Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

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Andrew Porter
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Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Andrew Porter »

Saw this on facebook and was tempted. Anyone familiar with it or have any thoughts?

https://www.facebook.com/Puralty/videos ... 8220/?t=44

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Bryan Bear
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Re: Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Bryan Bear »

I don't know anything about hurdy gurdies but that kit looks like a bunch of plywood puzzle pieces that just fit together like the old dinosaur bone models. I can't imagine that would be a good way to make an instrument and have it sound like anything you would want to hear (I'm not able to listen to the video just now). HGs look pretty complicated, or at least it seems like setting one up would be finicky to me. Charlie had a thread here about his HG project, you should check it out.
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Bob Francis
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Re: Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Bob Francis »

I was going to suggest that you ping Charlie. He had a great tutorial documenting his work and could give an educated response.
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Andrew Porter
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Re: Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Andrew Porter »

The recording, if it is to be believed, sound fairly decent.

(Just sent Charlie a PM)
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Charlie Schultz
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Re: Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Charlie Schultz »

I'm by no means an expert, but here is my build: http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php ... 100#p16813
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Andrew Porter
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Re: Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Andrew Porter »

Thanks Charlie.

For a hundred bucks, I think I'll take a chance. It'll make a neat wall hanging if nothing else. I'll come back later with my impressions.
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Clay Schaeffer
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Re: Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

The soundtrack is definitely not from that instrument. The kit looks like a fun puzzle to put together and if you have a spare $100 why not? It looks like it might make sounds, and may give you a basic idea of how a gurdy works, but as a musical instrument it might be lacking.
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Karl Wicklund
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Re: Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Karl Wicklund »

There’s a few of these posted on YouTube. Here’s one: https://youtu.be/fuYmyzfG3xs. Definitely not the instrument on the promotion. Thin tone, tuning out of whack - though I suppose it could be tweaked? Seems like more of a proof of concept than a fun instrument. And this is coming from a guy who digs cookie tin banjos and washtub bass.
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Re: Hurdy Gurdy Kit (puzzle contstruction)

Post by Clay Schaeffer »

After listening to the link Karl posted I think you would have to add a pick up, tone modifying software, and make the tangents moveable (for tuning) to make something that sounds musical.
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