You might want to stay away from that one too   .. I've not heard anything good 
about the N.Sweet Hurdy Gurdies...  I know it's tempting since they are so 
cheap but you get what you pay for..  seth

Joe Mejia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:      .hmmessage P  {  margin:0px;  
padding:0px  }  body.hmmessage  {  FONT-SIZE: 10pt;  FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma  }      
Arle et al.,

Thanks for the tips about the kit. I'll stay away from it.

I was looking at the Chinook, and also this one: 
http://larkinthemorning.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_HUR002_A_Nouveau++Flat+Back+Hurdy+Gurdy+by+Nathan+Sweet_E_
 . 
I was hoping there might be something cheaper out there. I guess not though, 
right? I suppose if the instrument isn't mass produced, there aren't going to 
be low priced models. I'm coming from the world of guitar. Years after I began 
playing, I now have some nice guitars that cost quite a bit, but I started on 
one found at a garage sale for just a few dollars. I was praying for a kind of 
deja vu with the hurdy-gurdy.

I'm located in Chicago. I've seen people in the area play them before, but I 
don't know them personally or anything like that.

- Joe



    
---------------------------------
  From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [HG] Customizing a kit
Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:05:38 -0500

Joe,  

  On this list you will get few kind words about the kits. Let's just say that 
they all have deficiencies that are especially problematic when you do not yet 
know how to take care of problems. The Musikit one is especially bad in many 
ways. While you can get a *playable* instrument from them, you will spend large 
amounts of time (and need access to tools and materials) to rectify its 
problems. With a kit the best I think you can aspire to is an "OK" instrument, 
and that only with a lot of work.
  

  Starting the hurdy gurdy is a challenge as it is and having a bad/mediocre 
instrument makes it that much harder. (I speak from experience, unfortunately.) 
If you want relatively inexpensive, yet good quality, consider ordering the 
Hackmans' Chinook model: http://www.hurdygurdy.com/products/chinook.htm ($1800)
  

  Where are you located Joe? It might make sense to see if there are any 
players in your area whom you could visit and learn from before you decide what 
you want to do. Even with a kit, your time investment is going to be 
substantial, so you should be sure you're getting what you want. And if you're 
going to plunk down a minimum of $1800 for an instrument, you'll really want to 
do your homework.
  

  -Arle
  

  

  

  

  
    On Dec 17, 2007, at 12:16 PM, Joe Mejia wrote:

    Hello group,
 
My name is Joe and I'm brand new to the hurdy-gurdy. As a matter of fact, I 
neither know how to play nor do I own a hurdy-gurdy. But I am looking into 
fixing both of those problems soon.
 
I've been researching the instrument and watching this mailing list for a 
little while and I've come to the conclusion that I want a hurdy with a 
chromatic keyboard. I read that it opens up many more options for playing 
music. I also want one that is affordable, since I am but a poor college 
student trying to finish up school. The latter part has been a real issue so 
far. This isn't a cheap hobby!
 
So, I found some kits on the internet in my price range, but the problem is 
they have diatonic keyboards (Or tangents? What is the correct term?). I was 
wondering, since I am somewhat handy at tinkering, would it be possible to 
convert a diatonic kit, such as the one found at musikit.com 
(http://www.musikit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=hurdy),
 into a chromatic keyboard setup? 
 
Thanks in advance,
 
- Joe

  
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