Ed, I would recommend calling Zuckermann for brass wire. I’m pretty sure they use Little Falls wire which is the same wire (as far as I know), as what Instrument Workshop stocked.
Fwiw, I am not a super fast stringer, and would estimate that a whole stringing operation takes me about two good working days, as long I don’t run into issues.
Original Message:
Sent: 2/21/2023 10:43:00 AM
From: Ed Sutton
Subject: RE: how long to restring one choir?
Corbin- I like the idea of using your leg as a brake to hold the wire. This solves a major problem of wire management.
I have two clavichords I want to restring...when I can get some brass wire.
Any movement re: the Instrument Workshop?
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Ed Sutton
ed440@me.com
(980) 254-7413
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-21-2023 01:18
From: Corbin Sturch
Subject: how long to restring one choir?
Hi Barb,
I do on average about 5 harpsichord restringings a year for full instruments in a slow year. I generally take about 30 seconds a wire if I had to guess. I do my string schedule early on which takes about 30 minutes on average if the schedule doesn't exist. I would note however that there are several online from manufacturers that have been invaluable in cleaning up some bad scaling in some instruments. (Just a thought to help with time.)
I have seen several people approach this many ways but for me this is what I find fastest:
-Schedule sheet creation (30 minutes)
-Destringing/Pin Removal (1-2 hours depends on the instrument...)
-Setup stringing system and string. (Here is mine)
- Strings in order on wire spools by size on a rack
- Sitting on a rubber topped stool I pull the string under my leg and use the weight of it to counter as I make my loops with the hammer hook.
- I take the string and attach it to the hitchpin and run it its length, from there I pull it tight and cut to a prederminded length based off of how I need to coil the instrument. (Typically just at the end of the lower manual.)
- Coil and bring to some form of close to "pitch"
- Repeat a lot....
I hope this helps a bit. I highly recommend wire spools as opposed to trying to use just rolled up wire, it loves to come apart on you... It takes me a while to get into my grove as well, but I typically can go through the whole process on a French double in a working day and get the instrument totally strung and have a rough tuning on it. I spend a lot of my time during the tuning watching coiling and pin height, and I find doing this at this speed with focus creates consistent hitchpin loops and lengths, as well as consistent coiling on the instruments.
Best,
Corbin
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Corbin Sturch
University of Houston
Houston TX
(870) 307-5645
Original Message:
Sent: 02-20-2023 21:47
From: Barbara Richmond
Subject: how long to restring one choir?
Hi
Even though I have restrung a harpsichord, I was wondering how long it should actually take. It took me a while to hit my stride, and then, well, I never timed myself. 5 minutes per note? Measure, unwind new wire, make the tail, install?
Thanks,
Barb
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Barbara Richmond, RPT
Bloomington, Illinois
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