Pianotech

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------

A440

------------------------------
Pierre Bouchard
Musician
Levis QC
418-831-7254
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 09:27
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------

Why A440?

I'm going to follow this thread. I might ask my harpsichord mentor about it. I'd be curious what he'd have to say.

Cool!

------------------------------
Maggie Jusiel
Athens, WV
(304)952-8615
mags@timandmaggie.net
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 10:36
From: Pierre Bouchard
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

A440

------------------------------
Pierre Bouchard
Musician
Levis QC
418-831-7254

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 09:27
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------

Original Message------

Why A440?

I'm going to follow this thread. I might ask my harpsichord mentor about it. I'd be curious what he'd have to say.

Cool!

------------------------------
Maggie Jusiel
Athens, WV
(304)952-8615
mags@timandmaggie.net
------------------------------

Sheila-
I doubt that Sabathil had any interest in historic pitch standards. Friends of mine sold Sabathil harpsichords in the 1970s and tuned them to 440.
For what it's worth, I have a Zuckermann double-fretted clavichord (the historic patterned C2-D5 model now sold by the Paris workshop, I think).
Though the instructions said it was scaled for A440, I find it sings much better at A415, so, clavichords being clavichords, I'd suggest you tune and listen and put it where it sounds best.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 09:27
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------

Thanks, all, for your thoughts and wisdom. I have attached some photos, as someone requested.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 10:42
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Sheila-
I doubt that Sabathil had any interest in historic pitch standards. Friends of mine sold Sabathil harpsichords in the 1970s and tuned them to 440.
For what it's worth, I have a Zuckermann double-fretted clavichord (the historic patterned C2-D5 model now sold by the Paris workshop, I think).
Though the instructions said it was scaled for A440, I find it sings much better at A415, so, clavichords being clavichords, I'd suggest you tune and listen and put it where it sounds best.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 09:27
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------

I know the Sabathil factory tuned to A440.

------------------------------
Edward McMorrow
Edmonds WA
425-299-3431
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 12:57
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Thanks, all, for your thoughts and wisdom. I have attached some photos, as someone requested.

 

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 10:42
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Sheila-
I doubt that Sabathil had any interest in historic pitch standards. Friends of mine sold Sabathil harpsichords in the 1970s and tuned them to 440.
For what it's worth, I have a Zuckermann double-fretted clavichord (the historic patterned C2-D5 model now sold by the Paris workshop, I think).
Though the instructions said it was scaled for A440, I find it sings much better at A415, so, clavichords being clavichords, I'd suggest you tune and listen and put it where it sounds best.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 09:27
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------

As a follow up to my question in 2019 regarding whether or not I could tune my 1975 Sabathil clavichord up to A440...I did decide to do that and not long after that, the bridge cracked near the treble end and pulled up off the soundboard. I am in the process of repairing that and I have a question about the 10 wound bass strings on this instrument. Has anyone ever tried replacing wound strings with brass wire instead? I might be able to put the original wound strings back on but I'd really prefer new strings. Custom made wound strings at $17 per string is more than I want to spend. I thought I'd ask this question before I start experimenting...

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 23:18
From: Edward McMorrow
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

I know the Sabathil factory tuned to A440.

------------------------------
Edward McMorrow
Edmonds WA
425-299-3431

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 12:57
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Thanks, all, for your thoughts and wisdom. I have attached some photos, as someone requested.

 

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 10:42
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Sheila-
I doubt that Sabathil had any interest in historic pitch standards. Friends of mine sold Sabathil harpsichords in the 1970s and tuned them to 440.
For what it's worth, I have a Zuckermann double-fretted clavichord (the historic patterned C2-D5 model now sold by the Paris workshop, I think).
Though the instructions said it was scaled for A440, I find it sings much better at A415, so, clavichords being clavichords, I'd suggest you tune and listen and put it where it sounds best.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 09:27
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------

You will want to check the tension. Switching to unwrapped may put the tension to high. Get the excel sheet by D J Law that Malcolm Rose has at his website and run the numbers to see what is going to happen. While you are there, you will want to get the book "Clavichord Tuning and Maintenance" by Peter Bavington if you don't have it. It has string tensions from various instruments and will be a big help in interpreting what your tension numbers will mean for the instrument.

