoy unison 6th, and the 1.45 (approx) gimped F-7 makes a perfect transition, or match from the loaded gut D to the pistoys. The loaded gut does indeed feel stiffer than the pistoys (gimp 7 feels in between- good transition there too). While a higher tension 8ve course is recommended by Anthony for correct feel/tone balance in his applications, a lighter tension octave string on my lute balances the tension of the course as a whole better with the 6th, plus the quieter sound of a low tension octave makes less of a shock going to a unison 6th. The loaded gut provides just that degree more clarity needed for all the notes on this frequently fingered bass course than the gimp. No buzzing that I can detect yet. Pretty good intonation; in tune with its octave string.
Anthony- would you say that the newer loaded gut strings are more alive, bright, and potentially more buzz inclined than the old ones? -I wonder if I have a unique string. Specs on the lute- string length 63 cm. pitched at a=415, 1/6 comma meantone frets & tuning. Dan -- To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
