minstrel: Introduction and Instrument question.

[L. Wann/Val Stareagle]

>Any thoughts on choice of instruments for a guitar playing tenor?

MusicMakers Kits has a couple of possibilities. Their "Renaissance Guitar"
($190 kit) is a flat teardrop soundbox - looks rather cittern-ish. They
also have a flat-backed 13-string lute ($350 kit). Both sacrifice some
"authenticity" for the sake of easier construction, but they certainly
avoid being glaring reminders of the 20th century. They've also got a
rather unique, take-down "Baroque Bass" which looks intriguing, if not
quite "SCA Period".

I haven't built or played either of those kits, but I have one of their
harp kits which I will be beginning soon. I've played one of their
completed harps as well (assembled by a friend) - Sound quality was quite
good for a small lap harp. The kit I have is very well prepared, with parts
cut precisely so very little adjustment will be necessary to assemble it.

Check out their web page at
http://www.musikit.com/

Alternatively, I know one other gentleman who has a tenor ukelele. It's a
bit closer in many ways to the medieval guitar - smaller than the modern
folk guitar, with only 4 courses of strings. (Yes, I know the medieval
guitar was more commonly double- or triple- strung, and sometimes had 5,
rarely 6 courses).

Good luck in your quest.

~~Valadonis Stareagle
Mists, West
~~VS


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