Options on the Renaissance style

The Renaissance style is a historical model. While we keep the design as historically accurate as possible, we also offer a several modern options to enhance its playability. This page and the pages explaining the specific options will help you to choose the ones that are appropriate to your playing level and style, your budget, and your future plans for your instrument.

If this is your first hurdy-gurdy, we strongly advise you to limit your choices. First-time hurdy-gurdy buyers tend to think, "This will be my only hurdy-gurdy, so I should get all the bells and whistles." This may seem like a good idea, but it's better to start with a simpler instrument and upgrade to a more complex hurdy-gurdy as your playing ability increases.

It's not necessary to choose from the options when ordering - we will contact you to confirm your choices when we start building the instrument.

While prices on most of the options you choose will remain stable while you are waiting for your instrument to be built, some (such as amplification and tuners) are subject to changes in the market, so the price of the option may change by the time your instrument is begun. We will do our best to keep these price changes to a minimum, and you may decide not to include the option if you inform us of your choice before we start building.

To see explanations of the options, click on the titled link on that option.

Soundboard: Western bigleaf maple is the standard choice.

Body wood: Western bigleaf maple is the standard choice.

Tuning mechanism: The standard choice is traditional friction pegs. There are options for mechanical tuning machines and hidden mechanical tuners.

Amplification: This model is available with pickups and a belt-pack preamp.

Electronic tuner: This option allows the instrument to be tuned without hooking up a seperate tuner.

Tuning: The standard is G/C or D/G tuning. Optional tunings are available.

Third chanter: The standard instrument has two chanters, with an option for a third if the mouche is not included.

Tangents: The standard option is a set of locking metal tangents, with an option for the traditional wooden flag style.

Tangent wrench: This option is for a custom hex driver with a wood handle that fits in a recess under the peghead.

Case: A soft case and a hard case are options for this model.

Bearing adjustment tool: This tool allows the player to adjust the tightness of the tail bearing.

For the prices on these options, see the pricelist.

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