It *sounds* like an EMS lute that we had many moons ago - the fretless thing enables you to tie your own frets on with gut/nylon to custom tune it for your own needs...
The one high string is confoozling me at the moment though... A *bass* string I could kind of understand, but a high one? Hmmmm. I watch with interest to see if anyone knows what is what...
It sounds like a Renaissance lute -- the highest course was often single, and seven courses is right for the period. As you say, the frets would be tied on, made of gut, and need replacing once in a while.
My first thought on fretless, lute-like was an Oud: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud But given the solo string's the highest and the few frets on the body, I suspect a Rennaisaance lute as well, with the neck frets having been now-frayed-off/lost gut frets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lute has some information on tunings.
You're the only person I know that I could imagine ending up in this situation!
Unfortunately I haven't the faintest idea what it might be, my clues about musical instruments being limited to hitting things with sticks in a (not very) rhythmic way (hey, I'm a drummer*)
Comments 4
It *sounds* like an EMS lute that we had many moons ago - the fretless thing enables you to tie your own frets on with gut/nylon to custom tune it for your own needs...
The one high string is confoozling me at the moment though... A *bass* string I could kind of understand, but a high one? Hmmmm. I watch with interest to see if anyone knows what is what...
Reply
Reply
But given the solo string's the highest and the few frets on the body, I suspect a Rennaisaance lute as well, with the neck frets having been now-frayed-off/lost gut frets.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lute has some information on tunings.
Reply
Unfortunately I haven't the faintest idea what it might be, my clues about musical instruments being limited to hitting things with sticks in a (not very) rhythmic way (hey, I'm a drummer*)
*Well, I have a drum kit, at least
Reply
Leave a comment