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Harry Becker
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  • intro
  • background
  • guitar making
    • Guitarmaking
    • becker & cumpiano
    • cuatro making
    • guitar finishing
  • guitar repair
    • repairs illustrated
    • scrapbook
    • fretted instruments
    • tutorials
    • letters
  • songwriting
  • video making
  • art & design
  • profiles
  • contact

restoring a lute guitar

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A lute guitar was commonly made in Germany around 1850. The instrument has a regular six-stringed guitar setup on a lute bowl
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The soundboard had numerous cracks and the frets were completely worn and unplayable.
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The delicatetly pierced soundhole rosette had numerous cracks as well.
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The discoloration along some of the cracks reveal previous repairs. It's a reminder that it is best to avoid overworking the surface which has a delicate patina that is best preserved.
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The wooden frets on the soundboard are interesting.
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After cutting away the rosette I'm able to access the interior to install rare earth magnets I use to align the plates as the cracks are glued.
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In addition to the magnets I use clamping cauls to assist in keeping the soundboard plates level.
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The curved bowl back prevents me from using clamps so I had to devise another way of pressing down on the soundboard using a strap clamp and blocks of wood.
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Fortunately I had clamps long enough to reach a loos brace that need to be glued.
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The bar frets are extremely worn but can be saved.
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I this rod of brass beveled at the end makes a perfect tool to remove the frets that too low to be gripped and pulled out.
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Gently tapping the wedge below the fret lifts it it up.
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Now the fret can be pulled out.
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A thin strip of purfling material is used to shim the bass of the fret slot.
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It has to fit precisely without twisting.
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Now its glue into the slot along with the fret. I am now able to file the divots away on the raised frets.
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The rosette was repaired and the soundhole prepared to glue the rosette back in place.
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Repairs are almost invisible and there is no evidence of the rosette having ever been removed.
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The beautiful but awkward headstock is strung with lute strings.
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The saddle has divots that need to be removed.
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The divots are filed away and the metal crowned and polished.
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The bridge pins are fitted and the strings installed.
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This survivor of an earlier century is once again a usable and inspiring musical instrument.