Hurdy-gurdy

Hurdy-gurdy with a neck

Mai 2019 : nouvelle fabrication, nombreuses améliorations : axe, mécanique, système de palier.
Ce nouveau modèle est équipé d’un système de débrayage des cordes en laiton et d’une facilité de positionnement du protège roue pour le réglage des cotons. Manche en noyer, fond et éclisses en pommier, table en épicéa, il existe en teinte naturelle claire ou en brun. Plusieurs options sont disponibles : des mécaniques Pegheds imitation chevilles ébène pour violon, un micro Piezzo interne, l’ajout de 7 frettes nylon.

Sous la nouvelle série de photos, les vidéos et explications avec les anciens modèles sont toujours valables !

The video below shows the hurdy-gurdy and explains how to apply cotton to the strings.

I’m the only instrument-maker of this instrument in the world. It was inspired by the mozarabic era (10-11th century), it is a free and personal interpretation of this instrument… It is a 6-string model (nylon strings), the tuning is CGD or GDG + 3 sympathetic strings tuned G, D or C. The neck is fretless, the fingerboard is made of walnut with frets indicators, the sound post is made of spruce. It’s all made of solid wood: there is an arched (or a carved) soundboard made of solid spruce, walnut, cherry-tree wood or apple-tree wood, the neck is made of lime-tree wood, the bridge is made of maple, the wheel cover is made of spruce, the tailpiece is made of rowan, there are Gf tuning machines, a wooden crank, a metallic axis with Teflon mechanical bearing. It’s natural varnished, and there are 2 strap buttons. There’s an optional inner piezo mic with a jack plug.

As illustrated below: the hurdy-gurdy that belonged to Michael Praetorius (this is the only documentation borrowed from a Spanish colleague that I could find for this instrument) and the various models of hurdy-gurdies made in the workshop in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Guitarp

Guitare harpe, instrument semblable au N’Goni africain. Accordé en gamme pentatonique, 12 cordes nylon, manche en érable, table en épicéa, caisse en tilleul, micro Piezzo intégré, mécaniques de guitare 12 cordes.

Kora

Mon interprétation de la Kora

Un nouveau modèle, en cours d’élaboration, en cours d’évolution…

N.B.

A few pictures of a special order for Nicolas Bras…

Yayli tanbur

The Turkish yayli tanbur inspired me to create this instrument (bowed “tanbur”, major instrument of Ottoman classical music). It is played with a bow, with 2 strings played : A-D (cello strings D-A) and 6 sympathetic strings tuned A-D-A.The drum and resonator are made of walnut, there’s a synthetic drumhead, included Piezzo microphone, guitar tuning machines, nylon frets, tempered fretting marks.

Shamy harp

8-string harp, D tuning x2 – high E string x2, guitar strings, bridge made of chequer-tree, mandolin tuning machines.

Harpe à 8 cordes, accord Ré x2 – Mi aigu x2, cordes de guitare, nylon ou acier. Table en épicéa et monoxyle de cèdre pour le premier modèle (harpe shamy verte sur les photos), tout en bouleau pour les suivants (finition aux huiles dures). Chevalet en alisier, mécaniques de mandoline.

Clavero

Cet instrument combine mes claves et mes gueros, en pin et frêne.

9th Moon

9th Moon : « The origin of Rock music »

November 2017, the 9th Moon was unveiled in the 29th Guitar Festival of Issoudun for the very first time. The 9th Moon is a Weissenborn style guitar. The soundboard is made of spruce, the back and the sides are made of black locust, the neck is made of maple, the fingerboard is made of tulipwood.

Below are a few photos of the inauguration of the Guitar Festival of Issoudun, as the 9th Moon was presented, the exhibition was attended by André Laignel, Mayor of Issoudun.

8th Moon

8th Moon : « Madame Georges »

Between dream and dawn…

April 2017, the eighth Moon. It’s a 12-string guitar. The body is made of curly maple, the soundboard is made of spruce, the back is made of poplar, the fingerboard is made of chequer-tree, and there are several percussion parts made of spruce.

7th Moon

7th Moon : “Disorder”

Seven… Childhood, and what it has given to me… I called this guitar “Disorder”.

January 2017. Electric guitar, P90 microphone (made by Hep Cats), Gotoh tuning machines. The neck is made of maple, the body is made of walnut wood. On the guitar’s body, from bottom to top: boxwood, maple with sugar maple spots, birdseye maple from Canada, chestnut tree, curly cherry wood, walnut, apricot tree wood, cross strut made of beam-tree, ebony, inlays and bindings made of 17 different woods, the fingerboard is made of inlayed amaranth.