You're right, Michael, gurdies ARE rare, good ones doubly so. I can't
tell you the number of gigs where we've showed up only to have people
sort of back away from the gurdy because they've had a bad one
inflicted on them. Once I get playing they (usually) settle down and
(usually) enjoy themselves. Too many times I've heard the comment
after a set, "Gee, your gurdy sounds like a musical instrument." I'm
not bragging- my playing is not of the highest or most traditional
quality- and I have what many folks would consider a slightly-above
entry level instrument, (a Hubbert Volksgurdy) but at least it is a
fully functioning instrument that is capable of being properly tuned.
Even then I DO complain about it sometimes! :D
I was extremely lucky to have not only heard a couple of good
instruments but to have had good advice about where to send my money.
I was even more fortunate to get a crash course in set up and basic
playing right after it came in the mail. Thanks to Anna Clemenger I
was not let loose upon an unsuspecting public with a bad instrument
and no instruction! I still only had time for the one lesson before
setting out on tour as it came three days before I was due to leave.
I played very simple things for a long, long time- and it was very
well received. Again, much of that was due to the instrument's
quality. Even so, it's been an uphill battle and I've been extremely
grateful for the many teachers along the way who've helped me so much
in taming much of the beastly qualities of the gurdy. I would have
had the same problems only magnified with a more advanced instrument
but at least I wasn't fighting with an unplayable piece of excrement
and thinking that it was all my fault that it sounded so bad.
I think that's what bothers me the most, that someone with all that
excitement and eagerness to play a gurdy ends up with a bad instrument
(for whatever reason) and then thinks, "I can't play this and it's my
fault," or some variation that puts the blame on them instead of the
instrument/builder. Even with a decent gurdy there have been times
when I had to set it down very gently and walk away to vent my
frustration safely on something else. At least in my case I knew it
WAS my issue that I couldn't get the cotton on correctly or do the
coup correctly or figure out a fingering. It's not the wheel rubbing
the cotton off or a trompette that will never work or keys that stick
or are so loose that they flop over like wet grass.
I will add one more thing to this thread before I try to stop
yapping. I have heard several of what I would consider unplayable
instruments sounding absolutely wonderful. One was a kit, the other
was barely a step above a kit and the third by a fairly famous builder
who must have been having a "bad hair day." Because of their players
(with wildly varying levels of ability and musical education) and the
tweaking that these people did with these otherwise potentially
dreadful gurdies they were very, very nice. A couple of these even
had weed-whacker line for strings!!! So as much as I complain about
poor instruments it's obvious that sometimes it's not the instrument
at all but the person behind it. And isn't that a wonderful thing?
Felicia.
On Apr 13, 2011, at 1:24 PM, Michael McMillan wrote:
> I think I've only been able to help about three or four of the
twenty or more people who asked me due to the poor quality of the
gurdy they bought.
Part of the problem [besides expense] is that gurdies are so rare in
many places. Some people will never actually lay eyes on a fine
instrument, much less hear a good player live, and they are even
less likely to be able to get good advice from someone one-on-one.
Thus far, I fall into all these categories.
I'm not interested in buying a GSO, but I still hear a lot of
complaining by real musicians about the real things, too! ;o) If an
isolated individual who is not a musician buys a super 'gurdy, and
can get no help with it, I can imagine he may also be quite
frustrated.
--Michael
From: Felicia Dale <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Wed, April 13, 2011 3:03:37 PM
Subject: Re: [HG-new] GSO on eBay
It's just so depressing!!! Here is this enthusiastic, eager, ready
to learn person with an unusable instrument that they spent good
money on. :( It's just so depressing- and so frustrating and it
happens WAY more often than is necessary. I think I've only been
able to help about three or four of the twenty or more people who
asked me due to the poor quality of the gurdy they bought.
Felicia.
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