| Project by JonJ | posted 740 days ago | 2633 views | 9 times favorited | 38 comments | ![]() |
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A few years ago I was adjusting a hurdy gurdy I built, (which is a sort of small mechanical keyed fiddle from the middle ages) and thought the mechanics of the thing were way too cool to be kept on such a small scale. I started trying to think of ways to make a larger instrument that would simulate the sound of a violin, but use a keyboard…an idea I later found out that has intrigued many people for hundreds of years, including Leanardo DaVinci. After a long period of of planning, this is what I came up with… A sound sample can be heard by doing a search for “wheelharp” on google or yahoo, etc and going to the site hosted by “oddmusic”, or here is a link to a clip on photobucket-
It uses 60 nylon strings arranged in a half circle around a 2 ft dia rosined wheel that acts as a bow. When you push a key, it bows the string. It has a lot of shortcomings, but I have am still tweaking it, and have ideas for a different version…stay tuned :)
added 3-19-09…I started the different version.
http://lumberjocks.com/JonJ/blog/7873
-- Jon































38 comments so far
lclashley
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244 posts in 1014 days
posted 740 days ago
Cool! I’d love to hear it.
Max
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14563 posts in 1173 days
posted 740 days ago
That is a fantastic work of art. Very beautiful. I went to the “oddmusic” site and listened to it. It sounds really nice especially when you get the tremolo effect. What a great peice…. I will be looking forward to seeing your new ideas.
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
Karson
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25871 posts in 1300 days
posted 740 days ago
Cool instrument.
Nice job.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7050 posts in 1199 days
posted 740 days ago
A beautiful piece of artwork. I’ll have to google that site for a listen.
I checked it out, & here it is.
It sounds great.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
mrtrim
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1698 posts in 780 days
posted 740 days ago
wow very nice , i wouldnt mind seeing the hurdy gurdy either
TomFran
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2517 posts in 894 days
posted 740 days ago
Now that is one beautiful contraption. I love it! Great job.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
dustynewt
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450 posts in 762 days
posted 740 days ago
Even if it sounds like a cow being yanked through a knothole backwards. It looks magnificent !!! Beautiful design and execution. (Applause) I will give a listen.
-- Please visit me at http://dustynewt.com
bryano
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546 posts in 833 days
posted 740 days ago
thats a nice piece of craftsmanship
-- bryano
Peter O
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1027 posts in 774 days
posted 740 days ago
Wow, it’s beautiful and has a neat sound!
-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
Dadoo
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1722 posts in 890 days
posted 740 days ago
Yes! Very cool project here! Where can we obtain plans for this? I wonder also if the treadle could be replaced with a motor? I’d also like to see some kind of demo showing exactly how this thing works. It would make for a really cool project.
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
Bob #2
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3056 posts in 921 days
posted 740 days ago
This is so kool!
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
SPalm
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951 posts in 782 days
posted 740 days ago
That is awsome! More info please.
Steve
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 862 days
posted 740 days ago
Really looks neat, tell us more.
-- Thos. Angle
CharlieM1958
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7696 posts in 1118 days
posted 740 days ago
That is a spectacular piece of both woodwork and engineering!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Bob Babcock
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1808 posts in 986 days
posted 740 days ago
Extraordinary…you and Gary should talk.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
clieb91
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682 posts in 835 days
posted 740 days ago
Jon, A very cool project. The sound is quite different, look forward to seeing more musical projects.
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
dennis mitchell
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3791 posts in 1214 days
posted 740 days ago
Wonderful! What are you doing with it?
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
DrSawdust
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231 posts in 998 days
posted 740 days ago
That is sooo cool. The music is really neat . . . the craftsmanship is breath taking. Way to go!!!
-- Making sawdust is what I do best
JonJ
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105 posts in 740 days
posted 740 days ago
Hey everyone,
thanks for the kind comments…you guys seem to have an awesome group here; I actually stumbled on it by accident while searching for ways to bend a hapsichord side. I saw Gary’s blog on the harpsichord he built, and yes, I would really like to talk to him- I’ll probably pester him so much he’ll wanna block me in a few weeks.
Dadoo…you asked about blueprints; this was sort of “made up as I went”. I did rough sketches and then just started building- from the wheel out. I actually used a tape measure very little. There were a lot of thin strips of wood with pencil marks on them when i was done though!
