Does anyone know anything about Gunnar Helland’s Hardanger fiddles? I have access to one that is rough shape, but probably is restorable. I’m thinking that it is from the early 20th century, but the date is obscured. I am trying to find opinions if this is worth restoring. How do they sound? The workmanship is interesting, but rough, so I have doubts that this would be a great sounding instrument. Is it more of a collectors item because of its history, or are these desireable to play?
Some background information about Gunnar Helland is on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunnar_Gunnarsson_Helland
Thanks!
How much restoration are we talking about? Give us the details so we can serve you bettter. Personally, I never met a Hardanger that I didn’t want! 
There are several cracks in the top, all fixable, and cosmetic problems like missing inlay which would have to be recreated in mother-of-pearl. My guess, based on previous restorations of regular violins that the work would cost 2-3 K (US) with the work down by a first rate and talented restorer.
One interesting thing about this instrument is it exhibits Hellends modified F soundholes (see the wikipedia article). At first I thought this was severe warping of the top, but it turns out these are carved i.e. Helland intended this.
The instrument is very similar in appearance to this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0e/FeleGunnar.jpg
The neck has no flaming whatsoever, though the dragon head is nicely carved.
My question is does anyone have a sense how Gunnar Helland Hardanger’s sound, perhaps in relation to a modern instrument, which would not cost that much more to purchase new than a restoration.
I wish I had some pictures to post, but it is not in my posession at the moment.
Thanks!
Boy Howdy! Gorgeous sound, and these look so beautiful.
hi Harlow
Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh of “Kittie Lie Over” CD ( rated NO.1 Irish Trad. ALBUM OF 2003 ) among others has been playing one for a while making them tres coooool therefore desirable and probably worth good money.
Have you heard any trad Norwegian music played on the Hardanger fiddle - very worth while as is the album mentioned above.
yours Un.
Just happened to see this thread. Gunnar Helland lived in Wisconsin with his brother after they emigrated from Norway. That would be in the 1920s. When they arrived here they carried on making Hardingfela but gradually altered their design to be more playable by fiddlers. The main change was the radius of the fingerboard, which was not as flat as the traditional design, and the inlays were less elaborate. The standard tuning for the fiddle was used, with the G string raised to A, rather than the whole thing being raised by a full tone. They carried on using the traditional rosing - the pen and ink decoration - and the old style of soundholes, which actually extend into the instrument and are truly 3D.Below are a couple of photos of one I made recently:
There is a good picture of a Gunnar Helland instrument on Dermot Crehan’s website (don’t have the link just now). He played it on the Lord of The Rings films, and the sound is typical of the Helland instruments. I should know - I restored it and sold it to him
It seems to have 8 pegs, but only 4 strings. Why?
THIS article suggests that it has under-strung resonance strings.
That it?
Yes, there are either 4 or 5 sympathetic strings running under the fingerboard. You can just see them in the second photo, running parallel to the fingerboard.
Thank you very much Mike. Your reply was very helpful. It is much like the instrument that you picture. The flattened F holes appear characteristic.
Here is a sample on Dermot Crehan’s website. It is not credited as a Gunnar Helland Hardanger, so I’ll just assume it is.
http://www.dermotcrehan.co.uk/soundbites/Hardanger.mp3
Very nice indeed.
I should say that the fingerboard is very flat and elaboratly ornamented, i.e inlayed with mother of pearl… to the point that I wonder if it would interfere with playing. I’m guessing this is an older instrument like you describe. I wish I had some pictures to post, but alas, not at the moment.
I’m familiar with the Kitty Lie Over album, being both an aspiring piper and fiddler… it is sublime. I’ve had to good fortune to play with two B pipers, Andrew Flint, and Andrew Post, tuning a normal fiddle down to match the pipes… A great combination. When a regular fiddle is tuned down like that, it takes on some of the characteristics of a Hardanger it seems.
What’s the cost of Hardanger fiddle? I’d love to try and play one.
From what I understand, cost of a high-quality new one is on the order of a 3/4 set of uilleann pipes, from a reputable maker. I think the wait can be similar.
This looks like a good place to start an obsession: 
http://www.hfaa.org/
GAK!!! Another wait 
I’d just like to try one; are there any shops in the western US that has one “just lying around”?
Just remembered this thread.
I will probably have a hardanger available in about two months. I am just sunning the body now so it gets a nice tan while I work on the head. PM me if you want further info, etc.