That cost is what a master builder charges for classical guitars - 10k-20k is pretty normal. The cost of doing a double top is really not that high. The materials are not expensive and vacuum is used for a lot of other things in the shop. I use it for attaching bridges and holding instruments while French polishing. The Dammann price is based on his reputation and not on it being a double top. You should be able to find good quality double tops starting around 3-4k.
As to using it on a lute, you have to like the sound of it because it is clearly not historical. I, personally, do not like the sound of double tops that much. They sacrifice character for volume, imho. But, if you are trying to fill a concert hall without a microphone then there are already a lot of sacrifices being made and the double top is just one more. For a more intimate setting I think it is overkill. The bracing from Trevor Gore (Falcate system - https://goreguitars.com.au/main/page_innovation_summary_falcate_bracing.html) is more interesting. It makes for a very even sound throughout the instrument and provides more volume as well. Would I use it on a lute. Not likely. Anyway, some random thoughts. David -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Tristan von Neumann Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 9:18 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [LUTE] Re: Double Top For that money, I'd buy a Lute consort... I don't see any advantage... On 25.03.20 11:40, Jurgen Frenz wrote: > I read about the process to make such an instrument - from memory the two > slices are glued together under vacuum, to me it sounds like quite a costly > process. The guitars made by the inventor of this technology Matthias Dammann > cost 15 000 € a pop. > > Jürgne > > > > > ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Original Message ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ > On Wednesday, March 25, 2020 2:04 AM, Mark Probert <[email protected]> wrote: > >> John wrote: >> >>> Question is, has this been tried on a lute? Are there any luthiers >>> interested in trying? >> Interesting technology. As applied to a lute? Not so sure. >> I suspect someone will but most won't as there is not really any >> advantage and much disadvantage (the lamination process for starters, >> workin with nomex or similar, etc.). >> >> The problem this construction "fixes" is loudness. While there may be >> occassions when a lute is too soft, making up for it with an overly >> stiff soundboard would, I suspect, take away much of what makes a >> lute sound the way it does. >> >> Consider the following article for more >> >> https://www.guitarsalon.com/blog/?p=1467 >> >> Kind regards >> >> .. mark. >> >> To get on or off this list see list information at >> http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > >
