Hi Robert, See below:
1) The maker's website states that his instrument can be ordered with bass tuning (one octave lower). Does this just mean you can get thicker strings for low pitch? or is that a different model of hurdy-gurdy altogether?
Usually this means that you get heavier strings, not a different instrument
2) I was curious if the tekero has the option of a "capo" to quickly change the pitch of a drone (eg, from D to G), or of a trompette (eg, from C to D). I attach a copy of an email the maker sent me which seems to indicate something like this.
Most do not, but I think he is saying that he has started using capos. If you want, let me know and I can write to him in Hungarian and ask him about what exactly he has in mind. Perhaps Cecilia could help here as well, since she is friends with Béla and is a native speaker of Hungarian (I speak it as a second language).
3) Is there any advantage to 6 strings on a tekero?
Not really, if you want to play Hungarian music. Because of the small wheel, most tekerős can't handle six strings anyway. If you go for the larger wheel and crank you can accommodate more strings, but you will have trouble doing the Hungarian buzzing-bridge technique (see below).
4) Is there any advantage between the Hungarian- and French-style wheel setups?
The possibilities are rather different. The smaller wheel of the Hungarian instrument and its buzzing bridge system are set up to allow you to do fast buzzing in syncopated twos. The French instrument allows for more divisions of the rotation for buzzing, and many players consider it more capable, but if you want to play Hungarian music, you should really get the Hungarian wheel and crank. It makes a big difference. If you want to play other types of music, however, you may want to consider the larger wheel. It's a matter of what you have in mind.
Best, Arle
