Pin Dope AND Hot Stuff AND Dampp-Chasers

[DBHersh@aol.com]

In a message dated 96-02-03 00:28:32 EST, you write:

>
>>    I got this tip from Mr. Kasimoff in Los Angeles. When changing the
>string
>> on a harpsicord that has alot of winding on the tuning pin it is better to
>> take the pin out, wrap the string around it, put a couple of drops of pin
>> tightner in the hole and reinstall the pin.
>
>Always remove the pin when changing a harpsichord string. Do NOT apply dope!
>Unless it's a Sperrhake. Antique (smooth) and tapered pins can be
>reinstalled a little deeper and be plenty tight. Even the threaded
>"zither" pins only need a small shim of good rag paper to hold nicely.
>Anyone who dopes a Dowd or Phillips or Herz or...etc deserves all the bad
>karma that will inevitably follw.
>
>

Dave,
  In my instance I did not follow his advice. I ended up backing the pin out
and winding the string on that way and then setting it a little deeper. The
harpsicordist has since then broke two more strings in the 8'  choir (is that
the right term?) so maybe for those I will back out the pin all the way. BTW
this is a Nuepert Rameau Model. Would you really call one or two drops of pin
tightener doping? An earlier response to this subject cautioned about any
chemical coming into contact with the iron pins but these look like steel to
me. the instrument is only about 30 years old. This instrument is in an
institutional enviorment. Do any of you know a good source for Harpsicord
wire and or parts.

Thanks in advance,
Doug Hershberger,RPT but always learning