" I think I've now answered my own question with this painting: no frets on body."
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Christopher Davies
- Portland, OR
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early romantic lyre guitar frets?
5 Replies
Well, I have an early lyre guitar that seems to never had more than 12 frets. It's perfectly playable, with great action, so would of course be nice to have frets running up the body (as on another…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Christopher Davies Feb 23.
Neck reset advice for early romantic guitar
4 Replies
Hello all, I have what I think to be a circa 1830s guitar (which, interestingly, is almost the exact body outline of the Lacote guitar that Crain's site has drawings for.....must have been lots of…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Christopher Davies Feb 23.
seeking advice on a couple early guitars. Here's the second guitar
1 Reply
Same questions: orginal bridge? Deciphering of maker/dealer of belly? Likely year? early 6 string or converted 5 course?Thanks for your opinions.…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Christopher Davies Jun 30, 2018.
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"Well, song accompaniment was the main activity for guitarists in the early 19th century, so that would fit."
"Thank you James, no I don't know the specific lyre guitar repertoire. And heavens forbid, no offense meant towards those who have no need of more than 12 frets...permanent beginner is more what I'd call myself, though I do find Sor now…"
"I just wanted to add: I know many excellent guitarists who have been playing all their lives, who never adventure past the 12th fret, and don't feel the need to for the sort of music they play. I certainly wouldn't call them…"
"Looking at the date, the first '1' is attached to the '0' so my guess is the date is 1801. what the other '1' is anyone's guess. Perhaps 1=January? Perhaps the French took all the ones from the Austrian dates! (as…"
early romantic lyre guitar frets?
Well, I have an early lyre guitar that seems to never had more than 12 frets. It's perfectly playable, with great action, so would of course be nice to have frets running up the body (as on another lyre I have by another maker similar age). But I absolutely don't want to add any if it never had any. Any guess as to why this has just 12 frets? I've attached a closeup to prove my point that there never seem to have been any...I assume that if some bone or ebony frets had been laid on with glue or…See More
"Thank you all for responding. It does seem like something I might want to wait on handing off to more of an expert or at least until I get as much info as possible...an ounce of prevention. Perhaps I'll try the heat-and-clamp technique on a…"
"The two guitars were in reality straightened both at the neck joint and the neck itself, but if you say a neck doesn't bend, then it must be so. :-)But, as I said "During the cause of time, something bent on the guitar and therefore it can…"
"A neck reset isn't done to counteract a warped neck, it's done to re-establish the neck/body geometry due to the effects of string tension and time on the body of the instrument. Soundboard, back, sides. It all moves. They aren't in…"
"I think too many people do neckresets. During the cause of time, something bent on the guitar and therefore it can be straightened again.I've had 2 romantic guitars with too high action and a very low bridge but I just built a cardboard box…"
Neck reset advice for early romantic guitar
Hello all, I have what I think to be a circa 1830s guitar (which, interestingly, is almost the exact body outline of the Lacote guitar that Crain's site has drawings for.....must have been lots of copying the popular guitars?) with a great sound but action way too high at 12th fret (like 5mm first string) and no way to correct this by bridge or nut adjustments....so seems to need a neck reset.When the back was off, I took the attached photograph and it would seem there is some kind of pin…See More
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- About me:
- I play and occasionally build baroque and renaissance strings.
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Comment Wall (2 comments)
- At 8:09 on April 18, 2016,
Sinier de Ridder said…
Bastien was a luthier from Mirecourt, he worked during the frontier 18/19th century, he went to Turin, then to Nice which was Italian town at this period. His guitars are well considered, sometimes in the Turin school, sometimes in the Mirecourt shape. Can you post a photo of the brand?
Thanks, Françoise
- At 1:22 on December 30, 2015,
Rocky Mjos said…
Welcome to the EG+V network, Christopher!
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