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#35952 07/26/01 04:38 PM
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It seems from Dr. Bill's response that you need to be fretting more about the nut above the keyboard (or behind the cello?)


#35953 07/26/01 04:45 PM
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On restringing a stringed instrument. If what Dr. Bill says is true (as I'm sure it is) about the structure of a cello, I would worry more about warping or even cracking the instrument than degrading the tone. If a piano is left untuned for a very long period, you can't get it back into tune at one retuning because you will put too much tension on structures which have adapted themselves to new conditions and aren't flexible enough to take the pressure of the strings at the correct tension. It has to be done in small increments over months and it may be impossible to ever get it back in tune. My mother was greatly put out when I declined to take her piano when she moved into a retirement community; it hadn't been tuned for 20 years and would have been a white elephant to me.


#35954 07/26/01 08:18 PM
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#35955 07/26/01 11:25 PM
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Max,
I thought everything was already counter-clockwise where you live? No wait, it's the other way around....


#35956 07/27/01 05:25 AM
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Wednesday's Webshots Word of the Day was:

Ambilevous: \am_bi_LE_vus\, n: 1. Left-handed on both sides; clumsy.

Potential surgeons who are ambilevous should really consider another occupation!



Do we really need two words for this?

Bingley


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#35957 07/27/01 10:29 AM
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Faldage writes: the fretting hand requires at least as much agility as the other one.

True, but the right hand requires more strength. It's kind of like the knife and fork business: once you learn it one way it doesn't make much difference - nonetheless, stringed instruments are always bowed, plucked or strummed with the right hand, indicating that favouritism by early players and/or craftsmen.

BYB suggests: stringing the cello the other way

Then I'll have to become a soloist, because I'm going to look pretty silly in the second row of the orchestra with my left arm going up against dozens of right arms. To be blunt though, I wouldn't be able to play.
I know McCartney was one of the first to string his guitar round the left-handed way. Since then many have followed in his footsteps (e.g. Kurt Cobain). As far as I know, celli (or cellos) are made completely symmetrically, which means there wouldn't be a problem with stringing one round the other way. So long as you have a fresh instrument the tone should be okay.

Max demands: Get yourself a pair of left-handed scissors, BY.

You know I should, but then again, I never have/find those utensils when I needs them. One that's worth buying is a left-handed potato peeler. I must say, I have noticed a positive increase in the amount of bi-handed kitchen instruments lately - so things seem to be getting a little better. [clicking 'Continue' with my right index finger]




#35958 07/27/01 11:22 AM
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Do we really need two words for this?

Indeed, Bingley! (harrumph®)

Meanwhile, what is the etymology of 'ambilevous'?


#35959 07/27/01 12:31 PM
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Do we really need two words for this?

Indeed. Let's vote. We'll send the results to James Murray.


#35960 07/27/01 12:46 PM
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>We'll send the results to James Murray.

he also is still dead.
[sotto voce] madman...

etymology:
f. L. amb(i)- both + læv-us left + -ous.]
As it were, left-handed on both sides; the opposite of ambidexter. rare
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 191 Againe, some are+Ambilevous or left handed on both sides. 1879 Syd. Soc. Lex., Ambilævous, Having left hands only; that is, clumsy.


ed. note: pay no attention to the odd spelling.


as to having two(2) words, we have no one to blame except those old Latins:

[f. L. amb(i)- both + sinister left + -ous.]
= ambilævous.
1863 W. P. Lennox Biog. Remin. I. 63 In wedlock, he [Prince of Wales]+was certainly more than ambi-sinistrous.


ed. note: if it comes to a vote, wouldn't the latter win hands down from that citation?!

#35961 07/27/01 02:05 PM
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What's the *fundamental difference between sinister and lævus? Where's Cicero when you need him?


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