▶ The Robin – long scale version of Neil Brook's Wren Hurdy-gurdy!

The Robin - YouTube

Published on Jun 7, 2017

The Robin is a long scale version of my Wren hurdy-gurdy which has an extra 6 keys which extend the highest note from the normal g up to c. it also incorporates the high f natural and f sharp to allow playing all the tunes in key of d. Sliding capos on trompette and drone from c up to g allow playing a wide variety of keys. A capo on the chanterelles can hold the d key in play so it feels almost like playing a standard d/g instrument.

^ the above is G/C (+D!).  the following is D/G –

Published on Sep 4, 2017

Here is another "Robin"model, this one is tuned in D/G but one octave lower than standard Bourbonnais tuning due to the longer scale length. There are also 6 extra notes on the key box.

videos added to the Weekly's Youtube playlist "#Lutherie"

INQUIRE

Neil Brook, Hurdy Gurdy and Fretted Instrument Maker • www.hurdy-gurdy.org.uk

Mr. Neil W. Brook.

1. Shire Bank Crescent.

Fulwood, Preston. PR2 9QE.

Lancashire. England.

Phone/ Fax. (0)1772 774650. E. Mail        nwbrook@gmail.com 

▶ Non Resonating Hurdy-gurdy | Neil Brook

Non Resonating Hurdy-gurdy introduction - YouTube
Published on Mar 19, 2017 by Neil Brook
An introduction to my new concept hurdy-gurdy which is designed to minimise the acoustic sound so better to hear the effect of the multiple pickups.

Non Resonating Hurdy-gurdy demonstration. - YouTube

Published on Mar 19, 2017 by Neil Brook

Now it's connected to fx units and an amplifier, the NRG can do whatever the player wants. It's not really what I do but shows some possibilities . Gregory Jolivet would have better ideas I'm sure !!

Neil Brook - YouTube Channel

Neil Brook, Hurdy Gurdy and Fretted Instrument Maker (website)

• SOLD ::: Neil Brook hurdy-gurdy | Geoff Turner [UK]

Geoff Turner posts:
Hurdy gurdy for sale. Selling this for the widow of a good friend of mine, who I played with for a few years. I would have it myself if I could afford it. It was made by Neil Brook, and is in excellent condition, having been purchased not long before he passed away. PM me if interested, instrument is in hard case, located in Cheshire UK, and is £2,700.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/25302145782/permalink/10153821228170783/

The Hurdy Gurdy Weekly • #HGWeekly:

• FOR SALE ::: Neil Brook hurdy-gurdy | Geoff Turner [UK] posts:Hurdy gurdy for sale. Selling this for the widow of a...
Posted by The Hurdy Gurdy Weekly • #HGWeekly on Wednesday, March 16, 2016

LARK CAMP 2016 • JULY 29 - AUGUST 6 featuring "French Camp" Hurdy Gurdy Workshop with Neil Brook; Mendocino, California

LARK CAMP 2016 • JULY 29 - AUGUST 6

featuring "French Camp" Hurdy Gurdy Workshop with Neil Brook

Mendocino Woodlands State Park; Mendocino, California USA

www.larkcamp.com/information.html

Lark Camp French Tunes Library –

http://www.larkcamp.com/LarkLibrary/French/French.html

2016 French Tunes Collection. Notation - PDF from Neil Brook
Large French Tune Collection. Notation - PDF from Ian Law Updated 2015

Source material from Alan Keith's class 2012..

Lark Camp Workshops: www.larkcamp.com/larkcampworkshops.html

▶ Nonpareil – new design by Neil Brook

▶ Nonpareil - YouTube
Published on Mar 29, 2015 by Neil Brook​
A new design of guitar bodied hurdy-gurdy based on a renaissance guitar ca.1550 by Guerrero. The sides of the instrument have a strong slope making the back smaller than the soundboard. this seems to aid projection and clarity.

Neil's site: www.hurdy-gurdy.org.uk

added to the Weekly's playlist "Lutherie"

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• FOR SALE: Neil Brook Wren; near Atlanta, GA, US

submitted by Andrew Lentini –
Hello,

I have decided to try and sell my hurdy gurdy, made last year by Neil Brook. The model is the Wren, and is a pretty standard model without anything crazy. That said, it sounds amazing and has LOTS of volume (and sweet tone). It's in D. I ordered it from Neil and it arrived in mid-April, 2014.

I am just not playing it enough to justify it sitting in its case. Serious offers considered.
These pictures were taken by Neil when he shipped it to me. It looks the same now...no condition issues.

For specifications, Neil's Wren page is a wealth of information on this truly sweet instrument.

hurdy-gurdy.org.uk/wren.html

Happy to talk to you about it.

Andrew Lentini
playthebanjo <at> gmail.com
Athens, Georgia (about an hour east of Atlanta)

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hanging out with Neil Brook & R.T. Taylor

R.T. Taylor and Neil Brook

well, it was a great day! - hanging out with Neil Brook and R.t. Taylor here in California... needless to say, getting to hang out with them, and also Jesse and Susan, was totally awesome - a great pleasure and an honor! -- thanks guys - see you tomorrow! / Rob

Neil was playing one of his hurdy gourdies - they are amazing!

