I'm Halle, from Columbus, Ohio. I found CBN while searching for helpful info about my Wildwood (Stick) Dulcimer. I am also learning to play the lute, and we have a house full of guitars, My husband plays ukelele, and garana (which he plays like a renaissance guitar.)
We got into building because none of the luthiers around here know about lutes or renaissance guitar. My lutes are peg-tuned -- this throws most modern luthiers for a loop. I got some help from the local violin loft, but I cannot afford to have them help me fix all my pegs.
I have a regular 8 course lute, and a flat-backed 8 couse lute. They both need better pegs. Looking at the flat backed lute makes me think perhaps I could attempt a CB-Lute. I am also interested in building a cittole, which is like a bazuki. I am thinking of using CB-method to make the cittole.
Before he found the garana, my husband modified some 1/4 scale classical guitars to be four and five course renaissance guitars. He's pretty happy with the guarana, and hasn't been doing as much guitar making recently.
I have had a cardboard mountain dulcmer for years. It does not stay in tune, and is very rough. I always said I would replace it with a decent instrument when I got the chance. Last year at a faire, I saw the Wildwood, and I had to have it. So I have it now, and and learning to play it.
Replies
Hi Halle,
You just mentioned three instruments I've never heard of before. I Google them up and found the citole which come in several modified shapes and most of them look like a cross between a violin and mandolin. Stick dulcimers are common and also come a a wide range of shapes/sizes. When I Google Garana, all I got was locations, groups and sexual enhancement chewing gum, I'm sure there is such an instrument, I just have no idea what it looks like. You said plays like a renaissance guitar however as they say, a picture is better than a thousand words. I'd post a few pictures here and ask around for the answers you seek.
I know there is enough talent here on the nation to give you good feedback. I suggest you post on the build groups and dulcimer group first. Good luck with your builds, we look forward to seeing the finished product.
Hi smilingdog1! My mistake -- it's a "Jarana" I'll take some pictures soon and post them. I will definitely spend some time on the builders groups and in the dulcimer group. At first glance, it looks like most CBG builders use modern machines for tuning, and set frets into the fretboard. Something interesting about my lutes is that they are peg tuned, and have tied on frets. I wonder if anyone is using these methods on CB instruments.
I'm sure there are peg tuning and a variety of fretting and fret less being done here on the nation. On the resonators and lap steel, they have the strings so high that frets really are ineffective. Some paint stripes or inlay strips where there would be frets just to give a visual mark for scales. It really depends on your style of playing and tone you're after. stewmac.com has peg reamers and he's a little pricy, also there are peg shavers much like using a pencil sharpener. I spend many hours researching my builds and when I've built one, I usually have templates and jigs made so I do not have to remeasure my neck and pick-up pockets. That way I can focus my energy on the other details. Ya, and I looked up Jarana and seen this instrument, looks south American style.
That's exactly where I got my peg reamer and shaver from. My big problem is that even oud peg blanks are not really long enough. There are no commercial sources for fruitwood lute pegs. Just rosewood, and that's not ideal. I am trying to have a local friend work on cherry peg blanks for me, but he's pretty backed up. He has a small lathe that will make short work of it once he gets to it, then I can fine tune with my shaver.
I suppose I should also say that lutes use acrylic strings, like classical guitars. I use nylgut. And a thicker acrylic for the frets. There is some fret wear, but not a lot. I imagine if you tried to tie on frets with a metal strung instrument you might need to use wire and not acrylic.