Hi All, I developed a string calculator for the Hurdy gurdy a while ago, though with hindsight it was more geared towards instrument makers. Consequently I have developed a lighter version for players. This has a searchable database of over eight hundred strings that can be found online. There are other developments in the calculator, and if you would like I can send it to anyone offline?
This new version is macro enabled, of which I understand not everyone wants to use. That is why I am currently writing an online version of this program, which isn't finished yet. This is part of a free online gurdy book that I am writing that covers this topic as well as all other aspects of playing the Gurdy. If anyone wants to get involved in reading and commenting on the content produced so far (The Basics), I can send again offline this information? Andrew On Monday, June 18, 2012 3:41:39 AM UTC+1, Belinda wrote: > > 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 > > - Bassot's Boston > Brother<#[email protected]_group_thread_0>[1 > Update] > - Digest for [email protected] - 8 Messages in 2 > Topics<#[email protected]_group_thread_1>[2 > Updates] > > Bassot's Boston > Brother<http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/t/241e18990c107b56> > > 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<http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/t/49f01be1c1089d11> > > 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 <[email protected]>. > To unsubscribe from this group, > send<[email protected]>an empty message. > For more options, visit > <http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/topics>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.
