harpsichord

[Aart in America Piano Services]

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>
> Hi Blaine.
>
> Thank you so much for taking the time to compose this very informative=20=

> and helpful email.
> The directions you have provided are invaluable!
>
> I'll let you and the other good folks on the list know how it comes=20
> out.
>
> Very best regards,
>
> Aart
>
> Aart in America Piano Services
> Hoboken, N.J.  07030
> 201 406 2594
> aartinamerica@optonline.net
>
> On Feb 16, 2006, at 9:01 AM, Blaine Vesely wrote:
>
>>  Aart,
>>  I get pianotech in digest form and have minimal time to read=20
>> everything, but your post prompted this email.=A0 Don't even worry=20
>> about taking inharmonicity measurements with a SAT2 since the machine=20=

>> does not go below 2.0 I think.=A0 A harpsichord modelled after an old=20=

>> Baroque French Double (sounds like this is the kind you will be=20
>> working on) will not have much inharmonicity.=A0 Just use the 4th=20
>> octave settings on your SAT to tune from B4 to the bottom of the=20
>> harpsichord.=A0 A4 will be more toward the treble than the bass side =
of=20
>> the keyboard assuming a compass of F to F.=A0 Probably the second A=20=

>> from the top of the range on the keyboard.=A0 When you tune the C5 to=20=

>> top of the keyboard, you may have to insert some stretch alittle, but=20=

>> not much.=A0 You can use the individual settings and tune the notes=20=

>> directly, like set machine to D5 and tune D5, D#5 and tune D#5.=A0 =
This=20
>> gets you in the ballpark pretty much.=A0 Then use your ear to test if=20=

>> some stretch is needed.=A0 On a French Double, you will have two 8=20
>> foots and a 4 foot.=A0 I usually tune the top manual.=A0 It will only=20=

>> operate one set of 8 foot strings.=A0 You must make sure the top=20
>> keyboard is coupled.=A0 Slide the whole keyboard front or back and it=20=

>> will couple the keyboard to the jacks.=A0 When you get the top manual=20=

>> tuned, then play the bottom manual.=A0 Make sure you only have the=20
>> second set of 8 foot strings coupled, and not the 4 foot.=A0 Tune=20
>> unisons using the bottom keyboard.=A0 Usually the 8 foot strings are=20=

>> the tuning pins closest to the player.=A0=A0 Then turn off the 8 foot=20=

>> (lever that moves the jacks) and turn on the 4 foot and tune.=A0 The=20=

>> top 4 foot strings are hard sometimes to hear and you may have to=20
>> uncouple the top manual and tune octaves with just the 4 foot,=20
>> usually it is only the last several strings because they are so quiet=20=

>> and high pitched.=A0
>>
>>  Concerning tuning pins, if you have to replace a string, you really=20=

>> have to back out the tuning pin all the way if it has tapered tuning=20=

>> pins.=A0 If it has what look like miniature tuning pins that are=20
>> straight, then put coils on a dummy pin and then copy what the other=20=

>> strings look like.=A0 I have not done any stringing with pins that =
have=20
>> no becket, to if that is the case, you will just have to practice and=20=

>> when you get comfortable with it, go back to the customer.=A0 The =
pins=20
>> generally for harpsichords that are of a traditional nature are=20
>> designed to get tighter when tapped in and thus tapered.=A0 So take =
the=20
>> pin out, put the string in (you might want to take the jacks out) and=20=

>> cut it maybe 8 inches longer than the tuning pin.=A0 Copy the way the=20=

>> string is on the pin and it helps to maintain adequate tension when=20=

>> coiling the string on the pin, and drive the pin in the hole.=A0 I =
have=20
>> also been told that when you bring the string up to tension that you=20=

>> should leave it a little bit under pitch, maybe 50 - 100 cents for a=20=

>> few minutes.=A0 Someone told me that it does something to the =
molecules=20
>> in the iron strings and makes it stronger.=A0 Then bring it up to =
full=20
>> tension.=A0 Oh yes, the low inharmonicity and lower pitch when=20
>> stringing thing I just talked about applies to instruments with red,=20=

>> yellow brass and iron strings.=A0 If you know that the instrument has=20=

>> steel strings or has strings that are wound, then there is probably=20=

>> more inharmonicity and will need some stretch eventually in tuning.=A0=20=

>> One way to tell iron from steel is that when you bend or kink iron,=20=

>> it will be easier to bend and will give you a definite kink.=A0 Steel=20=

>> is harder to put a kink in it.
>>
>>  Some fast thoughts, have fun with it.
>>
>>  Blaine Vesely, Piano Technician
>>  Kent State University
>>  School of Music
>>  Kent, Ohio 44242
>>  office: 330-672-2898
>>  fax: 330-672-7837
>>  email: bvesely@kent.edu
>

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