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The Vio Hurdy Gurdy A small but versatile Hurdy Gurdy

Designed from scratch for modern and traditional playing, my Vio model Hurdy Gurdy gives great electroacoustic sound in a compact package.

Made from Mahogany, Spruce, Maple and Rosewood, this model has a middling sound – loud-ish and clear with a crisp chien, a variety of chanter sounds and a big rolling drone sound.

Standard Vio – From £900

As standard, Vio model hurdy gurdies come with the following spec:

  • Materials:
    • Sitka Spruce top
    • Mahogany Back and Sides
    • Rosewood trim
    • Maple Keybox and Bridges
    • Ebony/Maple Keys
    • Baltic Birch Wheel
    • Aluminium/stainless steel shaft
  • Strings:
    • 2 Chanters
    • 1 Trompette
    • 2 Bourdons
  • Hardware:
    • Screw-in Wooden Tangents
    • Gotoh Machine Heads
    • Capo on the Trompette

Custom Options

One of the lovely things about hurdy gurdies is the vast scope for customisation and add-ons. Different string configurations and tunings, capos, pickups/transducers, adjustable drone bridges, string disengagers, inlays and designs, colourations…

The basic configuration above is recommended for beginners, but if you want to go a step further, get in contact and let me know what you want.

Vio Gurdy

More Vio on the Web:

  • Photos (including photos of the build process. Most are interestingly annotated)
  • Recordings

Recordings

To Purchase

If you’re interested in buying a Vio Gurdy or any of my other instruments, please do get in contact in whatever way you prefer, and we can discuss your requirements.

Come and Visit Me

If you’re interested in my instruments, the best thing to do is to arrange to drop by and meet me.

I’m based in the rural town of Buckfastleigh, Devon, in the south-west of England.

Buckfastleigh is easy to find, just off the A38 in between Newton Abbot and Totnes, and about 30 minutes drive away from Exeter or Plymouth.


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How to Get In Touch

To order an instrument/repair, arrange a visit or just have a chat, here’s how to contact me:

Barnaby sitting at Raglan Castle, playing the Hurdy Gurdy
Barnaby John Walters, Luthier
47 Oaklands Park
Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0BP United Kingdom

I’m more likely to be able to answer the ‘phone if you ring between 5pm and 8pm GMT.

I usually respond to emails within a day.