"David" wrote in message
...
"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

d

Isn't Lauten simply the German for lute?




No, it's the name of a pricey microphone company:

http://www.lautenaudio.com/index.htm

"Keith G" wrote


No, it's the name of a pricey microphone company:

http://www.lautenaudio.com/index.htm




See the wacky Castrol GTX guitar at 13 secs. on this promotional video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W5j-...ayer_embedded#

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.

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 fporuirth course
being a third.


Yes, the same as a six course lute.

Is it about the same physical size?
Any indication as to the maker?


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

Some music will appear soon.

d

On Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:01:51 -0000, "David"
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

d

Isn't Lauten simply the German for lute?


Could well be - I haven't started researching it in detail yet.

d

"David" wrote in message
...
"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

d

Isn't Lauten simply the German for lute?

That's "laute"

The books which I have don't list "lauten" but that
is not to say that such a instrument did not exist:-)

As Keith mentioned, Lauten is also an American mic
manufacturer (just added that to placate those who
might otherwise shout "OT" :-))))

There were many lute guitars (hybrids)
made in the 19th C. Don seems to have
found a good example of one of these

Iain

"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

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...

I'll need to get a strap for it. Probably a fluorescent
green and yellow one wouldn't be quite the thing.

Err.Not quite.
I am sure also that you will be able to resist the
temptation to bore a hole and fit a pick up and vol
control too You could add a mini jack though,
if you want to be professional.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/...137d9504cc.jpg

A cloak, plus doublet and hose, are de rigeur
for all good lutists as is the floppy velvet hat.
Looking forward to a picture, Don:-)

Iain

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
UnsteadyKen wrote:
Don Pearce said...

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.

That looks lovely and it must be fun to play. I'm very envious of those
who can play an instrument. I've tried keyboard and guitars many times
but just can't relate the sound produced to the physical action
required if you see what I mean, bloody frustrating.

IMHO it's one of these things you need to learn when young, to be
proficient.

That sounds like a reasonable excuse:-)

I have had a chance to study mixed groups of
young and mature students playing music,
and it seems to me that although the younger students
learn and develope quicker, the mature students are
better motivated, work harder to make up for lost time,
and keep up with the demands of the curriculum.

A friend of mine who has the same teacher confided
that it took him four whole weeks, to learn two difficult
phrases, a total of 16 bars only. The teacher divided
what looked like an impossible part for a non-pro
player, into four sections of four bars each, and encouraged
him to learn a section a week and include it in his 2 hrs
practice every day to - starting with playing
every second note at less than half speed, over and
over and over again. He now plays it, as written in,
the correct tempo. That's what I call motivation:-)

Although can be fun to try in later life.

Many people of our age, who have had demanding
careers, now find themselves working to an easier
schedule, with more spare time available, especially
if the children are no longer at home.

Learning a musical instrument (and what better instrument
than a lute:-) is a very good way to spend that time and
also keep the little grey cells active.

Music has an important social aspect too, and beng
able to play well enough to perform with others, either
privately or in public, is its own reward.

It's never too late:-)

Iain.

On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:00:52 +0200, "Iain Churches"
wrote:


"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...

I'll need to get a strap for it. Probably a fluorescent
green and yellow one wouldn't be quite the thing.

Err.Not quite.
I am sure also that you will be able to resist the
temptation to bore a hole and fit a pick up and vol
control too You could add a mini jack though,
if you want to be professional.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/...137d9504cc.jpg

A cloak, plus doublet and hose, are de rigeur
for all good lutists as is the floppy velvet hat.
Looking forward to a picture, Don:-)

Iain




Shame on you - that's a theorbo, not a lute.

d

"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 09:00:52 +0200, "Iain Churches"
wrote:


"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...

I'll need to get a strap for it. Probably a fluorescent
green and yellow one wouldn't be quite the thing.

Err.Not quite.
I am sure also that you will be able to resist the
temptation to bore a hole and fit a pick up and vol
control too You could add a mini jack though,
if you want to be professional.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/...137d9504cc.jpg

A cloak, plus doublet and hose, are de rigeur
for all good lutists as is the floppy velvet hat.
Looking forward to a picture, Don:-)

Iain




Shame on you - that's a theorbo, not a lute.

But, nevertheless, don't the togs appeal to you?

I have always understood a theorbo to be a
lute with a longer neck, and an added peg-box

This is a fascinating subject - there are so many
variations on this splendid instrument.

Take a listen, Don to Jakob Lindberg's
fine recordinga on BIS.

http://www.musicamano.com/



Iain