Most readers of this site will enjoy reading about the exhibition (http://evergreen.loyola.edu/~geo/wsj_guitarHeroes.pdf%20target=_blank)(new window) Guitar Heroes: Legendary Craftsmen from Italy to New York, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You might even get some ideas for your next custom :-).
Thanks George! Here's (http://blog.metmuseum.org/guitarheroes/objects/%20target=_blank) the online web site too. A nice iTunes app (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/met-guitars/id414964902?mt=8%20target=_blank) (free) was also created for the exhibition that I sent to a luthier friend several nights ago.
Wow, Art, I just clicked the online web site link! Is that a lute? Why, yes, I believe it is :-). I just forwarded that link to my son, a starving lutenist in MA. It was he, after all, who introduced me to Alembic, when he showed me his Epic five.
And the rest is history from your current Alembic list ;) you don't hear of many lutenists... or at least I haven't. Saving the art form is a worthy cause and will hopefully come back to serve him well. Best, Art
Art, here's your chance to hear about a lutenist (http://www.seventimessalt.com/%20target=_blank) (new window). (Please excuse the shameless promotion here :-).)
George, No excuse necessary ;) nice to see the support for your son. And I got a history lesson on Renaissance music while at it. The clips are very nice!
Twenty strings! (http://blog.metmuseum.org/guitarheroes/images/guitarheroes_03_EL.jpg) Very cool!
Mica pointed out that the 20 string instrument is a long scale small body; so it might not balance very well. They probably don't make them anymore for just that reason.