As for the electric motor, yes it would work, but I like to keep things “unplugged”. To me, interacting with the instrument is part of it’s charm. I also find the concept of treadles, flywheels, weights, pulleys and so on fun to make, and watch when they’re working.
I’ll try to post more info on how this thing works later. I had to jack up a sagging beam under the house tonight…not really fun woodworking, but it had to be done.
Once again, you guys have a great group. It’s such a relief to find an online forum without all the bickering. I think I’ll learn a lot here and make some good friends!
-- Jon
MsDebbieP
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14188 posts in 1060 days
posted 739 days ago
my first reaction: eyes bulged and jaw dropped
second reaction: someone actually made this?
third: absolutely stunning piece of art
fourth: and it makes music?
fifth: what a magnificent sound.
sixth and continuing: I absolutely love this!!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Damian Penney
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1030 posts in 891 days
posted 739 days ago
Very cool :)
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
Grumpy
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14949 posts in 751 days
posted 738 days ago
A very impressive piece.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 966 days
posted 733 days ago
What a LumberJock!!!!! Your work is way beyond the scope of average.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Chip
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1058 posts in 992 days
posted 733 days ago
Stunning piece of woodwork Jon. Welcome to LJ’s.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
YorkshireStewart
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784 posts in 801 days
posted 732 days ago
Extraordinary Jon! I eagerly await more projects. Welcome to the community.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
rikkor
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11335 posts in 774 days
posted 732 days ago
Man, that’s nice. Exquisit craftsmanship.
macpiper
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52 posts in 688 days
posted 665 days ago
tres awesome! would love to see more photos of this…very detailed photos :)
grovemadman
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558 posts in 672 days
posted 651 days ago
That is incredible, your attention to detail is awesome!
-- --Chuck
spaids
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461 posts in 593 days
posted 591 days ago
So what are you like a crazy person or something? I mean, who does something like this? Its completely awesome! I love it! and its Beautiful. and it even sounds good. Cool!
-- Wipe the blood stains from your blade before coming in.
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 614 days
posted 567 days ago
That is a very, very cool instrument!!
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
Texasgaloot
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467 posts in 600 days
posted 523 days ago
JonJ: Apart from all the things already said, to which I add my voice, what I’m most awed with is the innovation. It’s amazing to see something truly creative that someone hasn’t done already, and not just another freaking Stratocaster like in my project portfolio! Thank you for the independent thought and creative inquisition!!
-- There's no tool like an old tool...
Don Newton
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533 posts in 518 days
posted 517 days ago
This is where woodworking becomes art.
-- Don, Pittsburgh
WhattheChuck
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83 posts in 460 days
posted 450 days ago
That is just stunning—it’s almost like your own mini string quartet!
Chuck
-- Chuck, Pullman, WA
SCOTSMAN
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2244 posts in 485 days
posted 450 days ago
That looks like a fun machine, well done! It’sbeautifully made my friend , good luck with the music kindest regards. Alistair
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease
brickred1
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2 posts in 438 days
posted 438 days ago
I actually heard a soundclip of your instrument on oddmusic which led me to here. I love the sound of the instrument you created. It’s beautiful and unique. Only problem is I know I’ve heard that song somewhere before, and I can’t remember from where, and it’s bugging me. >.< I don’t mind it being played over and over again in my head though because that instrument you created has got to be one of the most beautiful sounds I’ve heard; hands down.
If you can, relieve me of my misery and tell me what song you were playing, and please make some kind of audio disc with that instrument on them. I crave more now. =/
Kindlingmaker
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1479 posts in 426 days
posted 403 days ago
Without hearing your beautiful artful instrment the beauty of as it stands is awe inspiring!!!!!!!! WOW !
-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings
MsDebbieP
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14188 posts in 1060 days
posted 249 days ago
here’s the audio
(I want to be able to find it later. Hope you don’t mind that I’ve posted the link here)
http://s261.photobucket.com/albums/ii49/wheelharp/?action=view¤t=wheelharpclipbyJonJones.flv
I think i could listen to this all day long. What a beautiful sound.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
mmh
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1411 posts in 622 days
posted 182 days ago
How extraordinary! I would love to hear more about this instrument and more songs. It sounds like you’ve hidden an orchestra with a cello included inside of the box. The sound is hauntingly beautiful!
-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe