Northern Renaissance Instruments
6 Needham Avenue, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 8AA, U.K.
Phone & fax: +44 (0) 161 881 8134 ; proprietor: Dr. Ephraim Segerman [USA]
e-mail: post@nrinst.co.uk ; on internet: http://www.nrinst.co.uk
GUIDE TO NRI INFORMATION AND PRICES
The following information on strings, instruments and varnish materials is free on request
STRINGS
Prices of metal wire strings, twisted brass strings, second quality strings, fret gut and tail gut. Tables have prices of low-twist, high-twist and catline gut strings according to length and diameter, and surcharges for ‘best’ treatment, varnishing and catline polishing. Does not include wound strings which are individually designed for each type of instrument. Includes ordering and returning strings, complaints policy and procedure, and conversion table between mm, thou and grades for measuring string diameters
INDIVIDUAL BROCHURES
Historical and practical information - diameters and prices - individual strings and sets
STRINGS FOR THE PARDESSUS DE VIOLE AND QUINTON
VIOLIN VIOLA AND CELLO STRINGS
HISTORICAL VIOLIN VIOLA AND CELLO STRINGS
STRINGS FOR RENAISSANCE FIDDLES AND REBECS
TUNING AND STRINGING MEDIEVAL FIDDLES
STRINGS FOR THE VIOLINO PICCOLO
HISTORICAL RENAISSANCE LUTE STRINGS
STRINGS FOR CITTERNS, BANDORA AND ORPHARION
STRINGS FOR THE 5-COURSE BAROQUE GUITAR
STRINGS FOR THE ENGLISH GUITAR
STRINGS FOR THE LATE 18th CENTURY NEOPOLITAN MANDOLIN
STRINGS FOR THE MILANESE MANDOLIN
EARLY CLASSICAL GUITAR STRINGS
STRINGING ADVICE
Explanations of the different types of strings and summary of their history - types of string sounds and how they relate to the physical properties of the string types in different pitch ranges - practical considerations in the choice of string type - explanation of our diameter figures of catlines and wound strings - advice on longevity of highest strings
CARE OF OPEN-WOUND AND TIGERLINE STRINGS
Advice on how not to damage these delicate strings, and how to limit that damage if done
An explanation of how buzzing can develop and suggestions for avoiding it
INSTRUMENTS
Prices and options for English and French viols of all sizes from pardessus to double bass
Prices and options for lutes of all sizes and periods: medieval, Renaissance and baroque (including archlutes and theorboes)
INSTRUMENTS OTHER THAN LUTES AND VIOLS
Including prices of Medieval Guitterne, Renaissance Guitar, Vihuela, Baroque Guitar, Citterns (English, French and Italian), Orpharion, Bandora and Rebec
VARNISHING MATERIALS
Price list and outline of the properties and use of the various products offered - these include pine resin varnishes in various colours oil ratios and quantities, hardener, levelling additive, three grades of rosin oil, stand oil, potassium silicate water glass, pipettes and tack rags
PUBLICATIONS THAT HAVE TO BE PAID FOR
INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE WITH RESPECT TO STRINGS
£1.50 plus p&p. For both plucked and bowed instruments - string attachment (to pegs, bridge, tailpiece, endpins), grooves in nut and bridge, tying frets, fitting pegs, etc
£1.00 plus p&p. The calculator works like a slide rule relating string diameter, pitch, tension, string length and string material, and finds the highest usable pitches for each length and material - the explanatory pages give the theory and instructions for making and using the calculator
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS from 1974 onwards
£2.50 + p&p. Well over 350 entries - see our web site for other scholarly research papers - specific publications can be duplicated at 10p per A4 page (this often covers two A5 pages) plus p&p. Please limit the number of publications requested at one time to a dozen, so as not to unduly interrupt our other activities
FoMRHI (Fellowship of Makers and Researchers of Historical Instruments)
An organisation which published over a hundred Quarterlies since 1975. It had been edited by NRI people through most of its existence, and has published a large fraction of our research.
A PRIMER ON THE HISTORY AND TECHNOLOGY OF STRINGS
£1.50 + p&p. A summary of the historical evidence and of current understanding of the technology.
BOOK – 179 pages A4 - £16.84 plus p&p - The Development of Western European Stringed Instruments by Ephraim Segerman – ISBN 978-1-84753-356-2 - (Lulu.com, 2006) – The first fifth of this book is shown here.
A fresh look at instrument development, sizes, tunings and sounding, avoiding the current bias of only supporting historical scholarship that is consistent with modern 'early-music' traditions. With no illustrations, it is mainly for readers familiar with the history of stringed instruments who seek new understandings in the subject.