Hi Belinda: The vibrating length is the distance between the two bridges on each side of the wheel- the one at the head end of the instrument, and then the one down by the crankshaft end (take the wheel out of the equation for this measurement). Cheers George ----- Original Message ----- From: Belinda Daughtry To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2012 7:41 PM Subject: Re: [HG-new] Digest for [email protected] - 3 Messages in 2 Topics
Hi George, Thanks for the info. That's very helpful indeed. When you say "Vibrating length", are you meaning the distance between the wheel and the bridge? If so, mine are only 13" long. I have the petit model. So the cello strings should work fine. Thanks again, Belinda Sent from my iPad On Jun 17, 2012, at 2:27 AM, [email protected] wrote: Today's Topic Summary Group: http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/topics a.. Bassot's Boston Brother [1 Update] b.. Digest for [email protected] - 8 Messages in 2 Topics [2 Updates] Bassot's Boston Brother Barbara Currier <[email protected]> Jun 16 10:29PM -0700 Well, well, there's another Bassot, Remy born in 1792. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has revised their assessment of their Bassot hg's age and builder, instead of Joseph Bassot who died in 1811. That would make a lot of people who have seen mine very happy. They now say early 19th century. I would like to compare handwriting on the signature under the peghead. Mine does not have so many identifying marks, but it does have the signature and rather distinctive face. Mine was "de-acquired" from that establishment. http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/hurdy-gurdy-50272 They have audio files. Sounds like my Bassot. Still inconclusive, however. The French museum still has theirs pegged the end of the 18th century by Joseph Bassot, and that's my little guy's profile and crank and handle. http://www.culture.gouv.fr/Wave/image/joconde/0375/m006093_05097_p.jpg There was a better picture at the Italian museum's site. http://www.comune.milano.it/dseserver/webcity/documenti.nsf/0/5A4CA30F4FDC7CA8C125726C005484BE?opendocument Yep, love to see the signature. B Digest for [email protected] - 8 Messages in 2 Topics Belinda Daughtry <[email protected]> Jun 16 07:16AM -0500 Thank you all for the wonderful information. I'm interested in the Nylgut for the bourdons and the mouche. We have such humidity extremes where I live (either very humid or very dry) that I have trouble keeping those strings in particular in tune. However, I think I'd like to keep the high chanter and trompette with gut. I'm not sure about the size of the bourdons. They're Savarez BFA 442 & 1002. Is that their size as well? They're wound gut. Belinda "George Leverett-Altarwind Hurdy Gurdies" <[email protected]> Jun 16 10:21AM -0700 Hi Belinda: Nice to see you on the forum. Generally speaking, the following strings work pretty well for the Bourdons: Petit Bourdon - tuned to c3 or d3: a cello 'G' string works nicely (standard cello size) Gros Bourdon - tune to G2 - a 3/4 size cello 'C' string. These work pretty well if your drones are around 15 to 15 & 1/2" length. If the vibrating lengths of your drones are significantly different, post them to this list and I'm sure you'll find some great advice for replacements. Most of us makers sell replacement strings of the sizes needed for these instruments, but often you can find cello strings at your local music store as well. If you go this route, be sure that they have either a gut or synthetic core (steel core cello strings could over tension the instrument, depending on it's design) I hope this helps Cheers George ----- Original Message ----- From: Belinda Daughtry To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2012 5:16 AM Subject: Re: [HG-new] Digest for [email protected] - 8 Messages in 2 Topics Thank you all for the wonderful information. I'm interested in the Nylgut for the bourdons and the mouche. We have such humidity extremes where I live (either very humid or very dry) that I have trouble keeping those strings in particular in tune. However, I think I'd like to keep the high chanter and trompette with gut. I'm not sure about the size of the bourdons. They're Savarez BFA 442 & 1002. Is that their size as well? They're wound gut. Belinda On Jun 16, 2012, at 3:27 AM, [email protected] wrote: Today's Topic Summary Group: http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/topics a.. strings [7 Updates] b.. Strings [1 Update] strings "Andy Carter " <[email protected]> Jun 15 02:04PM I have a D trompette from there. Its works, its lasting, it sounds good, it wasn't the cheapest but I'm happy with it! Andy Sent from my Nokia phone Ruth Bramley <[email protected]> Jun 15 06:57PM +0100 I've had strings from NRI and, as Andy says, they're not cheap, but they are good quality. I confess that I don't often change strings... Ruthie On 14/06/2012 23:04, [email protected] wrote: Thanks, Paul, that is indeed the company I was trying to think of. Do you have any experience with their gut hurdy gurdy strings? Mitch Gordon In a message dated 6/14/2012 2:55:40 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I suspect the UK company referred to could be NRI (Manchester). http://www.nrinstruments.demon.co.uk/ Paul -- 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. DEREK LOFTHOUSE <[email protected]> Jun 15 12:10PM -0600 was going to stay out of this, buts Ruth's comment that she doesnt often change strings is the perfect lead in. I don't know where I picked this up, but apparently gut strings do degrade over time, something to do with the oil they are treated with. Therefore, you dont want to sit on spare strings for too long, at most a year or