Thanks for your comments, Dan. Just a few random thoughts of my own:
The business of different sizes of lute is interesting. One thing is
clear - you get used to whatever you are playing at the moment, and when
you change to a different lute (shorter or longer) it seems strange at
first.
Just for the record (Ed), guitar fingerboards are not narrower - a
standard size classical guitar has about the same string band (across
six single strings) as an 8c lute. The spacing of courses on the lute
is much the same as on steel string or electric guitars, quite narrow.
People often say they couldn't possibly play a lute bigger than about
60cm because of the stretches. People's hands differ, maybe I'm lucky
but I have quite small hands and can still play that Ab chord
(f1-b2-d4-b6) on a 67cm lute. A few years ago I made a 76cm lute for
Mark Wheeler and apart from the amazing power of it, I was delighted to
find that playing most solos on it was no problem for me (or for him).
Smaller lutes might make some stretches easier but they have some
problems of their own - as Thomas says, the "sweet spot" is quite narrow
and in general I always feel more precision is required. Some time ago
Sean Smith reminded me of another factor, that as you go higher up the
fingerboard and frets can get uncomfortably close together - a problem
which disappears on a bigger lute. I have a 53.5cm lute which I have
always loved, but I have to get in training to play it.
The 67cm lutes are excellent for accompanying singers as well - more
depth of sound, power and flexibility.
Dan, there are two of my C36 9c lutes for sale at the moment - one being
advertised by Gordon Gregory, the other not yet advertised because I'm
going to lower the action slightly (this is the striped yew one on my
website).
Best to All,
Martin
On 01/02/2011 00:44, Daniel Winheld wrote:
Awesome indeed- Martin's got the best one-stop operation for
everything lute anywhere.
67 cm. for a Renaissance lute ought to be a fine size. I owned a
72cm. 8 course "Division Bass" lute in E (A fluctuating between 415
and 430) for years- the acid test for my left hand was the F chord (A
flat on a "G" lute), first fret barre, little finger stopping "a",
first course 5th fret. I could manage it; but a physically tiresome
size in the long run, and really the pitch level was just about 1/2
step too low for many pieces to sound their best. Not the best first
choice for one's primary, work horse Renaissance lute.
But the sound itself was wonderful- full, sonorous, plenty of sustain
with all gut stringing, a narrow Maler-sh body, from the
Barber-Harris workshop. Wish I could have afforded to keep it, but my
present lute, a serendipitous blessing from Dan Larson, is an 8
course Venere style body at 64 cm. - nicely threading the middle
ground between the twitchy, short-sustain alto/small tenor lutes and
the bigger, more forgiving but tiresome stretchy low tenor/bass lutes.
I would love to have a copy of Martin's C36 lute in 9 courses, with a
10 fret neck.
Yes Martin, I think we all like your new lute, and the fine style
with which you manage it. Keep up the great work; I've already
printed out the piece. Lots of fun.
best,
Dan
I enjoyed it all; the music, the playing, and the instrument.
Thanks for posting.
-Ned
On Jan 30, 2011, at 11:18 AM, Martin Shepherd wrote:
Dear All,
With one day to go, here is January's piece of the month:
www.luteshop.co.uk/month/pieceofthemonth.htm
- played on a new all-gut strung 7c lute (67cm, after Venere C36).
I hope you like it.
Best wishes,
Martin
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