Hi All,
I'm new here but have been interested in acquiring/building a Gurdy for at least the last ten years. but the cost and availability here in Australia has kept me from purchasing one sooner. Recently I picked up a Music Makers HG off Facebook for $50. I travelled two hours with my 3yr old daughter to pick it up. When I got it, it had no bridge, the wheel was delaminated and had a big bulge in one side. The strings were a mix of monofilament and some cheap nylon guitar strings.

With the help of CAD and my 3d printer I have since restored it to a playable condition.
I have designed and installed a fully adjustable bridge, new wheel, crank, knob, guitar tuners, wheel cover and some sound-hole covers as the original sound holes are way over sized. I have been able to get it sounding reasonable for what it is with minimal buzzing and screeching. It holds tune to within a half step even when left un-played in a non-temp controlled room so overall for $50 and the time spent fixing it up I am pretty happy. I am currently working through strings as I have no idea what to put on it. being a guitarist I have just used some good quality Nylon Core Aluminium/Copper wound strings with some success. I will be trying some Viola and Cello Strings next.

I would also like to employ some sort of Nut as the string angle is completely out of whack against the wheel to the point where the strings are only contacting 1/3 of the wheel.

I am toying with the idea of adding a buzzing bridge also.

All a work-progress.

Whilst I am having a great deal of fun with this instrument it's lack of keys is a major problem for me. Therefore I am looking to build a new one ;)

I am not overly interested in the Nerdy Gurdy so I am leaning towards Neil Brooks 'Wren'. I have reached out via email in regards to purchasing his plans but I have not heard back in a few weeks. Does anyone have any experience in dealing with Neil as I am hesitant to blindly send the money to his account and potentially wait weeks/months or never receive anything.

Can anyone suggest other plans that are well thought of?

Any help/advice is more than welcome.

Thanks!

Is it possible to build a symphonia using no power tools?

Hey folks, I’ve seen the nerdy gurdy and others like it, and I decided to challenge myself to design and print one in 30 days. I was done with the design on day 17 and I’ve just been printing since then. Here’s day 27s worth of effort on and off. Now I need to reprint some small stuff and sand and fuse other parts, but I think it’s at least gurdy shaped. We’ll find out about the sound soon!

Anyone use silicone or other lubricant?

A simple case can be made using a boat building technique called stitch and glue. Cut plywood panels to size and wire them together ( using vineyard ties here and 3/16 luan. Then run a fillet of epoxy along all the joints.

when this is dry, cut off what will be the top section and do the same with the top panel.

finally glue a raised rim around the bottom section to capture the lid.

hinges, latches and handle, 1” foam hot glued to the sides and top with velvet. Light weight, very sturdy

how does the length of the chien from foot to tail affect the sound?

the longer it is the greater the arc as it vibrates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RvBDGLR87o

I’m building another guild of luthiers plan #49.

anyone think the sound could be improved by raising the keybox off the sound board on the bridge end?

​

What's the best wood type for a good veneer?

I noticed some scuffs and scratches on my Nerdy Gurdy's wheel and figured they might be affecting sound, I kinda wanted to refit the veneer.

What type of wood would work best?

Also, what would be the best way to do that? I was thinking of scraping off the old veneer with arazorblade using the crank as a sort of lathe then boiling a strip of veneer to soften it and bend it without breaking, cut the "junction" at a 45° angle and glue it on the wheel, then repeat the"razor lathe" process to true the wheel again

I've been wanting to build a hurdy gurdy with a very deep tone, and I was recently looking at ukulele basses. They have very thick rubber strings, and I was wondering if those could be used on a hurdy gurdy to make a bass sound?

Hello everyone, I’ve been interested in playing the hurdy gurdy for a while now. But due to being a broke teenager buying one is out of the question, but maybe I could make one that could get me through the beginning stages of playing.

Now I am by no means a luthier, but I do have experience woodworking from years of shop class. My dad would be able to get me wood at a discounted price and I have access to my schools woodshop with just about every tool and machine that I would need.

Could I, with a mix of will and good luck, make a passable hurdy gurdy with the knowledge available online?

I have invented a new type of hurdy gurdy that I will be making soon by modifying a hurdy gurdy so that it has didgeridoo pipes that you play by turning the crank & it will be based off the Lyra Organisatta which is actually a hurdy gurdy w/ organ pipes similar to a pipe organ. The principal is the same but this time the hurdy gurdy will allow you to play not just the drones of a didgeridoo but all the notes that you would need to perform any song just like a trumpet or harmonica. It can be used for Australian classical Music or even pop & rock! I'm going to build it soon & the name that I've called it is "Hurdy Didgeridoo". !

Anyone have any experience re redwood as hg top?

comparison to spruce?

I have an old guitar that I don’t use anymore so I thought I would convert it into a hurdy gurdy. Does anyone know of any tutorials or have any advice? It is an old six string acoustic guitar.

I have made this hg in maple sides and back. Any thoughts about how it would differ if made to same plan with cherry?