------------------------------
Rex Roseman
Akron OH
330-289-2948
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-15-2021 15:25
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

As a follow up to my question in 2019 regarding whether or not I could tune my 1975 Sabathil clavichord up to A440...I did decide to do that and not long after that, the bridge cracked near the treble end and pulled up off the soundboard. I am in the process of repairing that and I have a question about the 10 wound bass strings on this instrument. Has anyone ever tried replacing wound strings with brass wire instead? I might be able to put the original wound strings back on but I'd really prefer new strings. Custom made wound strings at $17 per string is more than I want to spend. I thought I'd ask this question before I start experimenting...

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 23:18
From: Edward McMorrow
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

I know the Sabathil factory tuned to A440.

------------------------------
Edward McMorrow
Edmonds WA
425-299-3431

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 12:57
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Thanks, all, for your thoughts and wisdom. I have attached some photos, as someone requested.

 

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 10:42
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Sheila-
I doubt that Sabathil had any interest in historic pitch standards. Friends of mine sold Sabathil harpsichords in the 1970s and tuned them to 440.
For what it's worth, I have a Zuckermann double-fretted clavichord (the historic patterned C2-D5 model now sold by the Paris workshop, I think).
Though the instructions said it was scaled for A440, I find it sings much better at A415, so, clavichords being clavichords, I'd suggest you tune and listen and put it where it sounds best.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 09:27
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------

A correction to my last post. The book with the stringing scales is "A Handbook of Historical Stringing Practice for Keyboard Instruments" by Malcolm Rose and David Law. The one listed in the last post is a must have, but this one is the one that explains how to use the excel spreadsheet. Another good one is "The Keyboard Stringing Guide" by Jean Louchet.

------------------------------
Rex Roseman
Akron OH
330-289-2948
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 05-15-2021 16:24
From: Rex Roseman
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

You will want to check the tension. Switching to unwrapped may put the tension to high. Get the excel sheet by D J Law that Malcolm Rose has at his website and run the numbers to see what is going to happen. While you are there, you will want to get the book "Clavichord Tuning and Maintenance" by Peter Bavington if you don't have it. It has string tensions from various instruments and will be a big help in interpreting what your tension numbers will mean for the instrument.

------------------------------
Rex Roseman
Akron OH
330-289-2948

Original Message:
Sent: 05-15-2021 15:25
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

As a follow up to my question in 2019 regarding whether or not I could tune my 1975 Sabathil clavichord up to A440...I did decide to do that and not long after that, the bridge cracked near the treble end and pulled up off the soundboard. I am in the process of repairing that and I have a question about the 10 wound bass strings on this instrument. Has anyone ever tried replacing wound strings with brass wire instead? I might be able to put the original wound strings back on but I'd really prefer new strings. Custom made wound strings at $17 per string is more than I want to spend. I thought I'd ask this question before I start experimenting...

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 23:18
From: Edward McMorrow
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

I know the Sabathil factory tuned to A440.

------------------------------
Edward McMorrow
Edmonds WA
425-299-3431

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 12:57
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Thanks, all, for your thoughts and wisdom. I have attached some photos, as someone requested.

 

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 10:42
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Sheila-
I doubt that Sabathil had any interest in historic pitch standards. Friends of mine sold Sabathil harpsichords in the 1970s and tuned them to 440.
For what it's worth, I have a Zuckermann double-fretted clavichord (the historic patterned C2-D5 model now sold by the Paris workshop, I think).
Though the instructions said it was scaled for A440, I find it sings much better at A415, so, clavichords being clavichords, I'd suggest you tune and listen and put it where it sounds best.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2019 09:27
From: Sheila Hunter
Subject: Sabathil clavichord

Hi All! I have recently acquired a Sabathil clavichord, made in 1975. I'm happy to report that there was very little foam rubber used in the making of it, unlike their harpsichords! It came with no paperwork, however. Does anyone know what pitch the makers intended for tuning it? It arrived about 50 cents below A440, so I've tuned it to A415 to play it safe for now. Any thoughts are welcome. It's in pretty good shape, except for some missing brass strings. Thanks.

------------------------------
Sheila Hunter
Winston Salem NC
------------------------------