"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:15:18 +0200, "Iain Churches"
wrote:


"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
Went to an antiques fair today and found this, which was clearly
irresistible. Made in 1880, it is a lauten - a cross between a lute
and a guitar, and it sounds brilliant.

http://www.soundthoughts.co.uk/look/lauten.jpg


Fascinating. It seems to have the body of a lute,
(which was a generic term) but the unlike the lute
the tuning pegs are not set at 90 degrees.

Hard to be sure from the pic, but does it have
six strings?


Six strings and actual worm drive machine heads, not pegs. I never
knew they went back that far.

That's a sign of quality.
Any info as to the maker?

If so, the tuning is presumably the same for a six
course lute, in fourths with the exception of the
interval between the third and fourth course
being a third.


Yes, the same as a six course lute.

OK. I am starting to get the picture.

Is it about the same physical size?

The size - the scale length is about an inch shorter than the Martin.

That's interesting. Lutes as such are quite a bit smaller, but
this is a clearly a lute guitar.


Here's an interesting detail. The fingerboard is scalloped between the
frets so you can't actually feel them

http://www.soundthoughts.co.uk/look/scallops.jpg

Fascinating.

Some music will appear soon.

I look forward to it.
Iain