I have found that slightly high string tension does mean that it is easier not to pull the strings just enough out of alignment so that the intonation suffers. But you also need to make sure that the instrument is up to the tension - there are lots of stories about wire-strung instruments with the bridges coming off. Before changing any strings I would play the instrument enough to make sure that it's not "operator error." With all of the ones I have played (cittern, orpharions & bandora) there are individual places where you have a tendency to pull fretting strings out of tune, especially with the 3rd finger. If you find it is indeed the strings, I have had the best results with strings from Andrew Hartig subsonic_vacat...@earthlink.net They had more evenly balanced tension from course to course and cost my less than NRI strings. Nancy
Dear Stuart, You may find a higher string tension (ie use thicker strings) will help in tuning stability. MH --- On Mon, 13/6/11, Stuart Walsh <s.wa...@ntlworld.com> wrote: From: Stuart Walsh <s.wa...@ntlworld.com> Subject: [LUTE] bandora tunes To: "Lute Net" <lute@cs.dartmouth.edu> Date: Monday, 13 June, 2011, 12:29 I've got the Lute Society's bandora on loan. It's a nice instrument. used to have one years ago but I'd forgotten how difficult it is to get these things tolerably in tune. Here's a go at three very short pieces from Thomas Brown's 'Bandore and lyra viol book' (about which I know nothing), copied out years ago by Donald Gill. (And thanks to Peter Forrester). The tuning isn't quite right - but not too far out, I hope. [1][1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipGcIA8EUX8 and here's a couple of RT's uke tunes [2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f22GLlsLZug Stuart To get on or off this list see list information at [3]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. [2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipGcIA8EUX8 2. [3]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f22GLlsLZug 3. [4]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html Nancy Carlin Associates P.O. Box 6499 Concord, CA 94524 USA phone 925/686-5800 fax 925/680-2582 web sites - [5]www.nancycarlinassociates.com [6]www.groundsanddivisions.info Representing: FROM WALES - Crasdant & Carreg Lafar, FROM ENGLAND - Jez Lowe & Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies, and now representing EARLY MUSIC - The Venere Lute Quartet, The Good Pennyworths & Morrongiello & Young Administrator THE LUTE SOCIETY OF AMERICA web site - [7]http://LuteSocietyofAmerica.org -- References 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipGcIA8EUX8 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipGcIA8EUX8 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f22GLlsLZug 4. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html 5. http://www.nancycarlinassociates.com/ 6. http://www.groundsanddivisions.info/ 7. http://lutesocietyofamerica.org/