[CAUT] Harpsichord Jacks

[Ed Sutton]

Paul-

This could be complicated enough to refer to a harpsichord specialist.

Zuckerman harpsichords has a retrofit kit for their own instruments which 
may be adaptable.

You can also try the Harpsichord Clearing House and Hubbard Harpsichords.

All can be found via web search.

This isn't going to be a $75 repair job. If the harpsichord is junk, it may 
be best to recommend saving up for a better instrument.

Ed Sutton
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dempsey Jr., Paul E" <dempsey at marshall.edu>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Cc: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 11:14 AM
Subject: [CAUT] Harpsichord Jacks


> Hello All,
>
> I have a private customer (a church) that has a Dupree Harpsichord that 
> has had only cursory maintenance and use over the years.
>
> The current Choirmaster wants to use it on a more regular basis.
>
> It has apparently been inexpertly voiced sometime in the past and the 
> majority of the plectra have been trimmed too short. Also the existing 
> jacks have no tongue adjustment screw so you can see the problems. These 
> jacks also are the type that the plectra is an integral part of the 
> tongue, so if a plectra breaks, the entire molded tongue/plectra/spring 
> must be replaced.
>
> We are exploring the idea of replacing all three ranks of jacks with a 
> type that has a replaceable tongue with a replaceable plucker and a top 
> screw adjustment.
>
> I have contacted the folks at Instrument Workshop in Oregon. They only 
> have a proprietary jack that they sell to builders. $3.00 a piece and we 
> need 180. They do not fit our existing jack slides so those would need to 
> be replaced as well.
>
> Does anyone know who else to contact? Here or abroad?
>
> Thanks
>
> Paul E. Dempsey, RPT
> Piano Technician Sr.
> Marshall University
> Huntington, WV
> 304-696-5418
> 304-617-1149
>
>
>