Re: [HG] Kit or no kit? And if so which one?The only positive comments that I
have seen regarding hg kits have come from a person who's picture of him
holding his kit built hg appears in the musicmaker catalog, or did. Hmmmm.
Barry
www.blackboardcreations.com
----- Original Message -----
From: colin
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 1:38 PM
Subject: Re: [HG] Kit or no kit? And if so which one?
That's more than I know regarding kits. I am a recent player and have very
little knowledge of any instrument (built or kit) other than my own BUT I bow
to the experience of those on the list who DO know what they are talking about
and, as has been said, this subject is often the first question asked by a new
list member.
There are many makers on the list and they know a lot about HGs although
often the news is not what we want to hear.
I was just answering from replies I have read (and heeded) in the past.
Another post from me tells you about my HG but there are other "budget" ones
available from good makers - not as cheap as a kit but probably better to start
with but it depends where you live. Overseas postage and packing can be
daunting in some parts of the world and that can make a difference.
I suppose you have checked Olympic musical instruments?
The Chinook is around $1800 US (if that's where you are) and the makers run
this list :).
Better to save a little longer than try to get something for less - you will
know the difference.
If you tell us where you are (which country), I'm sure you will get a good
recommendation BUT a decent HG costs. It's not possible to get "cheap" and
"playable" into the same phrase.
Colin Hill
----- Original Message -----
From: Douwe Boschma
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 6:21 PM
Subject: Re: [HG] Kit or no kit? And if so which one?
Hi Colin,
I understood that indeed about the Kit from www.musikit.com, but does that
apply to all kits? Do you know about a builder that does builds proper budget
ones?
I am really pleased with all the replies by the way. I just won't react to
all of them but I appreciate ever one.
Douwe
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Colin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 17:19:57 -0000
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [HG] Kit or no kit? And if so which one?
Whilst awaiting the comments from those who really know, everything I have
read says NO KIT unless you really want the experience of building one for fun.
Everybody seems to say that you will spend at least as much again to get it
playable so it's no cheaper than buying a "proper" one direct from a maker.
There are good budget ones available or start saving for one.
You get what you pay for with a HG.
Personally I have no respect for EMS either because my dulcimer was badly
built (I bought the "ready made" kit assembled by them) and the bits didn't fit
properly and two of the frets are not set correctly (at an angle).
I could have done better myself (indeed, I had done with a few bits of
plywood and a bit of 2"x1" pine at night school).
Colin Hill
----- Original Message -----
From: Seth <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
,
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: [HG] Kit or no kit? And if so which one?
Kit or no Kit??? NO KIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have never heard anything good about the kit you link too.. If I were
going to buy a kit I would probably go with EMS because they seem to carry
quality stuff.. I think its a diatonic instrument.. Anyone have experience
with the EMS kits or EMS Symphony's... Cheers, Seth
From the EMS website...
NEW - EMS Symphony in kit form
- 4 string symphony kit
£ 276.38
Douwe Boschma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hello everybody,
I am new on the list as well and I have a newbie question that I am
unable
to find an answer about.
But lets start properly with a small introduction. I am Douwe, a 38 yo
male
living in the Norwegian moutains on a small farm with my wife and two
girls
(0 and 6). Originally I am Dutch and I work (amongst some of other
trades)
as a graphic designer.
Since my youth I have had a medieval gen buzzing in my system. It
expresses
itself in many ways but it especially starts to resonate franticly if
I hear
the sound of the hurdygurdy. I get a lyrical feeling that I don't have
with
any other instrument even though I play some different instruments.
Because of this lingering love I have been thinking for years about
buying a
hurdygurdy, but as with a lot of people my income goes straight into
the
household so I am on budget too low to afford one that would be to my
taste.
Because of this I decided to build one. I already have a plan for a
hungarian HG from the music museum in Stockholm ;-) I love the
"no-frills"
form, it is a large one (and I am a very tall guy) and I expect a warm
and
rich sound, lest the right kind of tone wood will be used. But before I
start with that undertaking I want to get a good feel for the
instrument (on
the inside and outside) so I considered buying a kit to get me going.
Now I found two kits on internet.
The musikit.com one is well advertised but also one that I'm sure I
don't
want because of it would need a lot of work to get a reasonable sound
and
versatility out of it.
I am talking about this one:
http://www.musikit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=hurd
y
And I have found an other one that I can't find any additional
information
about and that is this one:
http://www.masterkit.com/rwc/products/hurdy.htm
I seems to have all the specs I am looking for except from a lacking
key as
I understood about this 18th century french model. But does anyone
have
experience with this HG-kit, or has anyone heard about it? Can I
expect it
to be good enough for a starter? Or is it a toy to hang on the wall?
;-).
It is a budget thing really, as I can't spend more what that one would
cost
me. It is even above my budget. In usd bout 1000. In euros about 740.
So that is the only option I found out about that might be a valid
one, but
it is something that I wish to validate with knowledgeable people!
Maybe
there are other options too that I don't know about! I'm all eyes and
ears.
Sorry for this very long mail, but I though that it would be right to
show a
bit about myself trough in it as I am new here. Any next on will be
more to
the point.
With best regards,
Douwe
