It may be that some people are giving he name gusli to a plucked instrument, but it is the standard name (gusla, gusle) for a bowed string instrument, shaped like half a pear, and one string played with a bow, used in mediaeval times ( 3-4 strings) and still played in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Crete. ( And see Marcuse. Musical Instruments
Michael t -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ernic Kamerich Sent: 05 January 2008 08:49 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HG] string tension help A gusli is a plucked instrument, so it is not to be compared with a hurdy gurdy: it may have a much lower string tension, say about 3 kg instead of 6 to 8 kg. Nylgut will work fine, I suppose: it works fine on many early plucked instruments. A short time ago I heard Sequentia (in this case Benjamin Bagby + another fine player/singer) play two reconstructions of a medieval lyre with nylgut, with a fine sound. You might try to contact Sequentia directly or go to the early music list ( <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [EMAIL PROTECTED]). The hg is not a list to discuss other instruments. I have tried nylgut on my hurdy gurdies, it works, but I prefer gut. By the way, nylgut has a somewhat lower density as gut. Good luck. Ernic --------------------- 2008/1/5, Wolodymyr Smishkewych < [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >: Cali and Alden, and anyone else: I am trying to calculate strings I need for an instrument (not a HG), and am at a loss. Just for comparison's sake, what is the string tension and usual vibrating length on a HG that you folks make, and what string gauges of gut would you use for stringing chanterelles, if the customer so desired? I think the instrument I have would withstand about the same tension as a HG, so it would certainly help me figure it out. I am using Arto's string calculator for my calculations ( http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/wikla/mus/Calcs/wwwscalc.html ) but if anyone has any other suggestions they'd be very welcome. The instrument I am stringing up, by the way, can be viewed at: http://www.rolandinstrument.com/ind/index.php?page=8 <http://www.rolandinstrument.com/ind/index.php?page=8&lang=2> &lang=2 I'll be using Nylgut, which has similar density to regular gut, but is very reliable. Anyone tried it for HGs yet? Thanks so much! Vlad Wolodymyr Smishkewych wolodymyrsmishkewych.com [EMAIL PROTECTED]
