Harpsichord

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  • 1.  Wound strings for Wittmayer

    Posted 10-02-2020 16:56

    Hi All!

    i have recently acquired a single manual Wittmayer. (Hold your applause and comments.) 😊 I've been servicing harpsichords for almost 9 years so now I can at least tell my customers that I own one!

    I am going to restring it and I have found that the lowest 8 strings or so are wound. Does anyone have recommendations for string makers for wound harpsichord strings? 


    By the way, I appreciate all the questions and comments in this PTG community. It's a great resource of information that one might not be able to find otherwise.


    Sheila



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    Sheila Hunter, RPT
    Winston Salem NC
    336-972-0594
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  • 2.  RE: Wound strings for Wittmayer

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-02-2020 18:54
    Several years ago, Tim Hamilton was mentioned as spinning strings for harpsichord. This is 2014 info, so may not be current, but FWIW timpianos@outlook.com W 617 426 6346 C  617 866 8581.

     Malcolm Rose currently lists Tim on his site with a different telephone number: 
    Tim Hamilton
    160 Chestnut Street, Apt. 2
    Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
    tel. 617 492 3475

    I think Marc Vogel in Germany can duplicate pretty much anything.

    I have also seen reference to Schaff making replacement wound harpsichord strings.

    Personally, I wouldn't go to the bother of replacing them unless there was a good reason to, not just so that they would be new.

    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "I am only interested in music that is better than it can be played." Schnabel






  • 3.  RE: Wound strings for Wittmayer

    Posted 10-02-2020 21:55
    Thank you, Fred, for these resources.

    I have no choice but to replace them...there is a lot of rust and corrosion on all the strings, and many of the strings, including some wound bass strings, have already broken at the hitch pins while it was in storage. Fortunately, I enjoy replacing strings.

    Thanks!
    Sheila

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    Sheila Hunter
    Winston Salem NC
    336-972-0594
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  • 4.  RE: Wound strings for Wittmayer

    Posted 10-03-2020 08:21
    Tim Hamilton has moved from Cambridge/Boston and is now living and working in Barton VT.   I have his contact as:

    PO Box 106
    Barton VT 05822
    timpianos@outlook.com
    C 617 866 8581

    I'm not sure if he has a landline up there (probably), but I know the ...6346 is his old workshop number, and I doubt the number Malcolm has on his site is up to date.

    Most of the strings I have seen Tim spin are open wound fortepiano strings, but he has done some close wound ones occasionally, like what I am guessing Sheila needs.  Good to know that Marc Vogel might be an option for such strings as well.

    Beth


    Beth Harris
    518-817-9046
    beth@clearnotepiano.com

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    Elizabeth Harris
    Malden MA
    518-817-9046
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  • 5.  RE: Wound strings for Wittmayer

    Posted 10-07-2020 10:36
    Thank you, Fred and Beth for recommending Tim Hamilton. Beth's contact info for him is current. I am placing an order for 7 wound strings from him. He was very quick to return my email and I also talked to him by phone.

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    Sheila Hunter
    Winston Salem NC
    336-972-0594
    ------------------------------