claire dugué

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Alto “Exoskeleton”

Welcome to my site. I have been making hurdy-gurdies since 1997, and set up my workshop in 2001 in Ramsgate, South-East England.

For years I have made a variety of models: lute-backs, guitar-shaped and simpler trapezoidal hurdy-gurdies. I spent sometime in 2014 changing and re-designing both the inside and outside of my hurdy-gurdies. The results so far are 4 models, the sopranos Premier Pas and Do-Libre, the Alto Exo-Skeleton and the Tenor Carapace.

Both are fitted with an outside frame which removes the instrument from the player slightly so that the back can move freely. The result is a louder, warmer sounding instrument, with a sound that reaches the player’s ears better! The overall lighter construction results in a larger dynamic range without loosing either precision or the distinctive sound of the hurdy-gurdy.

Do contact me if you would like more information and do not hesitate to come and try the instruments at the workshop.

All my instruments are made individually by hand and can be customised to your specification. Do contact me to discuss your requirements.
I am also happy to adapt specs to individual needs or requirements.

Claire Dugué