Yet another instrument to get

I've wanted a hurdy gurdy since I was about 20 and saw them at a Highlands Games festival, or some-such.

Basically:  a hurdy gurdy is a wooden case with tuned strings (some fingered, some drones), a hand-cranked wheel that ''bows'' the strings, and some buttons that you use to ''stop'' the strings.  Kind of a hybrid of a Highland ''great pipes'' bagpipe, and a violin.

Here's an example:




And another:




You get a peek at the inside in this one, at about 0:35 and 0:40:





One of the things I like about hurdy gurdies is that, because of the drone strings, you get a bagpipe-y sound.  Like this:




With a bit of time, I bet I could build one.  I'll add it to my list...


--GG

I want a chazy

Saw this on a YouTube clip of David Letterman (see below), and managed to track it down.

It's a chanzy, from Tuva.  I **like** the tone!  (Strumming starts around 1:14.)



According to the online atlas of plucked instruments (near the bottom, so scroll down), the tuning is often tonic-fith-octave, and it's often a fretted instrument (good!).  Usually only the first string is fingered, and the other two strings are used as drones.

I did a web search, and can't seem to find anyone who sells 'em online.

Hmm.  Maybe I'll have to try building one.


--GG