Hi Doug, I just bought the Heidemann / Destrem book from Lark in the Morning and right now it is 10% off ($36 instead of $40). It is also available from Ebay Germany, but the shipping is very expensive.
Alan From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: AW: [HG-new] Re: Tone problems Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 13:39:42 +0100 Hi Doug, I would highly recommend to by the Heidemann / Destrem book “The Hurdy-Gurdy – Maintenance and Setup”. It is a book full of information how to get all the annoying little details solved that may spoil the playing fun. And there is nothing more unpleasant than a hurdy-gurdy with screeching, raspling, ear-tickling noises. Yes, shimming might help to lower string pressure, and cottoning might help to get a sweeter tone. But – there are many ways of mis-doing, and the Heidemann / Destrem book explains the coherences of different settings. The book is tri-langual English, French and German and contains many many drawings that depict the technical dates. I don’t know if it is easy to get in USA, but I saw it once at the Lark In The Morning Store in San Francisco and searching amazon.com brought just one hit: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=heidemann+destrem&x=0&y=0 And now to something (not really) completely different: I saw on your website you are dealing with History through Music. I wonder if during your studies you ever came along the tracks of the so called “Hurdy-Gurdy Girls”. It is know by historians that many girls from the German province Hessen during the 19th century were “hired” by conscienceless agents to immigrate to USA playing music in the music halls. It is reported that even in some Gold rush towns hurdy-gurdy girls were playing their music, but mostly forced to prostitution. For me it would be exciting to find if there are any tracks in the American folklore music basing on the traditional dance music that was brought by the hurdy-gurdy girls to America. I’m not sure if this is a topic to be discussed here on the list – if you wish you can send me a PN to discuss – if you are interested on that topic or if you have any information. Best regards, Ulrich Von: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Im Auftrag von Doug Harvey Gesendet: Sonntag, 1. März 2009 15:34 An: [email protected] Betreff: [HG-new] Re: Tone problems Thanks for your responses -- it's easy to feel isolated with a HG in Kansas. :>) I have a Chinook -- it's a great instrument when everything is working, but it's probably a bit of climate shock from the Pacific NW to Kansas -- and I spend half my time in western Kansas which is dryer still. I'mplanning to get a humidifier for it soon. I've fiddled with the bridge/nut adjustment on the Chinook, but I don't want to screw something up so I've been pretty timid. How does the adjustment work? Is it the Allen screw on the end of the bridge or do you actually turn the piece that serves as a saddle? Thanks again, Doug Dr. Douglas Harvey Assistant Professor of History Fort Hays State University www.RowanCelticMusic.com www.DougHIarvey.org "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks." John F. Kennedy ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Opp To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 8:08 AM Subject: [HG-new] Re: Tone problems If it is from Alden and Cali, they have these strange little things on the bridge, that you can adjust instead of shimming. They're strange to use, granted this is my first gurdy and i havent shimmed with paper before, but it is still a little strange.. My insturment went through alot when i moved it from the west coast to ND so I had to fiddle with it a lot. What kind of gurdy is it? I got an Orca from them. the thing has changed my life. On Sun, Mar 1, 2009 at 12:18 AM, Oscar Van Loveren 000724 recon <[email protected]> wrote: Shim....the answer is a shim. Little pieces of paper, you can experiment with varying weights, to raise the string off the bridge. The way it was explained to me is that for strength reasons, the grain of the bridge runs in such a way that is also expands and contracts with moisture/temp changes..... so, shim when necessary. Oscar. > > Maybe to much cotton... > Put new cotton on it... > Marc > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Doug Harvey" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, March 01, 2009 1:25 AM > Subject: [HG-new] Re: Tone problems > > > > > > Greetings, > > > > I'm the proud owner of a new Hurdy Gurdy made by Alden > and Cali at Olympic > > Musical Instruments. I am a folk musician new to the > Hurdy Gurdy, but I'm > > not new to stringed instruments. > > > > My experience of the last couple of weeks is mainly > positive, but a couple > > of problems have arisen. > > > > My problem is this: the high chanterelle never totally > leaves the surface > > of > > the wheel when I put it on its little stand, whatever > that's called, > > creating a cacophonous overtone sound. But more > annoying still is that > > when > > it is contacting the wheel, most of the time it sounds > horrible. I've > > been > > experimenting with rosin and cotton and have had some > luck with that, but > > this "grinding" sound keeps coming back. I'm thinking > there is a > > relationship between the string's position and the evil > sound that > > persists. > > The chanterelle, if played by itself when it's doing > this, makes no sound > > that could be called musical. The tangents have little > effect. Thoughts? > > > > Many thanks in advance, > > Doug Harvey > > Lawrence, KS, USA > > > > ----------------------------------------- > > Douglas Harvey, Ph.D. > > Assistant Professor of History > > Fort Hays State University > > www.RowanCelticMusic.com > > www.DougHarvey.org > > "If I could lead you into the Promised Land, > > I would not do it, because someone else > > would come along and lead you out." > > Eugene > Debs > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > > Checked by AVG. > > Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.4/1976 - > Release Date: 27-2-2009 > > 13:27 > > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- Web mail provided by NuNet, Inc. The Premier National provider. http://www.nni.com/ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.557 / Virus Database: 270.11.4/1976 - Release Date: 2/27/2009 1:27 PM --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hurdygurdy" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found at http://hurdygurdy.com/mailinglist/index.htm. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
