cannotcompute - 3-3-2008 at 10:06 AM
Hey everyone, funny question I guess but here it is:
I got a Laouto. Or so I think! I ordered it through a guy here in Canada, who ordered it from greece. It is not a Cretan Laouto since it is not big at
all and doesnt have all those off-neck frets on the soundboard. So it would be a Nisiotiko/steriano Laouto, from what I gathered here and there. Thing
is, it has SEVEN strings? and a BENT HEADPIECE, like an Oud. And movable frets (I think that's common?). When I got the instrument, the frets were set
at totally strange places - it produced and strange scale. But it might be that they were set quickly, as it is a cheap cheap cheap instrument.
So, anyone know if that defines a laouto? Seven strings, bent headpiece like an oud, movable frets.
Oh yeah, and it had Oud strings put on by mistake by the guy that sold it to me. They were C GG DD aa (like it should be but all in unison and a
single bass string). Well I ordered nisiotiko laouto strings from greece. My luthier warned me that it doesn't look like it is made to hold metal
strings, i.e. the wooden tuning pegs wouldn't hold the pressure?
Anyone heard of that instrument? Sort of strange, how should I set the strings?? I thought C Gg Dd aa....
Help me out! I will try to get some pictures of it.
Thanks a lot!
adamgood - 3-3-2008 at 10:13 AM
sounds like it's maybe a Turkish Lavta? And if so absolutely do not put metal strings on it!!
adam
cannotcompute - 3-3-2008 at 05:06 PM
Why not put metal strings? would the neck bend badly or would it just not stay in tune?
adamgood - 3-4-2008 at 06:51 AM
I think it's as simple as, Greek laoutos are designed to hold up under the pressure of metal strings while lavtas are designed for the behavior of
nylon type strings.
It's like putting metal strings on an ud, which i would never do. i mean, maybe you can try it if you want, just be careful as hell and don't tune it
up too high.
experimenter beware
Lavta by the way is a really beautiful instrument, you can probably find some videos online.
adam