Douwe (et al)--
I'd like to relate my own experience with the hurdy-gurdy and
building v. buying. Though I am a "newbie" to this list, and to the
instrument, my story begins about 30 years ago when, with limited experience
of any kind with the HG, I decided I had to have one to add to my collection
of renaissance instruments (I had been performing in a semi-professional
capacity on lute, rackett, recorders and tromba marina.) I had woodworking
skills and and tools, but no money; no kits that I knew of. I found plans
with some inexplicable elements to them, so I contacted a luthier in
California who built HGs; he patiently described building techniques,
materials, and (oh, yes) all the flaws in the plans I had purchased. I
ended up pleading poverty with regard to buying an HG from him and getting
him to sell me a set of his own plans with the promise that I was not
intending to make and sell HGs using his design.
It was not until 1994-95 that I finally got around to doing the
building. It is very painstaking! but enjoyable if you like that sort of
thing. I finally produced a working instrument, but I still needed further
guidance from a knowledgeable string dealer to get the right gauge strings.
It certainly cannot compare with the product of a professional luthier, but
I'm satisfied. I didn't have access to a list like this which can be so very
helpful. After a long hiatus from my HG, I'm back at it, learning proper
cottoning and other maintenance and, of course, playing.
So--I can't recommend or denigrate any of the available kits, but if
you are a careful woodworker and decide to proceed from scratch with a set
of plans, make sure they are accurate. Find a luthier who is willing to
discuss the project with you. Also, find some hurdy-gurdies to look at
and/or play so that you know how they are supposed to work. I didn't have
that opportunity, and I am sure it would have helped me quite a bit. The
book by Doreen Muskett and one by Destrem and Heideman (Die Drehleier/ La
vielle/ The Hurdy-Gurdy--in three languages!) were also a help.
Good Luck and best regards in the New Year,
Leonard Williams
On 1/3/08 8:12 PM, "Douwe Boschma" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>>> Douwe Boschma <[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:d [EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>> <mailto:[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 r ight 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=hur>>>>
d
>>>>
<http://www.musikit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Cod>>>>
e
>>>> =hurd>
>>>>
<http://www.musikit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Cod>>>>
e
>>>> =hurd>
>>>> y
>>>>
>>>> And I have found an other one=2 0that 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 20is 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
