[CAUT] FW: Harpsichord popping strings

[Paul T Williams]

So no copper/brass or whatever they are in the bass sections? I've been 
downsizing the string guages on size on replacements, and now about 1/3 
have been replaced.  Perhaps it was too beefed up at the beginning to 
handle it.

I'll check the edges at bridges etc.

It's very random where they break, so i'm still mystified why this is 
happening.  I wish I had time to really check it out further,....but then 
again, not. I really don't like these things!  I'm learning more and more 
by force <G>

Perhaps a complete restringing with steel and a lighter guage might be in 
order, but when to do it is a real challenge!  They're used so seldom, 
that it's hard to justify spending dozens of hours on it.

Thanks, though, Jim.  I'll look further into it.
Paul





From:
Jim Busby <jim_busby at byu.edu>
To:
"caut at ptg.org" <caut at ptg.org>
Date:
10/11/2010 12:42 PM
Subject:
[CAUT] FW:  Harpsichord popping strings



Paul,
 
Of course there is the obvious “check for sharp edges at the bridges, etc. 
etc.” and I use a very fine 1200 grit polishing cloth for that, but in our 
case it was what I said below…
 
Jim
 
From: Jim Busby 
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 11:36 AM
To: 'caut at ptg.org'
Subject: RE: [CAUT] Harpsichord popping strings
 
Hi Paul,
 
Fred is the man to ask here, but I will tell you that we had the same 
problem and how it was “solved”. 
 
First, make sure that the wire size is correct. I found that makers will 
try a size bigger/smaller without batting an eye. We finally asked the 
builder, who reluctantly told us to change the type of wire to steel 
(different size too), then voice it down to where it matched. On this 
harpsichord we found that several strings were NOT the right size and 
correcting/changing size made them break less (or not at all, so far) and 
that changing to steel worked 100% of the time, but I found that the tone 
difference was too great. I didn’t like it, but was able to voice it to 
where the artist likes it. Also, on the few I changed to steel, they go 
out of tune WAY more when compared to their neighbors. But hey, the 
builder made the recommendation (to steel) so go figure.
 
Good luck Paul.
 
Regards,
Jim
 
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul 
T Williams
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 11:22 AM
To: CAUTlist
Subject: [CAUT] Harpsichord popping strings
 
H Cauters, 

One of our harpsichords pops strings all by itself!  I have to replace 
strings all the time and it's rarely played. I used to think it was 
excessive humidity in this sub-basement room, but now again, 3 more 
strings have popped in the last week or so and the humidity is very low. 
Our other two harpsichords almost never break strings and also hold their 
tune much better than this one, and played about equally. 

What's going on with it?  Any ideas? 

Thanks 
Paul 


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