Official Luthiers Forum!

OK I know, this is just a bit of wood and some shavings, but there is just something about taking a nice old plane (or two) and shaving a rough piece of wood down until it has a surface like glass, I just love it.

By the way this is a piece of English Cherry (Prunus avens) that is being transformed into the neck for an 8-course lute. Do you like the complex neck/body joint?



Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Must be a pretty good joint...I cant see it!

Look forward to progress pics of the lute Colin.

Cheers Martin

It's that 60 deg angle at the end. Sort of goes together like this, I haven't cut the corresponding 60 deg angle on the bowl yet.



Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

That is a lovely pile of shavings Colin. From the looks of it, those plane blades must be sharp indeed. Is the neck/body joint on a lute just a butt joint. Is there no reinforcement for that joint?

John

Indeed it is just a butt joint, but it is glued and dowelled together. I did take apart an original Heiber lute last year for repair and between the two dowels was an old hand made screw that was used while the joint was being refined and the dowel holes drilled, usually it is removed and either left or another dowel inserted. On this joint in honour of that I will be using an old hand made screw as well!

The planes I use are all old Record or Stanley all with original blades, these two are both pre-war Records #4 and #5 their old tungsten steel blades take and hold an incredible edge.

ColinColin S38824.3360069444

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Nice,

That cherry looks just like American black cherry. I love cherry wood, and cherry garcia ice cream, too.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Beautiful work Colin!! Can you recommend some good material/information for someone wanting to build a lute?

Finished neck, no finish on the neck.



Hesh, I would sooner eat my own backside than have a burst within a hundred miles of me .

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Gorgeous! Not you Colin, your planes, your shavings and your lute! I hear you're somewhat of a plane nut and that we can get you goin' just by mentionning the tool's name! If it's true then, you must have the secret of happiness for appreciating simple things in life, i agree that my first shavings gave me goosebumps just lookin' at them! Good onya buddy!

Colin,

Couldn't tell for sure, as there isn't much of the lute body in the pic, but-- that doesn't look like a dreadnought shape to me. Have you changed your design?

Seriously, as for "happiness is...", I've been cleaning up the study today to the silver tones of that lute piece you posted a few weeks back. Thanks for playing!

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve, it was a tough decision, but I decided against the dreadnought body this time maybe next one, but I did go with the Sitka top.

Glad you like the music, I've recorded quite a bit more since both lute and guitar.

Colin

PS about the sitka top, I fibbed

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin - Great work as usual! Lutes are really interesting, there is a nice balance between simplicity in function (neck butt joint, gut frets, pegs) and complexity in beauty (the rose, the bowl).

Man I can't wait to get started on one...

_________________
Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

I agree Joshua, but to me the over-riding joy about the lute is the sound. I know I'm biased in that I build them, (I actually build more guitars) but to me the sound of a lute has not been equalled by it's latter day rivals. It has a sweetness and purity of tone that is sublime. It's that thin Euro spruce that does it!

Also they're great to play.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin, I couldn't agree with you more about the shavings from a plane. I love to plane wood. And scrape it too, until it starts to burn my fingers, then its time to stop. I am going to have to pay more attention to some lute music, you make it sound so beautiful.. Maybe I will do it while I eat some cherry garcia sunburst icecream.
So from your post I get that you are a big fan of sunburst . I can't wait to see the finished lute bursting away .
Will you be posting sound clips when its done??
Mike

Mike you can hear some music from my last 10-course lute by following the links here. The lute I'm currently making is to be my house lute to be picked up and twiddled when the whim takes me rather than a peformance instrument, though it may have to double up.

Colin

Lute music

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Hey Colin, that is very cool.

is that really all there is to that neck join?

wow.

That's it Matt, a 60deg angled butt joint glued and dowelled. I've taken apart a 13-course Bruner that had been together for nearly 300 years and the joint was still perfect.

I've since stopped doing mortice and tenons on my steel strings and just butt them now.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.