Those jacks are original Zuckermann. The later ones are an I-beam in cross section, and so you need a slot instead of a round hole for the bottom guide. Hubbard jacks have a square bottom, but it is in line with one edge of the upper body, rather than being centered. As far as I know, nobody is making a jack with a centered square bottom at this point (though they can be made from wood, and there are people who will do that for you).
I experimented, and found that the Hubbard jack would work fine in my Zuckermann Flemish, without replacing the bottom guide. They slant a bit, but function just fine. Any jack you purchase, you will need to trim it to size, often both bottom and top. This isn't a problem if you have a band saw, but it more time consuming otherwise. You will also need to install screws top and bottom (if the design uses screws), and possibly drill for the bottom screw. Current Zuckermann jacks have no screw, but you do need to cut the bottom to match the size you need - and since there is no bottom adjustment screw, you need to do that very carefully, as it will permanently set where the plectrum is relative to the string. That needs to be consistent, or the feel and control will be lousy.
I don't know Zuckermann's model numbers, but it is 8 X 4 with "lute" stop. Another source for wire and parts is the
Instrument Workshop, along with Zuckermann.
Shellac is dissolved in alcohol, so yes, it is smelly. You can purchase shellac flakes and dissolve your own.
Shellac.net sells it that way, with many colors. You can apply it either with a brush or using a French polish method - which will create far less fumes.
------Original Message------
Hey Fred!
Thanks for the info on the keys. After I posted that I realized that I thought I had read something in college about floating keys and balance. That makes sense now.
I studied under Tom Flowers of Prescott Arizona, and he let me play on his "real" harpsichord, which was a custom made English spinet. I remember it had a pretty 'rich' sound. Especially compared to the Z-Boxes I've played since. To the point, I remember how 'light' the keys felt on Mr. Flower's harpsichord and how you could feel the 'pluck' of the string. The Z-boxes I've plays felt rather mushy. This one felt like a cross between the two before I pulled the six working jacks. Once the jacks were off, the keys seemed very light, hence my question.
Fred - I also followed your post about re-doing a Zuckermann with new jacks and plectra some time back, which is actually what caused me to join this group and post about my experience. On the Hubbard jacks, did you have to trim them? I.e. the bottom of my jacks are pretty thin. I think they may be Burton jacks? Is that correct? Or do I have the original Zuckermann style? I may ask Zuckerman to see if they can send me a couple jacks so I can see how they will fit and to see what modification (if any) is needed.
I've also been doing a lot of reading up on the Zuckermann Flemish. So does anyone know what models are what? I know it's a Flemish I, II, or III based on what I can find online. I'm pretty sure it's either a II or a III, but I don't know what differences mark each one. It also seems to me you could order them with any combination of choirs. Say an 8x8''. 8, x 8 + buf, 8x4+buf, 8x2 etc. I am pretty certain this is an 8x4 with the lute/buf. Correct?
I've also found this:
https://www.claviersbaroques.com/CBExpertSSLFlemishSngl.htmFor when I'm ready to go with new strings.
So there is just a thin bit of birch on there? Makes sense. I may 'fill' the small crack if I can just for reference. I doubt it goes deeper than that. I can see the laying of wood on the edge of the pinboard.
If I recall right shellac smells a bit doesn't it? Lol...thats OK, as long as I don't just slap some polyurethane on there I'm fine right? I had a friend back in Arizona who was a real woodworker and about fainted when I told him I used poly on a VERY old floor (of course the wood was SOOO dry and in bad shape ANYTHING was better than nothing and after seeing it he forgave me. So yeah, no 'plastics' on this.
Sorry if I'm asking a million questions here, but can you tell I'm pretty stoked? I have almost six full days off coming up and am thinking of various things I can get a start on.
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Ryan Price
Arlington VA
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