R.T.'s gurdy 

tea time

R.T. Taylor and Neil Brook discussing an instrument in need of repair *

* the instrument in question was made by Michael L. Hubbert
in Mendocino, CA in 1986

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Bella, and my first dollar as a busker

well, it was a great day! - hanging out with Neil Brook and R.t. Taylor here in California... but i must say, one of the the highlights happened before we all met up. i had a bit of time to kill after the drive and before i was expected, soi stopped at a park and got my instrument to play a just a bit... well, i hadn't been there long before the cutest little girl, Bella, walked up and placed a dollar on the curb for me. i said it was not necessary but she insisted, so now i have made my very first dollar as a busker! -- needless to say, getting to hang out with Neil and RT, and also Jesse and Susan, was totally awesome - a great pleasure and an honor! -- thanks guys - see you tomorrow! / Rob


Hurdy Gurdy Weekly • #HGWeekly: hanging out with Neil Brook & R.T. Taylor

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Rambles Through The Park | Neil Brook CD download

hi all

Neil Brook has graciously offered up his CD "Rambles Through The Park" for free download on The Hurdy Gurdy Weekly!

thank you Neil!


DOWNLOAD "Rambles Through The Park" (July, 2006) | Neil Brook



Neil Brook, Hurdy Gurdy and Fretted Instrument Maker
hurdy-gurdy.org.uk
site features hurdy gurdy tips, instruction, a great selection of mp3 samples, notation, etc. 

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A new Wren by Neil Brook now lives in BRAZIL

A new Wren by Neil Brook now lives in BRAZIL with Nayane 


SEE MISS NAYANE'S OWN BLOG POST HERE: A Saga Hurdy-Gurdy: É só o começo!

Uns 6 anos de sonhos

3 anos juntando o dinheiro (dentre quase desistências)

6 meses na fila de espera

3 meses de fabricação

3 meses para encontrar alguém para trazê-lo para mim.

E finalmente ele chegou em minhas mãos!

Gratidão a todos que colaboraram para este sonho se tornar realidade!

Gratidão ao Neil Brook, pelo lindo trabalho, impecável, e atenção de sempre, recomendo a todos...

SEE ALSO Eight's a charm - No Brasil: Nayane Spigoti ON Rique Meirelles BLOG A Viela de Roda no Brasil

Poucas vezes na vida podemos nos preparar para um momento em que nossa estrada muda de curso e tudo ganha uma nova cara, sob uma nova luz. Hoje foi um desses dias para nossa querida amiga Nayane Spigoti, que viveu um desses momentos mágicos - um pelo qual ela esperou, e muito - ao receber sua linda viela de roda. Vindo diretamente dos confins de Lancashire, na Inglaterra, Wren foi construída pelo mesmo luthier da minha viela de roda, o simpático e talentoso Neil Brook. Posso dizer que minha Lyanna agora tem um irmãozinho lá em São Caetano do Sul, em São Paulo. Oitava viela de roda (não contando as sinfonias dos grupos de música antiga) a chegar no Brasil...  * 

A Viela de Roda no Brasil: Eight's a charm - No Brasil: Nayane Spigoti 

* (google translate - "alley"= "vielle"or "gurdy") -- Rarely in life do we prepare for a time when our road changes course and everything gets a new face in a new light. Today was one of those days for our dear friend Nayane Spigoti, who lived one of those magical moments - one for which she waited, and much - to recive your lovely alley wheel. Coming directly from the confines of Lancashire, England, Wren was built by the same luthier my alley wheel, the friendly and talented Neil Brook. I can say that my Lyanna now has a little brother there in São Caetano do Sul in São Paulo. Eighth alley wheel (not counting the symphonies of the early music groups) to arrive in Brazil ...

Gregory Jolivet playing one of Neil's instruments -

Uploaded on Aug 7, 2010 by Rory Scammell 

"gregory jolivet at sidmouth 2010 playing my neil brook hurdy gurdy."

Neil Brook says: "Just to be clear, this one looks like a Wren but has the bigger body of the Artist model. If you know what a big guy Rory Scammell is, you'd understand !"

Neil Brook, Hurdy Gurdy and Fretted Instrument Maker
hurdy-gurdy.org.uk
site features hurdy gurdy tips, instruction, a great selection of mp3 samples, notation, etc. 

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SOLD 1884 Pajot Fils Lute back for sale by Neil Brook

this instrument has been sold

Published on May 28, 2014

A quick demo of the 1884 Pajot luteback available from my website. Kind of a fitting title and the tune works well in C .

from website –

This instrument was bought from the Paris auctions 2 years ago and has been fully restored. It is largely original except for the wheel cover, keys and tangents, some mother of pearl inlay and tuning pegs. 

The keys are of ebony and bone and are fitted with machine screwed tangents for reliable operation in all temperatures and humidities. 

The original taper tuning pegs have been replaced with "Peghed" 4 to 1 ratio geared tuners fitted with the original ivory pips.

The wheel & axle are all original and there is no looseness in the bearings. The wheel has hardly any distortion. All open joints and cracks have been closed and as the repairs were done 18 months ago, as long as the instrument is not kept in an over dry environment, they should stay that way.

It is currently in traditional G/C  tuning. I had it in D/G first but as with many hurdy-gurdies, it seems to prefer G/C and I suspect that it has spent its many years in this tuning. The trompette is at c/d but can easily be changed to g' if required.

The soundboard is flamed maple which gives a warmer creamier tone to the instrument. It is not quite as loud as the spruce top Pajots I have experienced.

It will come with a quality padded gig bag and strap.


> Current Stock | Neil Brook, Hurdy Gurdy and Fretted Instrument Maker

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Neil Brook changing hurdy-gurdy cotton - video

▶ Neil Brook changing hurdy-gurdy cotton - YouTube

Neil Brook's channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/neilbrook

More hurdy-gurdy maintenance tips can be found on his DVD. Further details at: www.hurdy-gurdy.org.uk