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Related Manuals for Musicmakers Hurdy Gurdy
Summary of Contents for Musicmakers Hurdy Gurdy
- Page 1 Hurdy Gurdy Musicmakers P.O. Box 2117 Stillwater MN 55082 (651) 439-9120 info@harpkit.com...
- Page 2 HURDY GURDY 1 set of assembly instructions WOOD PARTS: 1 heel (walnut) 1 tail block 1 predrilled inner brace 2 support blocks for drilled brace 1 triangle inner brace 1 soundboard (solid mahogany) 1 back (cherry/walnut laminate) 1 peg head 2 pre-bent sides 4 lining strips (soft wood) 2 keychest sides (walnut)
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Page 3: Before You Begin
HARDWARE: 2 Nylon covers for drone gear posts 1 axle 5/16” X 7” 1 set strings 1 T-nut, 5/16” (in wheel) 2 melody, Viola D 1 brass cap nut, 5/16” 1 drone, Cello G 1 washer 1 drone, Cello C 2 steel hex nuts 2 hinges with screws 1 wood screws, 1-5/8"... -
Page 4: Assembly Instructions
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS: ______1. The soundchamber SIDES are pre-bent and must be joined at the tail end. Check the fit of each SIDE into the HEEL BLOCK, sanding the ends as necessary to make them slip into the slots easily. ______2. Tape the tail end of the SIDES together, on the outside, and glue the TAIL BLOCK to the inside, centering it on the seam. - Page 5 THE SOUNDBOARD ______7. Find the SOUNDBOARD. We have already cut out the wheel slot and two “f” shaped “soundholes” on one face. Draw a center line down this face (if it isn’t there already), centering it on the “f” holes and the wheel slot.
- Page 6 ______9. Before proceeding further, you should check the symmetry of the SIDES of the instrument. To do this, trace around its shape on a large piece of paper, and then flip the frame over and compare the shape to your outline. Use strong tape pulled across the instrument to change the curves until you are satisfied with the symmetry.
- Page 7 ______13. Position the PREDRILLED INNER BRACE inside the SOUNDBOARD, just 1/8" from the edge of the wheel slot, as shown. Before gluing, taper the ends of the NYLON BUSHING and insert it through the TAIL BLOCK and into the INNER BRACE. Then insert the AXLE into the BUSHING, making sure that you can turn it easily with your fingers.
- Page 8 _____17. (OPTIONAL) Another nice option, if you have a router, is to inlay some decorative binding around the circumference of the SOUNDBOARD and BACK. All you need is a straight bit of any size (good and sharp). Here is how to set it up: a) Make a guide board to clamp to the base of your router or to the top of the router table.
- Page 9 THE KEYCHEST The KEYCHEST consists of two long walnut SIDES with square holes cut in them, a walnut LID, and four small pieces of walnut that hold the SIDES together at the correct spacing: a) The HEAD END is the larger square piece to be located at the end nearest the PEGHEAD;...
- Page 10 _____19. Do a little fine sanding on the SOUNDBOARD now, too, while it is easy to work on the entire surface. We like to use an electric orbital sander (palm sander) with 180 grit sandpaper for a quick smoothing and cleaning of flat surfaces. Dust carefully afterward. THE PEGHEAD Draw a light pencil line on the SOUNDBOARD 1-1/4"...
- Page 11 (holes off center on purpose) _____22a. Test-fit the KEYCHEST onto the SOUNDBOARD, as shown above. Sometimes, if the soundboard is slightly curved downward in the center (concave), it is hard to get the KEYCHEST to make contact with the spruce along the length of the KEYCHEST.
- Page 12 Once the KEYS are fitted, we recommend numbering them so you will replace them in the same positions later. _____25. When the KEYS are properly fitted and correctly positioned, you may glue them to the BUTTON STOCK. This is best done with the KEYS in place in the KEYCHEST. Glue the BUTTON STOCK to all the KEYS at once, so they will all be interconnected.
- Page 13 When dry, pull all the KEYS out of the KEYCHEST with the BUTTON STOCK and use a bandsaw or jigsaw to slice them apart midway between the KEYS. We hope you numbered the KEYS so you can easily figure out where to place them again! This would be a good time to sand and round over all the rough edges and corners of the BUTTONS, now that they have been cut apart.
- Page 14 _____28. Sand the two DRONE NUTS to your liking, rounding over the sharp edges and sanding off the saw marks left by our machines. When satisfied, glue them in place near the narrow end of the instrument, so they contact the SOUNDBOARD and the KEYCHEST SIDES, as shown.
- Page 15 _____32. Glue the two DRONE BRIDGES on either side of the MELODY BRIDGE with the pointed ends sloping down toward the center of the instrument, as shown. Position them about 1/4" from the main BRIDGE. _____33. Drill one 1/8" hole near the end of each DRONE ANCHOR BLOCK and then glue them near the TAIL of the instrument, as shown.
- Page 16 APPLYING THE FINISH Here are some suggestions on finishing (use only one of the following options): STAIN -- STAINS are coloring agents and should only be used if you dislike the natural color of the wood. We usually do not apply stains to our projects, especially when they are made with naturally beautiful hardwoods such as cherry or walnut.
- Page 17 b) Pound the T-NUT into the WHEEL, on the side where the center hole has been enlarged. c) Turn the WHEEL onto the axle, with the T-NUT facing toward the TAIL END. The AXLE should protrude beyond the WHEEL. Add the washer and the HEX NUT and use a wrench to tighten the HEX NUT up against the WHEEL.
- Page 18 (You want your friends to say "Wow!", but you definitely do not want the hurdy gurdy to go "wow-wow".) Follow after the chisel with medium (120 grit) sandpaper and then a fine (180 grit) sandpaper to make sure the WHEEL has no rough spots on the surface that will contact the strings.
- Page 19 ______44. The KEYS will rattle a bit as you play. One way to reduce this extra noise is to put some FELT PADDING inside the keychest, as shown. Use a few drops of glue to hold the FELT in place on the inside of the KEYCHEST.
- Page 20 Slide the two nylon bushings over the posts of the tuning gears that show outside of the PEGHEAD (see photo on step 45), and line up the string holes Thread the drone strings through the holes drilled in the DRONE NUTS and the GEARED TUNERS on the outside of the PEGHEAD, as shown.
- Page 21 IMPORTANT: THE MELODY STRINGS PASS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE KEYCHEST. YOU NEED TO TILT THE HURDY GURDY AT AN ANGLE SO THAT THE KEYS ALL SLIDE AGAINST THE FELT BEFORE INSTALLING THE STRINGS. THAT WILL PUT THE TANGENTS IN THE PROPER PLAYING POSITION.
- Page 22 This instrument is easier to play if you add a strap or belt to help hold it on your lap. Attach the ends to the HEEL and TAIL of the Hurdy Gurdy, making sure that the strap does not interfere with the operation of the crank. We...
- Page 23 CARE AND FEEDING OF YOUR HURDY GURDY You should know that this can be a cranky instrument (pun intended). Don't be surprised if it requires a bit of tuning and adjustment every time you play it. Here are some hints to help you work out the excessive squeaks...
- Page 24 Musicmakers PO Box 2117 Stillwater, MN 55082 www.harpkit.com...
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