If the instrument is transposing, be sure the removable block is to the left of the keyboard before tuning it. It's so easy to forget this and crank it up a half tone high. As I remember, I had strings popping until I bought Roeslau wire. Maybe this wasn't authentic, but I never had strings breaking again. I apologize to those who may cringe at the idea of a scaled down piano wire in a period instrument, but I think this approach works very well in an institutional setting where you can't afford for strings to break all the time (and in the middle of recitals, which made me look for an alternative). I remember the tone improving with the Roeslau wire, but my taste is severely deformed by the modern piano sound. _____ From: Keith Kopp [mailto:keith_kopp at byu.edu] Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 11:50 AM To: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Harpsichord popping strings Just the opposite. You can made the instrument longer to go lower in pitch with ease but you can only shorten it a small amount to go higher. Keith Kopp From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of reggaepass at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 9:01 AM To: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Harpsichord popping strings The flutists all demand A-440. It is my understanding that flutists (and other woodwind players) can barely tune below 440 (assuming that they are playing an instrument designed for 440). A little sharper, yes, but flat, not so much. Alan Eder -----Original Message----- From: Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu> To: caut <caut at ptg.org> Cc: Christopher Marks <cmarks2 at unl.edu> Sent: Mon, Oct 11, 2010 8:42 am Subject: Re: [CAUT] Harpsichord popping strings Good question! I'm not sure of the "designed" pitch. The flutists all demand A-440. Perhaps it's too overstretched? Perhaps it was made for more like A415? or lower?????? I'll have to ask Richard West, former tech with this instrument to see. We have a Benn and a "kit" instrument that works really well at 440 with little or no broken strings. noble and fine research to look into. Nobody will by happy with it then.....(non keyboard students). they all really want to use A-440, but then again...can't they adjust their instruments flat???? Perhaps spoiled or non educated. You know, the action is transferable to a lower pitch.....maybe we've been tuning it all these years at too high of tension????? I'll look into that as well. Nay...that makes no sense as i think about it. That would make the tension even higher!! Nobody has ever asked me to change to 415 however. I could just tune to 435 and say that's all it can handle? But then, of course, some smartypants will come in and say 440 is ok. Then again and again, I can say, It's not designed for 440! OMG this frustrates my mind to no end! Paul From: Laurence Libin <lelibin at optonline.net> To: caut at ptg.org Date: 10/11/2010 12:51 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Harpsichord popping strings _____ Forgive me for bringing this up, but is the harpsichord tuned at the designed pitch? Laurence ----- Original Message ----- From: <mailto:jim_busby at byu.edu> Jim Busby To: <mailto:caut at ptg.org> caut at ptg.org Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 1:43 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Harpsichord popping strings David, Mine is a Martin, and you are correct. Best, Jim From: <mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org> caut-bounces at ptg.org [ <mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org> mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Porritt, David Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 11:40 AM To: <mailto:caut at ptg.org> caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Harpsichord popping strings What brand?? Martin harpsichords are pretty high tension devices and if they go sharp in higher humidity they'll break strings. dp David M. Porritt, RPT dporritt at smu.edu From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [ <mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org> mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul T Williams Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 12:22 PM 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 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20101012/a6659524/attachment-0001.htm>
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