[CAUT] Harpsichord

[Andrew Anderson]

Thanks Fred,
As it was I tuned between a piano recital and the choir rehearsal, 
just barely had time to get it there and stable while the violins 
were tuning up.  The joys of the university environment with one 
recital hall.  I'll look forward to getting into its guts later.

Andrew Anderson

At 02:22 PM 12/11/2005, you wrote:
>On 12/10/05 9:30 PM, "Andrew Anderson" <andrew@andersonmusic.com> wrote:
>
> > I checked out the TAMIU harpsichord in its storage closet last week.
> >
> > It is a "PS Purvis 19 Toronto 69".  It has ~4.5 octaves.  There are
> > two levers where the piano fall-board would be.  The one on the left
> > actuates a rail with felt blocks against the strings near the front
> > bearing.  This seems intended to moderate the tone/volume of the
> > instrument.  The one on the right is jammed.  It seems to reach into
> > the action.
> > I'll be tuning this just before the concert tomorrow to "Handel's WT"
> > as available on my Verituner.  The conductor's only specification is
> > to keep it at A4=440 for the wind instruments.  Any enlightenment
> > regarding the lever on the right would be helpful.
> >
> > It appears to need some regulation.  Some of the, ah, plectrums?
> > engage the strings more deeply then others.  For me, a noticeable
> > change in touch.  I probably won't get that deep into the instrument
> > just before the concert but...incorrigible perfectionist that I am...
> >
> > Andrew Anderson
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >
>Hi Andrew,
>     I am not familiar with PS Purvis, but will guess at what it is like
>based on your description. I suspect it has one set of strings, and is much
>like Neupert, Sperrhake, Sabathil, and other pre "historic copy style"
>instruments. Hence, I suspect the second lever is a "volume" lever, which
>minutely adjusts the upper jack guide to make the plectra underhang the
>strings a bit more, or a bit less, depending which way you manipulate it. In
>some designs, this lever will push in and pull out, rather than pivot. The
>other lever you describe, which moves a set of felts against or away from
>the strings, is commonly called the "lute" or "buff" stop: it muffles the
>attach, and creates rapid decay (the mechanism for this being pretty
>obvious).
>     As for the unevenness of touch (and probably sound) from differences in
>how far the plectra underhang the strings, the "quick fix" is as follows: it
>is likely that there is a top adjustment screw in each jack, which bears
>against the top of the tongue (the hinged part the plectrum is actually
>attached through - hinged so that the plectrum can get back under the string
>on release of the key, and with a spring to get the plectrum back under the
>string at rest). Turning the screw clockwise will push back on the tongue
>(the top will have a bevel for this purpose), meaning the plectrum will
>underhang less and the touch become less hard and tone softer. And vice
>versa for counter-clockwise. One thing to watch is that the return spring is
>strong enough to return the tongue to rest.
>     That's probably about enough for you to know for this gig, assuming all
>plectra are present, and no string breaks. Good luck. I'm heading out for my
>annual Messiah gig this week: four rehearsals and three performances for the
>local symphony (I rent them an instrument).
>Regards,
>Fred Sturm
>University of New Mexico
>
>
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