KNYS Catnip B Hurdy-Gurdy, 2023, 6-String
Built in May 2023 and holding its tuning well, this is an instrument that has stayed dialed in. It plays reliably whenever it comes out of the bag, and the string heights are set where they need to be. The tangents remain in their original factory positions with no perceptible shift, so it is still well tuned to itself.
Six strings in the traditional 2/2/2 configuration: two melody strings, two drones, and two trompettes with one chien and one mouche, following French practice. The keyboard covers two octaves over a 400mm scale, longer than is typical in this class, which keeps the key spacing comfortable rather than cramped. Plywood body, built after the late-2022 internal redesign of the model. Excellent condition throughout.
Original owner from new. Played regularly through its first year and more occasionally since, with travel limited to a handful of small local jams.
Included with the instrument:
- Custom padded gig bag
- Strap
About the Maker
Radosław Malisz builds under the KNYS Instruments name from a small workshop in Gorlice, in southeastern Poland. He is the son of Jan Malisz, an established Polish hurdy-gurdy builder, and began making guitars and other instruments in 2015 before turning to hurdy-gurdies in early 2020. The Catnip was designed as an accessible entry point for new players and is frequently recommended as a first hurdy-gurdy; reviewers have singled out the keyboard as a particular strength of the design. KNYS instruments are built in small numbers, with reported wait times running beyond a year.
Video review of this model:
Condition: Used - Excellent
Condition: Details:
