I know exactly the piece you are talking about
Most HG's have something between the tailpiece and the chanter bridge
This keeps the bridge vertical and away from the wheel
Because of the angle of the strings as they pass over the bridge, there
is a resultant force pushing the bridge towards the wheel
Old HGs have gut tied in a special way to do this job (Curtis knows how to
do this)
The modern hi-tech way uses the plastic threaded thingy with a knurled brass
nut
With the chanters slackened off you should be able to CAREFULLY tighten the
nut to pull the bridge back
As you do this, more and more of the plastic threaded bit will stick out of
the nut
The plastic bit may then touch the wheel, you can snip the extra plastic
threaded bit off
If it keeps slipping back then the plasic bit has got stripped threads
You need new one
Alden & Cali keep stock of these I know (OTW 2006, are you going ?)
I don't know where else to get them from
I don't know what the are called exactly (adjustable bridge support ???)
Hope this helps
Graham Whyte
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alison Gowan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 6:29 PM
Subject: [HG] UPDATE! hurdy-gurdy crises averted...for the moment...
Hi again folks,
This is why it is good to think first, panic later!
I have the problem sussed, but it would still be good to have some advice
as this will continue to be a problem.
This weekend at Chants de Vielles, Matt was amazing in helping me set up
my gurdy. He pointed out that my bridge was being pulled towards the wheel
with the pressure of the string tension. It has this plastic looking
little piece with a teeny little bolt on it to adjust the bridge, but Matt
and I were having difficulty adjusting the bolt yesterday. When we tried
to tighten it, it would bounce back into it's old position. I'm not quite
sure how to remedy this. I took the chanterelles off this morning to try
to adjust it, and I kept having the same problem of it bouncing back to
the original position.
Anyhow, what was happening is that when I re-tuned my chanterelles, the
bridge was bending towards the wheel, and the end of the little plastic
nut-like thing (any correct term for this type of object besides the rude
words I am ascribing to it right now?) was scraping against my wheel.
Yikes!
I was able to stop the problem for the moment by pulling back the bridge
with my hand as much as I could, but I suspect it will not stay in this
position until I can correct the bridge position.
Suggestions anyone? I really don't want to toss the thing in to Lake
Ontario-although I was tempted to this morning, I just had a good cry
instead!
Anyway, it sounds lovely now, so I will be relieved for the moment, and
eagerly await the wisdom of the hurdy-gurdy goddesses and gods out there.
all the best,
Alison