so. If you change strings yearly, using your spare set, you should be okay. Of course this could just be a rumour the gut string makers started to sell more strings, who knows. I havent used gut for about 7 - 8 years, i use wound metal violin and viola strings and change them at least yearly. Derek ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ruth Bramley" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, June 15, 2012 11:57:32 AM Subject: Re: [HG-new] re: strings I've had strings from NRI and, as Andy says, they're not cheap , but they are good quality. I confess that I don't often change strings... Ruthie On 14/06/2012 23:04, [email protected] wrote: Thanks, Paul, that is indeed the company I was trying to think of. Do you have any experience with their gut hurdy gurdy strings? Mitch Gordon In a message dated 6/14/2012 2:55:40 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: I suspect the UK company referred to could be NRI (Manchester). http://www.nrinstruments.demon.co.uk/ Paul -- 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. -- 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. Martin Lodahl <[email protected]> Jun 15 12:10PM -0700 On 06/15/2012 11:10 AM, DEREK LOFTHOUSE wrote: > I don't know where I picked this up, but apparently gut strings do degrade over time, something to do with the oil > they are treated with. Therefore, you dont want to sit on spare strings for too long, at most a year or so. If you change strings yearly, using your spare set, you should be okay. Of course this could just be a rumour the gut string makers started to sell more strings, who knows. > I havent used gut for about 7 - 8 years, i use wound metal violin and viola strings and change them at least yearly. I'm something of an extreme case in that department. In general, I change my strings when they break, and sometimes not even then. On a viola da gamba I had a top d break right at the tailpiece a month or so ago, and just tied a new base knot in it and refitted the same string. A couple of years ago I replaced all the strings on that instrument, realizing as I did so that I'd last replaced the bottom three strings in 1977. I have to say that the sound improved dramatically; using the same gut string for 30+ years has no virtue beyond thrift. But I still can't bring myself to discard a usable string. Decades ago I used to play with a classical guitarist who changed her strings weekly. - Martin -- Martin Lodahl of Auburn, California UNIX Pro, Musician, Motorcyclist Paul Sherwood <[email protected]> Jun 15 10:54PM +0100 Yes, they were fine, but I haven't used them for a while (not because I found a better supplier, but because I tend to use artificial strings now, like Corelli Crystal and nylgut). Paul [email protected] Jun 15 06:27PM -0400 Never heard of Nylgut before. What strings do you use them for (trompette? high chanter?), and how do you order appropriate sizes for gurdy? I already know about Corelli Crystal violin strings, as I use one for the low d chanter on my d/g. I have to say, though, for other chanter pitches and for the trompette, it would be hard to sell me on anything other than gut strings. It's hard enough to pry me away from Savarez gut strings... Mitch In a message dated 6/15/2012 2:54:38 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: Yes, they were fine, but I haven't used them for a while (not because I found a better supplier, but because I tend to use artificial strings now, like Corelli Crystal and nylgut). Paul > 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. -- 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. Augusto de Ornellas Abreu <[email protected]> Jun 15 07:46PM -0300 Try Corelli Crystal VIOLA strings. With a full string set, you can get low G and high G (if you play octave G on a G/C gurdy) and low D and high D (on a normal D/G gurdy). I use this set on my gurdy and they are quite good, and really cheap. Augusto Strings Martin Lodahl <[email protected]> Jun 15 12:01PM -0700 On 06/14/2012 07:35 AM, Melvin Dorries wrote: > They are manufactured in the USA and are of very good quality. > You may find sets here on one of our web pages: > http://hurdygurdycrafters.com/index.asp?page=parts1.2 I haven't tried Mel's strings, but if he carries them, I'd trust them. For some years now I've been happy with gut strings from Dan Larson in Minnesota: http://gamutmusic.squarespace.com/. Depending on the mission and diameter, I've used treble gut, Lyon gut and Pistoy gut, though the last takes a little extra effort to keep the cotton on. If like my brother-in-law you just automatically recotton every time the instrument comes out of the case, this won't bother you. The one exception is for the high d chanter on both my instrument and my wife's, a Neil Brook "Wonder String" lives up to its billing altogether. Mine had always been fussy about strings up there and had worked best with gut strings of smaller than normal diameter, which tended to have short lives. Hers had just been impossible. This string solved the problems with both. - Martin -- Martin Lodahl of Auburn, California UNIX Pro, Musician, Motorcyclist You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group hurdygurdy. You can post via email. To unsubscribe from this group, send an empty message. For more options, visit this group. -- 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. -- 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. You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Group hurdygurdy. You can post via email. To unsubscribe from this group, send an empty message. For more options, visit this group. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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.
