Thanks for the replies. I also had some private emails extolling the virtues of the Monarch kits and the suppliers.
In terms of maintenance, I am willing to accept that it'll take some work. Afterall, when you play the highland bagpipes, you have to season the bag, adjust three drone reeds; carve or nurse a chanter reed; and be prepared to take the time to tune, even between sets (including moving bits of tape to bring the chanter into a temper that is non standard). Now as far as having a playable hurdy gurdy - it is true that I have no experience whatsoever, so building a decent instrument is probably not the way for me to go without having a mentor to whom I can turn for advice. I don't even know what kind of hurdy-gurdy I want. My main instrument will still be the highland bagpipes, but it is real nice to have a quieter, different instrument. Right now, I am learning English folk tunes on the anglo concertina and I'd like to be able to learn these tunes on the hurdy-gurdy too. I have looked over Neil Brook's instruments and love the look of the "Wren" or the "Baldrick." It also seems that these instruments may be well suited to my needs. They'll be professional quality and should have been set-up that way when they left the workshop. Their prices are around twice that of the Monarch kit, but it'll simply mean that I need to save a little longer. Anyway, I'd appreciate any suggestions - PLEASE. Charlie On Saturday, January 4, 2014 6:35:23 AM UTC-7, Colin wrote: > > Not having the skill to make one, I have heard that it depends on both > your skill as a woodworker and your skill at making the kit playable > (I've not heard of anyone just following the instructions and making a > playable instrument). Have you ever had a flat pack from a store that > fitted perfectly? A HG is a precision instrument and I think a little > more than "basic skills" would be needed. A kit is going to need > considerable tweaking and adjusting to be of any use otherwise HGs could > be mass produced like guitars. If you don't know what needs tweaking > you'll have problems. HG making is a skilled craft, not a case of > following printed instructions. > If you enjoy woodworking and just want the experience and learning that > a kit would give, fine. If you want something you can actually > play/perform on, I doubt even the best kit is a way to start. > > Colin > > > On 02/01/2014 15:29, [email protected] <javascript:> wrote: > > Hello, I am new to this group and based in Colorado. Currently, I am > > saving my pennies for a hurdy gurdy. My primary instrument is the > > highland bagpipes, but I have always been enthralled by the sound of the > > hurdy gurdy (maybe something to do with drones). > > > > I suppose, I'll be aiming for a repertoire consisting of music from the > > British Isles, probably beginning with English folk tunes. > > > > Given that I do have basic woodworking tools and skills, when I cam > > across the Monarch kit from hurdygurdycrafters, I thought (this could be > > for me, and the price is right). > > > > BUT........ another hurdy gurdy website suggests that kit hurdy gurdies > > are not necessarily very good. They do have their own product to sell > > of course, but there could be a grain of truth in their statement. > > > > I have also noticed a number of Monarch instruments offered for sale for > > not much more than the kit purchase price........... > > > > So, I'd like to hear from other builders of the Monarch kit. > > > > 1. How difficult was it to build? > > 2. Did you get a playable instrument? > > 3. Does it stand alongside in terms of other pre-built instruments? > > > > Any other recommendations? > > > > Thanks, > > Charlie > > > > -- > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > Groups "hurdygurdy" group. > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]<javascript:> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected] <javascript:> > > 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 unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send > > an email to [email protected] <javascript:>. > > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. > > > > No virus found in this message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> > > Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 3658/6469 - Release Date: > 01/02/14 > > > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 3658/6475 - Release Date: 01/04/14 > > -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "hurdygurdy" group. 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