Harpsichord

As an apprentice technician I look for various ways to achieve a successful end result, and to find the way that works best for me and my needs. I do not want to start a superiority complex thread, but instead a thoughtful and deliberately educational discussion on why your way works for you and how.

Long story short:

I absolutely love harpsichords. My mother was a piano major with harpsichord as her secondary instrument, and I was fortunate enough to find a harpsichord, built in a build your own kit, for free that I got. Alas, I am at a stand still with figuring out what exactly to do to fix the issues. The owner provided me with excess jack, plectra, wire, and tools to fix it (he just didn't want to). Are there any good books/manuals on how to basically build a harpsichord from scratch, since this would be the basis of how to rebuild this neglected instrument I have.

In my area (Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR) I can't seem to find anyone that is even willing to work on a harpsichord. Which is sad, because so many churches in the area own harpsichords and can't use them because of the lack of technicians to work on them.

I am open to any suggestions, book recommendations, blueprints, ideas, anything really.

------------------------------
Curtis S.
Technician Apprentice
Michelle's Piano Company
Portland
Oregon
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Original Message:
Sent: 6/20/2021 3:37:00 PM
From: George W. R. Davis
Subject: RE: Harpsichords-To (re)build or to not (re)build?

Reach out to Ed Sutton. He's not following these lists anymore but he's in our online PTG directory. 

 

 

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George W.R. "Bill" Davis, RPT, SERVP

The Piano Place GA

2315 Rocky Mountain Rd NE

Marietta GA 30066

www.pianoplace.net

bill@pianoplace.net

Sent from my iPhone

Original Message:
Sent: 6/20/2021 4:09:00 PM
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: RE: Harpsichords-To (re)build or to not (re)build?

Do you have make and model of the kit? Hubbard, Zuckermann, Burton? Single manual or double? If the owner didn't have the manual, I may have a copy (I have a few archived) and could provide a scan. 

I don't know of any book as you describe.There are some books about maintenance, including  Ed Kottick's Harpsichord Owner's Guide  (out of print, but can be bought used) and Jason Cassel's  eBook on Harpsichord Basics for Piano Technicians. In the library for this Harpsichord Discussion you can find some materials, including some class handouts I prepared including Fine Tuning the Harpsichord, Introduction to the Harpsichord, Harpsichord Voicing. They may contain material you would find useful.

Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu
http://fredsturm.net
www.artoftuning.com
"Art lives from constraints and dies from freedom." Leonardo

Original Message:
Sent: 6/20/2021 4:33:00 PM
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: RE: Harpsichords-To (re)build or to not (re)build?

A couple more suggestions.  

It turns out there is a book about making harpsichords, Martin, Darryl The Art of Making a Harpsichord (I haven't seen it).

Margaret Hood wrote a short book/manual called The Harpsichord Repair Guide, that you might be able to locate a copy of. 

A good online resource for various technical articles is Carey Beebe's web site (Australian harpsichord maker). Select Resources, then Technical Library in the left column, then look at the two drop down menus. There's a lot of stuff there, including extensive bibliographies (which has an additional book or two about making harpsichords), though it does take a bit of navigation to get to things.

Regards,

Fred Sturm

fssturm@unm.edu

www.artoftuning.com

http://fredsturm.net

"We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Casteneda

Original Message:
Sent: 6/20/2021 4:09:00 PM
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: RE: Harpsichords-To (re)build or to not (re)build?

Do you have make and model of the kit? Hubbard, Zuckermann, Burton? Single manual or double? If the owner didn't have the manual, I may have a copy (I have a few archived) and could provide a scan. 

I don't know of any book as you describe.There are some books about maintenance, including  Ed Kottick's Harpsichord Owner's Guide  (out of print, but can be bought used) and Jason Cassel's  eBook on Harpsichord Basics for Piano Technicians. In the library for this Harpsichord Discussion you can find some materials, including some class handouts I prepared including Fine Tuning the Harpsichord, Introduction to the Harpsichord, Harpsichord Voicing. They may contain material you would find useful.

Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu
http://fredsturm.net
www.artoftuning.com
"Art lives from constraints and dies from freedom." Leonardo

Mr. Sutphin-
If yours is a Zuckerman kit, Zuckerman Harpsichords <zhi.net> can help with parts and advice.
The Harpsichord Owner's Guide by Kottick is full of information.
There are several Facebook harpsichord groups, and an internet based discussion group <https://jackrail.space>
And there are some good minds in this group, which I am following, Bill. :-)
Kottick's book will give you the terminology for discussion.
For discussion here, the kit company name and some photos would help.

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
------------------------------

I would add that harpsichord technology is not a "subset" of piano technology, it is a craft that treats the harpsichord in its own right.
Don't be quick to apply piano repairs and ideas to a harpsichord.
On this list you will reach a small group of piano technicians who have a fairly broad experience of harpsichords.
Bring your concerns here before you make changes in the instrument.

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-20-2021 15:45
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Harpsichords-To (re)build or to not (re)build?

Mr. Sutphin-
If yours is a Zuckerman kit, Zuckerman Harpsichords <zhi.net> can help with parts and advice.
The Harpsichord Owner's Guide by Kottick is full of information.
There are several Facebook harpsichord groups, and an internet based discussion group <https://jackrail.space>
And there are some good minds in this group, which I am following, Bill. :-)
Kottick's book will give you the terminology for discussion.
For discussion here, the kit company name and some photos would help.

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
------------------------------

Curtis...So in Oregon at least 2 professional resources  ... Instrument Workshop in Medford and Owen Daly harpsichord maker in Salem ..
www.snowpianos.com

------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 06-20-2021 20:11
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Harpsichords-To (re)build or to not (re)build?

I would add that harpsichord technology is not a "subset" of piano technology, it is a craft that treats the harpsichord in its own right.
Don't be quick to apply piano repairs and ideas to a harpsichord.
On this list you will reach a small group of piano technicians who have a fairly broad experience of harpsichords.
Bring your concerns here before you make changes in the instrument.

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 06-20-2021 15:45
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Harpsichords-To (re)build or to not (re)build?

Mr. Sutphin-
If yours is a Zuckerman kit, Zuckerman Harpsichords <zhi.net> can help with parts and advice.
The Harpsichord Owner's Guide by Kottick is full of information.
There are several Facebook harpsichord groups, and an internet based discussion group <https://jackrail.space>
And there are some good minds in this group, which I am following, Bill. :-)
Kottick's book will give you the terminology for discussion.
For discussion here, the kit company name and some photos would help.

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413

I recommend a beginner's approach because it sounds like you need grounding in basics.
Kottick's Harpsichord Owner's Guide is, I believe, the best available introduction.
It gives a broad overview and lots of details in ways to help the first-time harpsichord owner.
It will prepare you to understand more specific or advanced books.
It is available on Amazon.
<https://smile.amazon.com/Harpsichord-Owners-Guide-Manual-Buyers/dp/0807843881/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=kottick+harpsichord+owners+guide&qid=1624277380&s=books&sr=1-1>

------------------------------
Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
------------------------------