lute frets

[Alan Mills]

Hi - can someone tell me how I figure out what grade of lute fret to buy?  I realize they are different for each fret - but which size goes with which fret?!  A little confusing...

Thanks 

[Jelma van Amersfoort]

Hi Alan, and welcome to the site. Generally the luthier who made your lute should be able to provide you with a list of sizes... or you could try and measure your current frets with a fine caliper. But I also suggest you have a look at our sister website, the lute ning website http://lutegroup.ning.com/, because this site is mostly about early guitars and vihuelas.

Best wishes, Jelma

[Alan Mills]

Hi Jelma

 

Thank you so much for the advice.  Yes unfortunately I bought the instrument almost 30 years ago and I don't think the manufacturer - Woodlark - is around any more. However I've just seen on another website that you need to buy a micrometer to measure all the frets - so here goes!  Thanks again  Alan

[Valéry Sauvage]

Usually I start by last fret at

0.70 then 0.75, 0.75, 0.80, 0.85, 0.90, 0.95 and 1.00

And if 1.00 is too big, you can try starting at

0.95 then 0.90, 0.85, 0.80, 0.80, 0.75, 0.75, 0.70 (allways start by the thiner one to finish by the thicker one.)

Just make some tries to find what suits you lute well, you will loose a few frets, but when you'll find the good ones note for the future.

(My second lute was a woodlark made by John Gorett, in the '80)

[Alan Mills]

Thank you very much for your help - I think you have answered my question.

 

Regards

 

Alan