"In fact, such frets would offer more latitude in adjustment of intonation than gut
frets, because they could be curved or segmented."
No kidding. Segmented hard, fixed frets are not a new invention. Check
John Schneider's guitar:
In fact, he has guitars with replaceable fingerboards; all with
different fretting/tempering set-ups.
http://wn.com/john_schneider_(guitarist)
But as Ron puts it so well, nothing but trouble on a sensitive
instrument with fragile strings.
For fixed, non-segmented frets set up in permanent meantone
configurations, just google up any old Bandora or Francis Palmer
Orpharion pics. And notice the "apples to apples" materials- brass
frets, brass strings.
Dan
On 2/20/2014 5:03 AM, Ron Andrico wrote:
We all seem to agree that frets were an innovation developed to improve
pitch accuracy on the fingered notes of a lute, using the same or
similar material as that used for the plucked strings of the
instrument. Using a harder material for frets than the gut or silk
strings would cause rapid wear and frequent replacement of costly
strings - and strings were very expensive 400-500 years ago.
Then there is the incredible instability of the belly (top) of the
lute, which changes if you even dare to exhale in close proximity.
Frets require constant micro-adjustment if you wish to play in tune,
and I think the average musical person of 400-500 years ago possessed a
more acute judgement of pitch than our battered eardrums are able to
discern today. Fixed (glued) frets on a lightly-built lute would make
it very difficult to keep fingered notes in tune.
RA
> Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2014 03:33:50 -0600
> To: [email protected]
> From: [email protected]
> Subject: [LUTE] Bone or wood frets.
>
>
> Why were frets historically made of gut rather than
> bone, wood, metal, or ivory?
>
> With gut frets, it is easy to adjust intonation.
>
> But if hide glue were used, bone/wood/metal frets
> could also be adjusted. In fact, such frets would offer
> more latitude in adjustment of intonation than
> gut frets, because they could be curved or segmented.
>
> I guess that bone/wood/metal frets would also offer
> more sustain and more resitance to wear. And they might
> even be cheaper.
>
>
>
> To get on or off this list see list information at
> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
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