Do you want to build a gurdy?

Hi. I’ve run into an issue while setting up my homemade lyre, which has a scale length of 380 mm. Currently, it has two different strings. On the side closer to me, there’s a violin D-string (the 4th string), tuned to G3. It works and sounds quite well—though, in the future, I might replace it with a viola G-string.

On the side further from the wheel, I have a 0.8 mm (0.032-inch) nylon string, intended for a guitar and tuned to G4. No matter how much I’ve struggled with it, I haven’t been able to get a stable or pleasant sound. I’ve spent a great deal of time experimenting with rosin and cotton wool, but the result remains the same.

In the video, the first segment features the metal violin string, and the second shows the nylon string.

I also tried replacing the nylon string with a 0.28 mm (0.011-inch) metal guitar string (the 2nd string). That one works reasonably well; the sound is a bit shrill, but it vibrates correctly without requiring extensive adjustments.

Could you explain what the problem is? Why do metal strings work, while the nylon one doesn’t?

I've not had the time to work on this project for the past few months. and i've kinda lost momentum with it. So i'm releasing the project files as they stand, for anyone that wants to have a go progressing it.

As a proof of concept, it works great! I'd heard from a lot of people that you can't make a 3D printed hurdy Gurdy, but never got a satisfactory answer as to why. So the project was partly to find out. I've found no good reason why you can't build a 3D printed hurdy gurdy. It's not going to be as good as a professionally made, $4000 one, but it could be a whole lot more accessible.

It could do with someone with experience and knowledge to fine tune the design. Unfortunately, I lack the expertise to know how to properly fine tune the design and to know what needs to change in the design and what just need proper technique, and I don't have the free time to work it out via trial and error at the moment.

If you have a stab at it building off of this design, i'd love to see what you do :D
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/various/hurdy-gurdy-prototype

Hi all. I’ve decided to try build a hurdy gurdy for the first time. I’ve always wanted to give it a try but could never get the crank shaft down thought about buying one but they’re hard to find to get to Australia. Without spending a crapload. I have the wood working experience. Have made. A lyre and a few tagleharpa made multiple Native American flutes But want to try this. And eventually get to my dream gurdy where I make the body like an oud ( will also make one of them too ) If any one has any tips on how to do the Les and make sure they are in correct position please let me know. I have all the wood and stuff that I need besides the crank shaft ( pretty sure I have figured it out so I can remove the wheel when needed ). I know there are lots of posts on here. But can’t seem to figure some out. Still in the designing faze. I want this uniquely mine.

Making my first, quite potentially my best, hurdy gurdy, and I stumbled upon these laser cut 15cm diameter, 2.5mm thick wooden discs on Amazon. Can't be certain, but I think they are balsa or some other light wood. I'm gluing them together at angles in hopes of making a solid wheel roughly 14mm thick.

What are your opinions on how that will be?

I don't have a lathe, so getting it perfect isn't easy. My idea is to individually plot the center of each disc and use that as a registration point for the gluing process. Once solidified, I should be able to get it roughly centered on the shaft with a drill and apply veneer.

Hi. First time builder here, developing my own plans and seeking a bit of advice.

1) Is the tangent box glued to the soundboard? Or is it preferable to float it above? My preference is the latter, but maybe experience suggests otherwise.

2) Does one ever need to remove the tangent box for any common repairs or maintenance? In designing its attachment at the head, I'm wondering how reversible the construction should be.

For reference, this is my first hurdy gurdy. I've been collecting various plans and creating my own design a bit. It's not going to be an heirloom or likely even a good instrument, and I'm okay with that.

Hi, I'm started the trek down making a hurdy gurdy, or at least something inspired by one. I'm looking heavily at Graeme's symphony plans, and it mostly makes sense. But the only photos of the finished product I can find are the very few on Graeme's site. Does anyone have more?

I'm very curious about the design and process for making the various levers and capo. They seem to involve specially carved, metal components, but I can't find anything better than the plans to illuminate what those parts look like or do (especialy the capo).

Does anyone have any recommendations or photos they could share to help get an idea of what those little mechanisms look like or how they can be made?

The lower drone string of my Nerdy Gurdy Linotte broke, so now I have to choose which one to order. I never realized that the strings can make a big difference (at least according to the shop that is). So I was wondering which price class of string do the Nerdy Gurdy get by default. I can both imagine that it is just the budget friendly ones to keep it affordable, or that strings make a big difference on the gurdy and I need a better one if I want about the same quality as I used to have.

I was thinking about a string that is a bit above budget friendly (Larsen Aurora cello G, sorry I only have a Dutch link), but currently have no idea if that would be an upgrade or a downgrade.

Im interested of printing with a 3d printer parts and buying electronics , to create midi based hurdy gurdy (without physical strings)

im really noob and dont know where to start , im searching more about something that organized and tested, maybe tampering a bit the 3d parts but not more then that cause i dont have lots of skill apart following instructions

im searching for something like the digi gurdy or midi gurdy, i need hardware parts files,electronic parts names , open source software, electronics wiring, and if possible some building instructions

does anyone can lead me to such info /resources ? its possible for me also to buy this info in reasonable price (:

please help me :D

The screws are stripping pretty badly and I can't get them in. Once the first one stripped like that I decided to stop before trying more

I was kinda planning on abandoning the project, but I got so much encrouage ment from people, i've stuck with it. Just going to ignore the negavtive responses; Hater's gonna hate, right?

