Hmm... Good point about using a beveled wheel. The strings could fan out
slightly from the upper nut, just as they do on most bowed instruments, and
contact the near edge at an angle. This would obviate the need for a raised
bowing track on the wheel face, and avoid contact with the rear edge. I still
think multiple wheels could be placed side by side on a single axle, although
that would make cottoning rather difficult and require bridges to be placed on
the narrow strips of soundboard between wheel wells. Good point about the
vertical vibration requiring a high fingerboard action... I didn't think of
that. Since this kind of instrument must be held upright like a 'cello to work
the crank, a HG-style sliding keyboard would need a springloaded return. It
could also be replaced by a row of levers, mounted under the strings in
clavichord fashion. Ah, well... I guess it isn't the groundbreaking innovation
I thought it was at first glance. Could any of you give me advice on how to
begin learning woodworking or lutherie, so I can eventually try to work this
out for myself?
I just love how many options and challenges there are in the world of musical
isntruments. Of course, not all ideas are worth pursuing!
Nathan Roy
> Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 15:50:35 +1300> To: [email protected]> From: [EMAIL
> PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [HG] Vertical Wheel Bow?!> > At 03:18 PM 1/3/2008
> -0800, you wrote:> Hi Nathan,> If it wasn't for silly ideas the h-g would
> never> have been invented in the first place!> > The edge of the wheel should
> be blunt arrow-head shaped in> profile so that a string could bear on both
> sides> and clear the rear edge of the wheel.> > You could still have multiple
> strings, say six, one above and one below> the chanter on each side and have
> the wheel rub at a slight angle on the> upper and lower pairs. Although that
> would tend to drag the cotton off!> > Perhaps all the strings should be near
> parrallel to the edge of the wheel> and not to each other?> > Getting
> complicated!> > At first glance it's not a silly idea at all.> I expect there
> are more than one unforseen problems.> I might try a mock up and see what
> happens!> > A major problem is that the string would oscillate vertically>
> rather than horizontally and you would have to have an> unacceptably high
> action to clear the fingerboard.> > It might be a good idea for the standard
> style key/tangent> as it would elliminate that contact rattle although as I
> learn > to play I am comming to rather like it!> > Regards, Tony>
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