HI THERE .. YOU REMEMBER I USED A KIT . FINAL PRODUCT WAS NICE .SUPER LOOK BUT.... JUNK SOUND REALY NOT NICE AND HIGH NOTE VERY HARD TO REACH .... DRONES WAS JUST ACCEPTABLE .. WELL AND IF YOU DONT PLAY ,, YOU JUST DONT KNOW HOW ADJUST IT ..!!JUST COTONING NEED A DIPLOMA LOL...
I WILL BE DIRECT AND HONEST WITH YOU BROTHER .. WAIT UNTIL HAVE AROUND 3000. US .OR IF YOU REALY NEED ONE NOW .. GO TO THE BANK ,, IT IS BETTER THAN TO SPEND YOUR TIME AND MONEY IN A PROJECT LIKE THIS ... EVERYBODY TOLD ME HERE .. BUT WITH MY PIG HEAD .. I TRIED ..I LOSTED MY TIME AND MONEY . YOU KNOW I AM IN THIS FORUM SINCE 6-TO 12 MONTH HERE I HAD THE TIME TO ANALYSE THIS QUESTION VERY WELL ,AND IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME QUESTION ..AND THE SAME ANSWER LOLLLLLL WELL ... FOR ME , IF YOU WANT WAIT ...LOL... ASK ALDEN TO MADE ONE FOR YOU . IF NOT GO ON LARK OF THE MORNING FOR 3000. plus shipping YOU WILL HAVE IN ONE WEEK A GOOD INSTRUMENT READY TO USE . ( if not i think buy a used one made from a true luthier is less risk than build a kit ) WHAT CAN I TELL YOU MORE ... IT IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED ... BYE SYLVAIN . french canadian ----- Original Message ----- From: Matthew Szostak To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 10:18 AM Subject: Re: [HG] A passionate newbie full of questions Hi William, I want to add my opinions to this "amateur" kit- and scratch-building issue. This question comes up every so often, but I think it's an important one to discuss, so I'm glad you're here. There seem to be two main points to your discussion: 1)You want a hurdy-gurdy, and 2) you wish there were "good plans or a "good" kit. First of all, the kit/plan issue. You want a "truly functional" hurdy-gurdy kit, and/or plans that will allow someone with no instrument making experience to make a decent hurdy-gurdy on the first try. The simple fact is, as most of the "naysayers" here have stated, what you want isn't readily available. Umm. sorry. Please don't berate the hurdy-gurdy community for not providing this <g>. The two following sentences in particular from your recent post caught my attention: "...the demand for a good kit and/or building plans is obviously there. It truly surprises me that someone with the knowledge and experience has not stepped up to the challenge and created a good set of plans or a truly functional kit to aid those adventurous few that wish to challenge themselves." I would argue that there isn't really an obvious demand for a good kit or plans, if only an adventurous few wish to challenge themselves. Proper plans, which must include many detailed drawings and instructions, would require a great deal of time and effort to create. That adventurous few would have to pay a hefty price indeed to make it worthwhile to anyone undertaking the job of creating the plans. I'm here to tell you that as expensive as a hurdy-gurdy may seem, it doesn't cost much for the amount of effort that goes into making a good one. Most of the people I know who would be qualified to create the resource you're looking for are plenty busy just trying to make a living building instruments. And, I suspect that not all of the adventurous few would want the *same* hurdy-gurdy. There are many different styles, and this would reduce even further the need for plans of any one particular style. Kits: I cannot speak for any other makers, but for me creating a kit would probably be as much work as making a complete hurdy-gurdy. When I make an instrument, I try to follow a somewhat consistent order of work that (in theory, anyway <g>) allows for a certain efficiency in the process. And despite the detailed mechanical nature of many of the parts, and my goal of making things the same way each time, I do in fact adapt bits and fine tune some adjustments as I go along, a process that just doesn't lend itself to the kit-building concept. It's been said time and again: much of the effort of making a nice sounding and well playing hurdy-gurdy is in the setup and adjustment which takes place after most of the construction work is done. This is arguably the greatest challenge to the novice hurdy-gurdy maker. To create a kit that works well and works consistently for most anyone without any hurdy-gurdy experience is an awfully tall order. You may have noticed that I'm staying away from any personal opinion about currently available kits. Unlike some of the other builders and players on this list, I have no experience with any of them, so I cannot objectively comment on them. But most on the list who have an opinion think that someone without any experience with instrument making in general, and hurdy-gurdies in particular, cannot expect to end up with a hurdy-gurdy that sounds good and works well. I do know of a couple of people who have been satisfied with the end result of their kit-making efforts, but only after assistance with setup issues from someone with experience. Most who end up with a hurdy-gurdy that