About the Nerdy Gurdy
The Nerdy Gurdy is probably the best-known open-source hurdy-gurdy. It combines a 3D-printed mechanism (the wheel, keybox, tangents, bridges and fittings) with a body cut from plywood, so it's a woodworking project as much as a printing one. The project has a dedicated website with a full build manual, and many makers have finished one. The two videos below show builders playing theirs.
Version 6.x added dual strap pins, a bridge and front bearing support redesigned for more volume, tangents with a wider tuning range, and adjustment screws for the buzzing bridges (the 'trompette' that gives the hurdy-gurdy its rhythmic buzz), now moved back so they're easier to reach. The manual was fully overhauled. Version 6.3 adds a new knob that does away with the shaft nut.
Versions. v6.3 is the latest free version of the full Nerdy Gurdy. The designer's free Nerdy Gurdy BASIC (2024) is a separate, simpler 4-string, 24-key design rather than an update, and his newer models are sold as kits.
Who it's for. Hurdy-gurdy players and determined makers. Read the manual on the project site before you start, since it lists the exact strings, hardware and plywood.
What you'll need
Printed parts
- Wheel, keybox, keys and tangents, bridges, knob and fittings (see the manual)
Bought parts
- Plywood body parts (laser-cut), strings, bearings and hardware, as listed in the manual
Tools
- Access to a laser cutter, or ready-cut parts
Videos
Play video: A finished Nerdy Gurdy: time-lapse and playing (loads YouTube)
Play video: Trying a Nerdy Gurdy v6.3, with G trompette (loads YouTube)
Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. Video thumbnails are © their creators.
Photos
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