Re: [HG-new] Digest for hurdygurdy@googlegroups.com - 8 Messages in 2 Topics

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Belinda Daughtry

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Jun 16, 2012, 8:16:09 AM6/16/12
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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, hurdy...@googlegroups.com wrote:

Group: http://groups.google.com/group/hurdygurdy/topics

    "Andy Carter " <andyc...@hotmail.com> 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

     

    DEREK LOFTHOUSE <dloft...@shaw.ca> 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" <ru...@bramleyfamily.org.uk>
    To: hurdy...@googlegroups.com
    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, MITC...@aol.com 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, paulsh...@gmail.com writes:
     
    I suspect the UK company referred to could be NRI (Manchester).
    http://www.nrinstruments.demon.co.uk/
    Paul
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    Martin Lodahl <lod...@calwisp.com> 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 <paulsh...@gmail.com> 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
     

     

    MITC...@aol.com 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,
    paulsh...@gmail.com 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
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    > The rules of posting, courtesy, and other list information may be found
    at
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    new
    > subscribers are held pending approval by the webmaster.
     
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    Augusto de Ornellas Abreu <augusto....@gmail.com> 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
     

     

    Martin Lodahl <lod...@calwisp.com> 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

     

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George Leverett-Altarwind Hurdy Gurdies

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Jun 16, 2012, 1:21:54 PM6/16/12
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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 -----

Jeffery mayott

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Jun 19, 2012, 9:27:53 PM6/19/12
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hey there  george  just a shout  to say hi  !  I am  doing welll   and playing   a way  

George Leverett-Altarwind Hurdy Gurdies

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Jun 20, 2012, 11:06:11 AM6/20/12
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Hey back to you Mr. Jeff!  Glad to hear it;  did you get the tunebooks I emailed you about? 
 
For anyone else who's interested: Jeff asked about an HG tunebook, so I put together a small file of some of the SCA songs me & Anwyn play together.   Available for free download at the Player's Corner part of our website; here's the direct link:    http://altarwind.com/hgmusic.htm
 
Have a beautiful day
George
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