Harpsichord

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  • 1.  Fortepiano Stringing Schedule

    Posted 11-18-2018 13:55
    I'm looking for the stringing schedule for the Beethoven Broadwood piano of 1817. Because a friend has a Broadwood of 1819 which needs restringing - and I think it may be the same. Anyone??  Michael  UK


  • 2.  RE: Fortepiano Stringing Schedule

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-18-2018 17:04
    Michael,
    You might try contacting Tom Winter or Tom Strange, who do restorations and my have stored data close to what you want. And try restorers you may know of in the UK. I doubt such info is readily available as in being posted somewhere. Museums don't bother with such details. They might have strike points, lengths of sample notes, a bit of technical data of that sort, but never an entire stringing schedule. But the person who does restoration work or makes copies might well have it. 
    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge, but imagination." - Einstein






  • 3.  RE: Fortepiano Stringing Schedule

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-19-2018 02:41
    I have a book of broadwood string scales.  I'll look Monday night. 





  • 4.  RE: Fortepiano Stringing Schedule

    Posted 11-19-2018 06:29
    Thanks, Douglas Laing, that would be Most Helpful! That seems to be a book I ought to have!! Michael  UK

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    Michael Gamble
    semi retired
    Brighton
    01273813612
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  • 5.  RE: Fortepiano Stringing Schedule

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 11-20-2018 10:25
    The book is a must for you.  You may even have it.  A Handbook of Historical Stringing Practice for Keyboard Instruments by Malcolm Rose and David Law.  You can get if off of Malcom's website - along with the proper strings.  Paulello does not make strings for pianos this early.   This book contains string scales for many Broadwood pianos, as well as many others for piano, harpsichord, and other keyboard instruments.







  • 6.  RE: Fortepiano Stringing Schedule

    Posted 11-21-2018 04:27
    Yes - you are right, Douglas. In fact yesterday I took a 'bus the 5 miles from home to Malcom's workshop in Lewes and bought one from him. Now I am studying it and attempting interpretations as it applies to the 1819 Broadwood Fortepiano No.8165 I am working on. Malcolm pointed out, in his 'Handbook', that there would be little or no difference in the stringing schedules from the Wolfgang Gamerith on p.117 through to the Conrad Graf, Wien, of 1821. Well - I have yet to apply that wisdom in practice - which I shall do during the course of today. I do have the stringing schedule as given by David Winston in his appraisal of the Beethoven Broadwood of 1817, when he made his report in 1991 but unfortunately he doesn't include speaking lengths so I am wondering 'how important they are' in the scheme of things?
    Michael  UK