works well enough to inspire them to continue playing soon want more features or better sound than the kit provides; they either buy a "professional" instrument or use what they've learned to make their own improved version. This is, in my opinion, a strong statement about the inherent difficulties of hurdy-gurdy kits in general. In the end, even the best kit is only as good as the experience of the builder that makes it. Blah, blah, blah. what you really want is a hurdy-gurdy, right? We can discuss the lack of plans and the merits of kits forever; it's interesting but it's taking away from your hurdy-gurdy building time! I may be misconstruing some of the comments made by some of the list members, but I don't think that anyone here is insisting that you *not* build your own hurdy-gurdy. If you truly want to try, then by all means you should! In fact, from your in-depth postings, I get the impression that you're someone who would in fact not be truly satisfied with simply ponying up and buying a ready-made instrument. So, what are you waiting for? Talk to the people who have built their own instruments. Some are list members; some have websites documenting their projects. Find out what they've used for resources, and get cracking! There are no "secret enclaves" of hurdy-gurdy players in most every American town; there are barely any hurdy-gurdy players in *any* American town. Most of them, however, are willing to give their opinions if you ask them, which you did. Most, also (myself included), are willing to help when they can, if you ask, which you will. This is *precisely* why this list exists, and there is no better use of it. As Geoff and Juan have said, if you are determined to succeed you will, despite the lack of kits or plans you desire. Maybe in the end, you'll be the one who creates the kit or plan that everyone will want! ~ Matt At 01:10 AM 5/28/2008, you wrote: Greetings unto Melissa and the list, I agree with your argument to a point... "I don't think that anyone has made a violin kit that can be successfully made by someone who has never played a violin before. I don't think anyone builds a bicycle without first learning how to ride a bicycle built by someone else. Why should hg be any different?" I know of instrument makers who have never played a day in their life yet produce lovely, fully functional instruments. Being able to play is not a requirement for making an instrument, although it would certainly be a great boon to the effort. The same could be said for your argument about the bicycle. It would be valid argument if I had never seen a bicycle in person and was trying to create one from scratch with few or no references. The end result would most certainly be a miserable failure. But, if I was armed a great deal of research before I started and a valid set of plans, or even better a well designed kit made by a professional bicycle builder, I could more than likely create a functional bicycle. I certainly would not expect to win the Tour De France on it, but it would more than likely function well enough for every day use. If the making of a hg by a novice had never happened, I would not be making this argument. I would willingly acquiesce to the wisdom of the naysayers. But it has happened, numerous times, with varying degrees of success, as many of the websites and members of this list can attest to. This is how , by their own admission, many hg builders got started. I am not the first and most certainly will not be the last to attempt to make a functional hg. It just seems to me a monumental waste of research , effort, time and money to reinvent the wheel (in this case a rosined one) every single time a novice wants to make a hg. I know that making a hurdy gurdy is a momentous task not to be under taken by most. Yet, the demand for a good kit and/or building plans is obviously there. It truly surprises me that someone with the knowledge and experience has not stepped up to the challenge and created a good set of plans or a truly functional kit to aid those adventurous few that wish to challenge themselves. It seems the only options advocated to most aspiring hg enthusiasts is to buy a professional grade hg (which ,while well worth the money, is cost prohibitive to most people, especially when just starting), to seek out the secret enclaves of hg players that can certainly be found in most every American town and apprentice to them, or sit on the sidelines and be forced to watch as the hg parade pass them by. Many before me have decided to take the road less traveled by trying to make their own hg. I hope to join them. I do not think it unrealistic to hope that some experienced traveler will offer directions to help get these hardy few where they are going with a minimal number of detours and bumps in the road. Just my humble opinion, offered with respect to all who share this list. Sincerely, William Gull ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.24.1/1469 - Release Date: 2008-05-27 13:25
