Before purchasing any more strings, try this. Simply tune your chanter string to g. The 0.94 size will work very well as it is the same size on my Chinook with unison g chanter strings. Next, drop the tuning on your drones to the following, trompette- c, Petite burdon in C and the gros burdon in G. That is standard G/C tuning. Try it, you might like it better. If you really want to play in D/G tuning, then you'll need a 0.99 or even a 1.04 size to play in D, with your drones in d, petite D, and gros in G. Good luck.
--- On Fri, 8/21/09, Leonard Williams <[email protected]> wrote: From: Leonard Williams <[email protected]> Subject: [HG-new] Tech advice: stringing To: "Hurdy-Gurdy List" <[email protected]> Date: Friday, August 21, 2009, 2:03 PM I have a home-built hurdy-gurdy based on a presumed 15th c. style (plans from a reputable early instrument luthier in California). Having no symps or trompette, it is probably more like a symphonie, but with a large, flat-back, lute-shaped body instead of the symphonie's simple box. String length is 438 mm (17.25 in) chanterelle, 457 mm (18 in) drones. Tuning: chanter d' (keyed in G); drones (from top down) g, d, G. (I hope that style of designation is clear--d' a tone above middle c = c'.) I've been through several string gauges on the chanter, working to get the clearest tone, but at best it tends to be squawky at the high end of the register. Currently I'm using 0.94 mm (.037 in) gut. Yes, I have been working on my cottoning, rosining and shimming techniques! The question--with its longer than normal h-g string length, I wonder if I might do well to drop the instrument (in pitch, not bodily!) to a C gurdy with a heavier chanter tuned to g, drones c, G, C. I think the body size of this beasty would support the lower pitch, but I have no idea of relationship between scale length, tone clarity and suitable pitch--i.e., is the scale perhaps to long to produce good high notes with tangents and the limited pressure they function under? I know it doesn't make as much difference on fingerboard instruments, but gurdy is more like a bowed clavichord. Thanks an regards, Leonard Williams _ [: :] / | | \ | | | | (_==_) !~¿ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ 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. To reduce spam, posts from new subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
