<table cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0' border='0' ><tr><td valign='top' style='font: inherit;'>just found that my emails from minstrel were being dumped into my spam box. wow, lot's of response on that question. i do know my share about period instruments-but i have never had the chance to play a lute & get a sense of what it can do. actually, my question was quite simple-i was just wondering about the volume, how loud can it reasonably get even though it is a 'quiet' instrument. i am not so concerned about being historically correct in every respect, i simply love the instruments & period music. i have enjoyed reading this discussion, glad i checked my spam box before i killed it. hugh</td></tr></table><br>