h'chord LM

[Ed Sutton]

    In a well-regulated harpsichord, the issue is not so much lost motion
between the string and plectrum as "speaking order" of the registers.   The
jack should not hang by the damper (except maybe a little in the bass).  If
you adjust the lost motion at random you will destroy the regulation of the
speaking order.  If the harpsichord was properly regulated to start, it is
possible to adjust for seasonal rise and fall of the strings by shimming the
back key rail, or in some cases turning two adjustment screws under the
case.  This takes minutes, and will not deregulate the speaking order.
    If the harpsichord was not properly regulated to begin with, you need to
know enough to know that, and how to do a full regulation.
    This is why it is best to take a class on harpsichord regulating before
turning the screws.
    Believe me, I now know that I have spent many hours of my life turning
jack screws that I should have left alone.
        Ed Sutton, Repentent Jack Screw Turner

----- Original Message -----
From: <A440A@aol.com>
To: <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: h'chord LM


> Wim asks:
> <<  How much lost motion should there be on h'chords? On our French, I can
> push the key almost one-third of the way down before it activates the
> "plucker." (I know there is another word for this, but just can't of it
right
> now.) >>
>
> The plectrum plucks the string, it is held by the tongue,which is carried
by
> the jack.   The plectrum should be below the string sufficiently to allow
the
> damper to stop the note. Any more lost motion than that is just wasted
space.
> However, the soundboards on harpsichords move up and down, carrying the
> strings with them, so if there is no lost motion in the middle of summer,
you
> will find that there are notes failing to reset in the winter, when the
> strings drop down.
>    If you have adjustment screws in the bottom of the jacks, or under the
> backrail, the lost motion can be easily kept to a minimum year round.
> Otherwise, you have to suffer with extra lost motion in the summer, and
the
> occasional hanging note in the winter.
>    Set the lost motion to be even on all the notes and it will be
acceptable
> to most players, even if it is a little excessive, overall.
> Regards,
>
> Ed Foote RPT
> www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/
> www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
>
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