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Lyre, Lyre!

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Ron

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Nov 7, 2009, 8:33:19 AM11/7/09
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Does anyone know if there are any particular rules to observe when
attempting to design and build lyres and similar instruments? For
instance, where arms or a neck is involved, should there be a minimum
or maximum width? Or is it just a matter of aesthetics and size
doesn't matter at all as long as thre's enough structural integrity to
keep the strings from doing something nasty when under full tension?

Ron


_____
"In the beginning there was the rhythm, but I had forgotten and I was
waiting for the word."

-- Ray Manzarek --

Benoit Meulle-Stef

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Nov 8, 2009, 11:01:22 AM11/8/09
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Just be careful about string length... If the string is too short you
will have to use too thick strings to get any sound and if it's too
long the string will break.
Benoit

Ron

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Nov 10, 2009, 5:30:04 AM11/10/09
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Thanks for the tip, Benoit; every little bit helps. :-)

Ron

JimLowther

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Nov 11, 2009, 1:45:27 AM11/11/09
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You certainly have a variety of prototypes to choose from. Have you
found the followinf sites?

http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Articles/lyre/To%20Make%20a%20Lyre.htm

http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~priestdo/lyre.html

http://www.nogy.net/lyre/rhiannon/index.htm

Best wishes,

Dr. Jim Lowther

Benoit Meulle-Stef

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Nov 11, 2009, 3:20:49 AM11/11/09
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On 11 nov, 07:45, JimLowther <JimLowt...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Nov 7, 7:33 am, Ron <r...@dslnorthwest.net> wrote:
>
> > Does anyone know if there are any particular rules to observe when
> > attempting to design and build lyres and similar instruments? For
> > instance, where arms or a neck is involved, should there be a minimum
> > or maximum width? Or is it just a matter of aesthetics and size
> > doesn't matter at all as long as thre's enough structural integrity to
> > keep the strings from doing something nasty when under full tension?
>
> > Ron
>
> > _____
> > "In the beginning there was the rhythm, but I had forgotten and I was
> > waiting for the word."
>
> > -- Ray Manzarek --
>
> You certainly have a variety of prototypes to choose from.  Have you
> found the followinf sites?
>
> http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Articles/lyre/To%20Make%20a%20...

I have a lyre plan made by a French luthier, I can email it to you if
you PM me your email.
Cheers
Benoit

Ron

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Nov 11, 2009, 4:50:08 PM11/11/09
to

JimLowther wrote:


> On Nov 7, 7:33?am, Ron <r...@dslnorthwest.net> wrote:
> > Does anyone know if there are any particular rules to observe when
> > attempting to design and build lyres and similar instruments? For
> > instance, where arms or a neck is involved, should there be a minimum

> > or maximum width? ?Or is it just a matter of aesthetics and size


> > doesn't matter at all as long as thre's enough structural integrity to
> > keep the strings from doing something nasty when under full tension?
> >
> > Ron
> >
> > _____
> > "In the beginning there was the rhythm, but I had forgotten and I was
> > waiting for the word."
> >
> > -- Ray Manzarek --
>
> You certainly have a variety of prototypes to choose from. Have you
> found the followinf sites?
>
> http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Articles/lyre/To%20Make%20a%20Lyre.htm
>
> http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~priestdo/lyre.html
>
> http://www.nogy.net/lyre/rhiannon/index.htm
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Dr. Jim Lowther

Thanks, Jim, I haven't seen those before. Much appreciated. :-)

Ron

Ron

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Nov 11, 2009, 5:07:26 PM11/11/09
to

Many thanks, Benoit, but I am kinda hoping I could find something on
the engineering part of making lyres: how thick an arm or neck has to
be before tension snaps it like a match stick, does some designs
improve strength more than others-- that sort of thing. I have a
design in mind, and I rather find out it's not going to fail ahead of
time since the cost of wood these days is just about astronomical.

Basically an upright curved neck is a cantilever design; engineering
101, but past luthiers have gone more by artististic ideas than by
science (even though some would say that the science of making an
instrument is an art unto itself). Maybe I'm just nit-picking, but
hey, what can I say... ;-)

Ron

JimLowther

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Nov 12, 2009, 10:40:36 PM11/12/09
to
> Ron- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Hey, I think I'd take Benoit up on his offer. It can't hurt, and
there may be something in it that would address your concerns (or may
address a concern you get later one).

Whatever route you go, I think you will enjoy the process. Some
people wander into the realm of period instrument reproduction and
never wander back.

Ron

unread,
Nov 13, 2009, 3:33:46 AM11/13/09
to

JimLowther wrote:


> On Nov 11, 4:07?pm, Ron <r...@dslnorthwest.net> wrote:
> > Benoit Meulle-Stef wrote:
> > > On 11 nov, 07:45, JimLowther <JimLowt...@aol.com> wrote:
> > > > On Nov 7, 7:33 am, Ron <r...@dslnorthwest.net> wrote:
> >
> > > > > Does anyone know if there are any particular rules to observe when
> > > > > attempting to design and build lyres and similar instruments? For
> > > > > instance, where arms or a neck is involved, should there be a minimum
> > > > > or maximum width? Or is it just a matter of aesthetics and size
> > > > > doesn't matter at all as long as thre's enough structural integrity to
> > > > > keep the strings from doing something nasty when under full tension?
> >
> > > > > Ron
> >
> > > > > _____
> > > > > "In the beginning there was the rhythm, but I had forgotten and I was
> > > > > waiting for the word."
> >
> > > > > -- Ray Manzarek --
> >

> > > > You certainly have a variety of prototypes to choose from. ?Have you


> > > > found the followinf sites?
> >
> > > >http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Medieval/Articles/lyre/To%20Make%20a%20...
> >
> > > >http://www.cs.vassar.edu/~priestdo/lyre.html
> >
> > > >http://www.nogy.net/lyre/rhiannon/index.htm
> >
> > > > Best wishes,
> >
> > > > Dr. Jim Lowther
> >
> > > I have a lyre plan made by a French luthier, I can email it to you if
> > > you PM me your email.
> > > Cheers
> > > Benoit
> >
> > Many thanks, Benoit, but I am kinda hoping I could find something on
> > the engineering part of making lyres: how thick an arm or neck has to
> > be before tension snaps it like a match stick, does some designs
> > improve strength more than others-- that sort of thing. I have a
> > design in mind, and I rather find out it's not going to fail ahead of
> > time since the cost of wood these days is just about astronomical.
> >
> > Basically an upright curved neck is a cantilever design; engineering
> > 101, but past luthiers have gone more by artististic ideas than by
> > science (even though some would say that the science of making an

> > instrument is an art unto itself). ?Maybe I'm just nit-picking, but
> > hey, what can I say... ?;-)


> >
> > Ron- Hide quoted text -
> >
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Hey, I think I'd take Benoit up on his offer. It can't hurt, and
> there may be something in it that would address your concerns (or may
> address a concern you get later one).
>
> Whatever route you go, I think you will enjoy the process. Some
> people wander into the realm of period instrument reproduction and
> never wander back.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Dr. Jim Lowther


Hmmm, I think I may already have *too many* options: I can't make up
my mind which way to go... I've tried to break myself of the habit of
being perfectionistic, but it hasn't quite been successful there. I
should pick a design and stick with it no matter what happens--

Ron


_______
"can't you see, what this crazy life is doing to me? Life is just a
fantasy. Can you live the fantasy life?"

-- Aldo Nova --

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