You hit on it exactly in your last statement. The gurdy comes in many flavors, they have tonal differences, but the differences are not as many as the similarities. And for those who have spent a lifetime learning to play a gurdy, they have come to know the sounds and tonal components that make a gurdy a gurdy. Those sounds and tonal components come from years of tradition, from the way the instrument was steered throughout the ages. People here give their recomendations according to the playability, the agility, the usability of the instruments in a performance venue. They compare them to the work of the Hackmans, to Nagy, to the other really fine builders instruments, and they are trying to get people not to settle for something limited by design, but to assure folks get a world of gurdy opportunity. They want you to have the best tool for the job. And in that respect, they are usually quite right about kits and plans.
You can buy a cheap violin from China, and if you are lucky and get a professional to set it up, you can play the violin parts of a piece recognizably, and even sound something like a violin. But even if you are the finest virtuoso in the world, the music you produce is both from your skill and from the instrument, and a surprising amount of what comes out comes from the instrument without you telling it to. So the cheap violin will work for lots of things, but it will never make your musical experience what it could be with a much finer insturment. The gurdy is not simply a droned, wheel driven stringed instrument - that is a mechano-agitated droned chordophone. The gurdy is different from, say, Dennis Havelena's $20 hurdy gurdy like object. My sinphone is a sort-of gurdy, it doesn't have the soul of a great instrument but it does OK in renn faire and other cheesy demo applications. It makes a drony, stringy sound that is recognizable as belonging to the gurdy family, but it is not a great instrument (or, I would imagine some here would say, even a very good one). But I am happy with it the way every mother is happy with their own child, it is the brightest, most handsome, most gifted thing around. But I am biased. Yes, you can make an instrument you can play from many of these kits and plans. But it will almost assuredly never give you what a professional instrument will give you. But it will give you something a professional instrument will not. You will know things after you build your first instrument that most players don't ever get to know. And if you pay attention, and are willing to experiment with your first child, as it were, then your second, and maybe third, and even further if you are so inclined, you CAN end up with a really nice instrument, and great knowledge, and you will be ahead. But it will cost you, cost in time, visits to builders to learn, materials, used up favors, the disgust of your house pets after listening to your squawking, squeaking experiments every day. It will cost you more than you would simply pay for an instrument. But that past earns you something more than just an instrument, so in many ways, it is simply worth it. If you are that kind of person - bright, mechanically talented, dedicated and focused, a touch of massochism and sadism. Just my 2 cents worth Chris Now comes more learning questions. *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 2/3/2008 at 10:10 PM Marsbar wrote: I can see what you mean. The tone is very thin and lacks substance (no bark ;-] ). But it is all about expectations. If I go to see an Adam Sandler movie I go with low expectations and occasionally I get pleasantly surprised even though there are still cringeworthy moments. It is possible that even the kit model could have a use in a group scenario especially to add colour in a medieval faire setting. The lack of the trompette wouldnt be as important if other members are maintaining the rhythm. And those of you who know what it should sound like can wander off to the other end of the faire and drown your sorrows with some mulled ale ;-]. Fi From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Douwe Boschma Sent: Sunday, 3 February 2008 9:25 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [HG] Re: hurdy gurdy kits...or the DIY fanatics folly. Kit obsession? I dont think that it is a strange question for someone new. You have IKEA, model aeroplanes even whole houses that come as a kit. Not all are of bad quality either. But asking around and researching I found out that building an instrument is more critical. Kinds and quality of wood used. Glue that is provided, the way it has been sawed, instruction, the patience and precision of the builder etc. Still it is a good thing to ask around if you dont know about something. My first objective was to save money but still looking for a proper instrument. At the end I have ordered one from a builder which will be finished at the end of this year. But well. The most convincing thing might be your own ears. Here it is... The music maker kit... finished: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKM_99Y0KME ;-) Douwe
