Hey Fred!
Thanks for the info on the keys. After I posted that I realized that I thought I had read something in college about floating keys and balance. That makes sense now.
I studied under Tom Flowers of Prescott Arizona, and he let me play on his "real" harpsichord, which was a custom made English spinet. I remember it had a pretty 'rich' sound. Especially compared to the Z-Boxes I've played since. To the point, I remember how 'light' the keys felt on Mr. Flower's harpsichord and how you could feel the 'pluck' of the string. The Z-boxes I've plays felt rather mushy. This one felt like a cross between the two before I pulled the six working jacks. Once the jacks were off, the keys seemed very light, hence my question.
Fred - I also followed your post about re-doing a Zuckermann with new jacks and plectra some time back, which is actually what caused me to join this group and post about my experience. On the Hubbard jacks, did you have to trim them? I.e. the bottom of my jacks are pretty thin. I think they may be Burton jacks? Is that correct? Or do I have the original Zuckermann style? I may ask Zuckerman to see if they can send me a couple jacks so I can see how they will fit and to see what modification (if any) is needed.
I've also been doing a lot of reading up on the Zuckermann Flemish. So does anyone know what models are what? I know it's a Flemish I, II, or III based on what I can find online. I'm pretty sure it's either a II or a III, but I don't know what differences mark each one. It also seems to me you could order them with any combination of choirs. Say an 8x8''. 8, x 8 + buf, 8x4+buf, 8x2 etc. I am pretty certain this is an 8x4 with the lute/buf. Correct?
I've also found this:
https://www.claviersbaroques.com/CBExpertSSLFlemishSngl.htmFor when I'm ready to go with new strings.
So there is just a thin bit of birch on there? Makes sense. I may 'fill' the small crack if I can just for reference. I doubt it goes deeper than that. I can see the laying of wood on the edge of the pinboard.
If I recall right shellac smells a bit doesn't it? Lol...thats OK, as long as I don't just slap some polyurethane on there I'm fine right? I had a friend back in Arizona who was a real woodworker and about fainted when I told him I used poly on a VERY old floor (of course the wood was SOOO dry and in bad shape ANYTHING was better than nothing and after seeing it he forgave me. So yeah, no 'plastics' on this.
Sorry if I'm asking a million questions here, but can you tell I'm pretty stoked? I have almost six full days off coming up and am thinking of various things I can get a start on.
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Ryan Price
Arlington VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2019 13:33
From: Fred Sturm
Subject: What have I done? The $80 Flemish Zuckermann
Typically a layer of spruce, matching the soundboard, is glued on the top of the pin block. Assuming this is the case, a crack in it is purely cosmetic.
To clean the soundboard, I would start with a cabinet scraper - rectangle of steel sharpened to have a wire edge (curled bit of steel that extends beyond the flat surface of the scraper). This can remove very thin layers of wood, and won't rub the dirty dust into the pores as sandpaper will. It is possible that applying a thin coat of orange shellac will make it look quite a bit better.
The keys have been undercut for balance - wood removed under the fronts of the keys so that the back is heavier than the front. That is a normal way to accomplish what is needed. Typically one wants minimal mass, and just enough difference in weight that the back of the key will float down to the back rail. 20th century modern design harpsichords (like Neupert, Sperrhake, etc.) have bushed keys and key leads. At this point Zuckermann was still bushing keys (which adds friction), but was trying to be more historically accurate and avoiding lead weights. The mass of the jacks is enough to assure return and repetition.
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Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu
http://fredsturm.net
http://www.artoftuning.com
"We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Casteneda
Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2019 09:36
From: Ryan Price
Subject: What have I done? The $80 Flemish Zuckermann
Hey all!
So I did a lot of research yesterday and this morning. I think I've narrowed down that this is a Zuckermann Flemish II. Identical to this one:
https://www.zhi.net/showroom/ZHIFlemishSingle3.shtml
I don't expect this to be a 6k+ Instrument like a lot seen for sale, but I do expect it to give me what I need out of it:
1. A nice useable harpsichord
2. A project to work on and to become familiar with
3. A re-education in harpsichords
Also after more research I think I'll try my hand at repairing the top register. That doesn't look too hard to do, and considering its not a load bearing element (i.e. not something that holds the instrument together) I think I should be able to fix it well enough on my own.