That said, i've not had much chance to look at this for a while, until the recent long weekend.

I left the protoype with 3 strings under tension, for a while, in various states of warming and cooling, to see how it would behave. It didn't implode!

The head might benefit from a slight redesign, as it did need tightening at one point. But that was easy to do and the plastic isn't showing any notable warping so far.

I spent some time focusing on the setup and tuning of one sting, cos I don't really kwnow what the hell i'm doing soo fousing on one thing at a time seemed good, now we know how the body will behave under presure.

Still not sure i've got the cotton quite right, but it seems good enough for now.

it's not perfect, but i've defintiely heard worse sounds from much better gurdys than this!

Structurally and mechanically, I think this is sound!

I might try making the wheel slightly bigger or the bridge sliightly lower by default, to make it easier to control the height of the string from the wheel. aaaand I need to include the attachemnt points for a strap. and design a proper crank handle (i'm still using a piece of an old test print and a random screw)

In the process of making a hurdy gurdy based on the Botermans, Dewit, and Goddefroy book but I'm still looking for solutions for the shaft. I don't have access to a metal lathe / know how to use one so I cant manufacture a perfect one myself. I've looking into using a threaded rod or a connecting rod however I'm afraid it will introduce too much play into the wheel and lead to an uneven sound. Anyone know a good solution to this or a place where I can buy just the rod for a reasonable price?

Hey everyone, I'm working on my first Nerdy Gurdy. I just glued the internal soundpost/support, but it warped into a bow shape (photo attached). I think I clamped it too hard or the holes were slightly misaligned.

​Since this is my first gurdy, I’m worried I might not even notice the sound difference due to my lack of experience—but I don't want to build in a major flaw.

​Two questions: ​Will this bow drastically affect the sound or cause buzzes later? ​Should I unglue it now and try to straighten/replace it, or just keep going?

Hi there!

I'm in the process of making a wheel instrument and honestly, I don't have any questions to ask becasue there are so many resources shared here, and so neatly organised.

This is the kind of forum that makes me thank god the internet exists, outweighing all the addictive, doom-scrolling side of it.

So thank you all for making this process less hardy and more easy.

Hi! I'm designing a new instrument based on a symphonie, but my idea is to be able to play it on a table or on your lap. This would mean shifting the soundboard to one of the sides, so that keys can be press down.

I love taking ideas from heritage instruments but I don't mind using the available technology of today. I'm thinking the keys can be pushed back up by a spring mechanism.

I was wondering if anyone here has tried something similar, or if you know of someone who has.

Thank you!

The recent post of a 3d printed Gurdy recieved a variety of comments, some along the lines of 'great' look fwd to the result' and others to the effect that a dead horse was being flogged. Of course they are right to some degree but what seems to be missing is recognition of how much effort is being put into that project. As a would be designer/constructor of a 3d Gurdy myself I recognise that it is not an easy task. The photos here show my MK1 Threedy Gurdy under construction. It is, at the moment completed but functions only well enough to act as a test rig to trial changes for a MK2 version. This project so far has taken me, on and off, 3 years and whilst the MK1 functions I still need to resolve the relationship between Bridge, Wheel and Strings to achieve an acceptable sound. Of course I could just purchase a kit and copy/remake it in 3d print but that is not the point. There is, if you do the research, sufficient info to act as a guide, plus I have the challenge of seeing if it is possible not just to print the beast but to improve on the classic construction format. To that end I have opted for a rising bridge controlled by a thumbwheel and configured the wheel assembly to run on bearings as per the diagram above. If I am successful then great, if not then it is back to the drawing board because I will not give up and I hope Garrwolfdog too perseveres with the task and continues to post results on this Reddit.

Finally got some time to work on this more. It's missing some keys at the moment (removed so I could remove the key box) and need properly tuning, but it's coming along! The redesigned body and bridge seem to be much better.

There's still some areas that need finessing but broadly I think we're getting somewhere :)

I guess the next step is to add a drone string, but thought I'd share the progress.

EDIT: due to repeatedly getting hassled by certain users. I'm not going to be posting this project here in the future. It's all really kinda sucked the joy out of the project for me. If you're looking for updates, or the STL files or anything, send me a DM.

The keys, tangents, and everything are in place and seem to work! It can make decent sound but I'm reeeeeally working on trial and error for how to dial in the strings (getting the cotton right, the rosin right, hight from the wheel, etc). Would be good to have a working gurdy on-hand to reference, or someone who knows more about debugging these things to ask, buuuut we're kinda on our own (I tried asking for advice over on r/hurdygurdy but they're weirdly hostile over there). If anyone here wants to help me debug the sound do let me know! XD

Woo! Hit a milestone in the 3D printed hurdy gurdy project! The key mechanism works! Which means, with all the other bits tested, this is viable! There's still a non-zero chance the string tension will cause the whole thing to rip itself apart, but if that happens it'll be educational! :D

Progress! Admittedly slow progress but still. The sound isn't too bad! But as you can hear, the wheel still isn't properly round enough. Not quite sure what to do about that. If I had a lathe it would be simpler, buuuuut I don't. Maybe we can rig up something with an electric drill? People built these in the 9th century, I'm sure I can figure it out 😅

Either way, this build has highlighted a whole bunch of smaller changes that need to be made. But that's the point of prototyping.