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Gurdy Wheel 1.0, a 3D-printed conversion kit
Image: skinnyt via MakerWorld. Resized and converted to WebP.
Strings · Conversion kit

Gurdy Wheel 1.0

A clamp-on crank wheel that turns an acoustic or electric guitar into a hurdy-gurdy-style drone instrument

Designed by skinnyt, published on MakerWorld

MakerWorld Standard Digital File License No commercial use Build info 4/5

Licence verified on MakerWorld, 20 October 2026.

Get the files on MakerWorld ↗
Type
Guitar add-on (conversion kit)
Plays
The four middle strings, using two rosined O-rings
Suggested tunings
DADA or GDAE on those strings
Instructions
Two assembly PDFs on MakerWorld
Difficulty
Medium
On MakerWorld
724 likes · 242 downloads · 126 prints · 50 comments (as of 20 Oct 2026)

About the Gurdy Wheel

Instead of printing a whole hurdy-gurdy, this kit borrows your guitar. A printed frame clamps onto the outer strings (the lowest and highest), and a hand-cranked wheel carries two rubber O-rings coated in dark rosin. As you turn the crank, the O-rings rub the four middle strings like a bow and set up a continuous drone. You still fret and play the guitar as normal. The designer found DADA and GDAE tunings worked well, and advises tuning after fitting the O-rings but before assembling the wheel.

Rosin is essential: crumble a little onto sandpaper and roll the O-rings through it. Several small variations are included: a 2 mm taller foot for guitars with a pickguard (two can be used to add tension), TPU feet that grip better and protect the finish, and a larger handle. The bearings, bolt and even O-rings can be printed, but the designer recommends real steel bearings and bolt, and found that printed 95A O-rings were too hard. Commercial ones are around 60 to 70A.

Caveat. This is a v1.0. It worked on the designer's three test guitars, but neck widths vary, so it may not suit every guitar. Read the assembly PDFs first so you mount it without marking your instrument.

What you'll need

Printed parts

  • Wheel, frame, crank handle (small or large) and feet (standard, +2 mm or TPU)
  • Optional: printed bearings, bolt and O-rings

Bought parts

  • 2 rubber O-rings (soft, about 60–70A; see the part list)
  • Dark rosin
  • Steel bearings and bolt (recommended over printed)
  • Exact sizes are in the MakerWorld part list

Tools

  • Sandpaper or a knife to break up the rosin
  • A guitar to fit it to

Build overview

  1. Read the PDFs. Check both assembly instructions so the clamp doesn't damage your guitar.
  2. Fit the O-rings and tune. Fit the O-rings, then tune the middle strings (for example DADA or GDAE).
  3. Rosin the rings. Coat both O-rings with crumbled rosin.
  4. Assemble and mount. Build the wheel and clamp it to the outer strings.
  5. Adjust. Use +2 mm or TPU feet if it moves or needs more tension.

Photos

More of the designer's photos are on MakerWorld. See them on MakerWorld ↗

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