Hi Natasha, What is 1000? Dollars, pounds or euros? Makes a big difference... However, even if it's $ or euro, I would recommend Bela Szerenyi, Hungarian maker, look at his website: www.szerenyi.hu, it is available in English. Choose Instrument making and in the header there will be a price list and also a choice of instruments. I am happy to keep in touch with him, I know he is getting ready with an unsold instrument, although I don't know what type is that. He sells among his present offers that special Emil type, I had a chance this summer to try it, it is a lovely little gurdy, I would recommend (even envy if you buy) that, very unique, easy to play, nice sound.
He made my Hungarian in about 4-5 months, and mine had some extras in it, a beautifully made instrument. Have a look at it at www.amacanti.com, click hurdy gurdy! I have three kids, they say it is very noisy! I am not going to frighten you away because I know how much I love it and how I fallen in love with it appr. 18 months ago and headed towards it (I made a grant application to fund it, so got it very cheap as far as my own pocket was concerned.) But it will be hard for you to find the time, unless you get them to play it. I bet you are in the US... Good luck! Cecilia On 10/10/06 14:29, "Natasha Hawke" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hello! I'm new to the list, and you probably get a thousand e-mails > like this one... but I've been captivated by the Hurdy Gurdy for a > long time... and I've gotten to the place where I just can't not have > one anymore! However they seem exceptionally expensive. Any advice > on getting an instrument at a reasonable cost? (I'm thinking around > 1,000. as reasonable.) I don't want a kit, or a real fixer upper. > Ideally I wouldn't mind that, but I'm a single mom of 5 kids, working > 3 jobs, yadda-yadda-yadda- lets just say I'd rather spend my time > practicing and playing then pulling my hair out trying to get it to > make a sound (I do understand there will be some of this anyways, but > I'd like to minimize the amount of it). > > Anyhow... I love this instrument so much, and really want to get my > grubby little hands on one! Any advice is welcome. > > Thank you, > > Natasha
