Zuckerman harpsichord kit

[Dave Smith]

Barbara, 

Yes a pic of the jack elastic would help.  I just finished building a Zuckerman virginal last year, and needed to use small threads on each bass jack to limit the motion of the springs, not to strengthen them.  Never seen it on a harpsichord, though.  Jack spacing on virginals is tighter I think.

As to the length adjustment, possible, but not as convenient as screws:  just belt sander (careful) to shorten and add masking tape layers to lengthen.  I built a Zuckerman harpsichord years ago and ended up adding the screws.

I have a copy of my instructions for the old harpsichord I built c.1975.  Could copy for you, or maybe Zuckerman still has them available.  

Dave Smith
SW FL

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Barbara Richmond 
  To: Pianotech 
  Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2006 11:44 PM
  Subject: Fw: Zuckerman harpsichord kit


  Hello harpsichord experts!

  While I was working on a piano at a church, the music director asked me if I knew anything about harpsichords.  

  "Well...after five years at IWU, I was fairly decent at servicing the ones they had."  

  He lead me into his office and explained that someone had donated a 78" Zuckerman harpsichord, not totally finished (of course).

  Hmm, there was piece of elastic spanning over the 4' jacks to help them return.  The 8' jacks are in a box somewhere.   :-)  

  I do not claim to be an expert when it comes to harpsichords, though in the past I've been able to get them to play fairly well--that means all the notes work & sound pretty even and the touch is mostly even.

  I took a quick look at the keys and they are mighty tight.  And then I pulled out this jack.  Maybe screw adjustments aren't authentic, but I find them handy and there aren't any on these jacks.  

  I have some harpsichord literature around here somewhere which I am fully capable of reading--but my question is this:  Is it possible to get these jacks to perform well?  Is there any other information or advice I need to work on this instrument?

  Thanks so much,

  Barbara Richmond
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