Using Leader on Lute Strings with Clive Titmuss

Clive shows you how to improve the responsiveness and stability of your lute by replacing the non-sounding segment of string with leader, also known as fishing line. The demonstration shows with colour-coded rope how to tie a leader onto the string, which prevents stretching, and makes it easy to get the line into the string hole, and it keeps the peg box strings orderly.

Because the leader is not stretchy, the tuning does not shift after you move the peg. If long pieces of nylon, gut, overspun or KF are not replaced, they contribute to unpredictable changes because the tension has been trapped in the pegbox and releases later. Lubrication of the nut with lithium grease, wax or graphite is also recommended. Play more, tune less and keep strings better organized by using the flag bend, a knot which has all the right features for this application.

Any inflexible leader that makes a clean and friction-tight knot will work, but this type is well-suited and reliable. It is easy to find, and not expensive. Steel-core leader is unsuitable.

The lute is by David Brown, 1991, a beautiful and excellent sounding instrument heard in the intro with its new stringing.

You might also be interested in:

The How and Why of Lute Tablature    • The How and Why of Lute Tablature with Cli...   Running on the Keys    • Courante from Bach's Partita #2 - Susan Ad...  

Improving the Sound of Bass Strings    • Improving the Sound of Bass Strings with C...  

Making Lute Pegs    • Making Lute Pegs  

Special thanks to David Clode for the beautiful image of the blue and yellow fish via Unsplash. Thank you for watching.