On Sep 7, 2010, at 7:45:28 AM, "Gašper Kvartič" <[email protected]> wrote:
From: "Gašper Kvartič" <[email protected]> Subject: [HG-new] New member Date: September 7, 2010 7:45:28 AM EDT To: [email protected] Hello! My name is Gašper, I am from Slovenia and have just joined your mailing list. The reason I did so is that I like the wheel fiddle very much and last year me and my uncle, who is a craftsman, built a unique hurdy-gurdy (but not the Dennis Havlena type, mind) at his home. It is teardrop-shaped, has no buzzing bridge (yet, maybe), 2 drones and two melody strings. It is tuned in C, with drones lower C and G. Pictures here: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs225.snc4/38591_106855502702676_100001346811936_47863_2197672_n.jpg http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs164.snc4/37537_106855446036015_100001346811936_47859_1708840_n.jpg And let my first mail be a question as well: Because my hurdy is homemade, it is harder to set up to play properly. I am still working on it and now it sounds quite nice. BUT: There is an irritating problem with one of the notes I play. I use brass shafts and wooden pegs, seen here (sorry for the bad quality): http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs109.ash2/38773_106855512702675_100001346811936_47864_4313182_n.jpg The problem is that the fourth key (4 semitones up, E), when pressed against the vibrating string, makes a really annoying noise, like a small wood chipper. At times, the note is normal, I can play it like any other. But at other times it just makes me wanna buy a hurdy that works fine =). The same thing, just no so loud, you almost can't notice, happens on the 5th key (F) and the eighth (A). I'm not sure what is causing the problem. I've tried replacing the string, didn't work, replaced the peg, also didn't work .. What can be causing this horible sound? If any of you has some idea, please let me know. I will be grateful. See you around, Gašper -- 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. Greetings, Gašper! Although I am not an expert on the instrument, it sounds as if the resonances on those notes may be making the key rods vibrate in their slots. It might not even be those particular keys themselves, but some of the other keys vibrating in sympathy. To diagnose this, you could remove the other keys ,one by one, and test those notes; then see if the vibrations stop. If you can pinpoint the offending keys, you might try putting some sort of bushing in the slots to cushion them - perhaps a fine layer of felt or leather? Interesting action, by the way: I have sketched some similar ideas myself. One detail seems unclear, though: how do you tune the tangents? I hope my suggestions may be of some help. -Bill -- 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.
