Hurdy-gurdy

An instrument with a thousand-year history: "for people with an edge" dixit Gilles Chabenat. In any case, it is a fascinating 'machine' in several ways: it combines melody with rhythm against a background accompaniment of a fundamental tone and/or the fifth. Acoustically, it is also 'deformed' in the sense that right next to the bridge, which provides the sound transmission, the top is almost completely cut through to make room for the wheel. Beyond that, the tangent box, where the hand rests to play the melody, is glued to the top, which is also not conducive to producing a free sound vibration. And yet...

So far.

The hurdy-gurdies I build have the following common features:

• Tuned in G/C or D/G.

• Removable wheel on axle supported by ball bearings.

• Oil bath mechanisms.

• French polish finish.

The options include a choice of different wood types and decoration, additional rhythm, melody, drone and/or sympathy strings, capo's and various amplification systems.

I am not only building hurdy-gurdys but I also repair and customize existing instruments!