I placed a call with Zuckermann this morning to see what they have as far as replacement parts. I'm pretty certain the keyback and jack rail are easily replaceable.
The one thing I am now concerned about is a crack along the tuning pegs (closest to the keyboard). It doesn't look wide or deep, but it does run horizonally across the pegs. Any advice from you kind folks on how to fill or stabilize this crack (see pics).
Also the soundboard is FILTHY. Now that I have the strings off and can see it, wow. Something dripped / spilled onto the wood. I'm worries about the stains. I had just planned on gently sanding the surface and coating / sealing the wood. Thoughts on how I should proceed on this as well? Keep in mind I do not have a shop and am doing this in an apartment. Using a belt sander is a no-go. LOL. Not only would the sound bother the neighbors, but the dust would make one hell of a mess. All repairs will have to be done 'by hand'.
Thankfully the keyboard is just peachy with no warping, excessive play, or rubbing (just a smidge on one note). I did note that there are ZERO weights added to the keys. None in the front, OR back. Wouldn't that make the keys WAY too light? I don't mind a bit of a light touch, harpsichords are not pianos, but zero weight seems like it might be an issue with being able to play repeated notes.
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Ryan Price
Arlington VA
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2019 17:42
From: Ryan Price
Subject: What have I done? The $80 Flemish Zuckermann
Heh - thanks. I hope I don't regret your words. I don't think I will. I'm pretty confident that I can remedy what was done wrong. The last time I maintained a harpsichord was in college almost 21 years ago, and that was a Neupert Spinet. This is pretty much the same thing only longer and with twice as many jacks!
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Ryan Price
Arlington VA
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2019 16:20
From: Susan Kline
Subject: What have I done? The $80 Flemish Zuckermann
Fantastic.
You lucky devil!
This may be one of the most enjoyable springs you've ever had.
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Susan Kline
Philomath, Oregon
Original Message:
Sent: 12-22-2019 13:14
From: Ryan Price
Subject: What have I done? The $80 Flemish Zuckermann
Hey All!
I know I'm new here, but I am far from being new to keyboards. My short-short-short bio is that I've studied piano since age 7 (am 43 now), went to college for a music degree with major instruments of Pipe Organ and Harpsichord, then changed my career and degree during my senior year to I.T. I'm not afraid of anything technical and have dabbled in automotive restoration, minor furniture restoration etc.
So since I have a somewhat professional background, I've done things like repaired an old Neupert Spinet harpsichord in college (all new plectra and re-voiced) and built a digital Hauptwerk Pipe Organ. Recently I purched an old Roland C-80, but as you all know, its not 'real.' I've put off buying a real harpsichord because I know the horror that can come with buying an older kit put together by someone else. Broken sound board, bad jacks, etc. That changed yesterday.
While making my weekly rounds at the local Goodwill stores, I stopped off at a mom/pop goodwill store and was confronted with a 6' long harpsichord. Took me a few minutes to realize it was 'probably a Zuckermann' and was floored by the asking price of $80. It was missing a few pieces, but it wasn't your typical 1950's Z-box either. I left with a 'I hope it finds a good home.'
It did. After I left I Realized what an idiot I was being. So what If we live in a one bedroom apartment!? That sucker is mine!
So home it came.
This morning I began the task of finding out what I have. It looks like its a Zuckermann Flemish I-III (53 note). All the strings were loose, rusty, so they came off (detune - then snip). Next came out all the old plastic derlin jacks. They are warped from age, and some are missing the adjustment screws. Being that this is a 8' 4' instrument, thats going to be a lot of work to revoice! The good part - the soundboard looks pretty good - no major cracks, only minor surface crack near the 8' tuning pegs. Its missing the jack rail and keyback as well, but I'll call Zuckermann and see if they can make / have extras to sell. There were two things that concern me however. One is the upper guide for the jacks - the 8's one. Where the stop screw goes in on the left, it's cracked (see picture). The second is the lower guide raill has holes that look like they were put in by a 10 year old with daddy's hand drill. They're not really centered. The last thing that only minorly concerns me is the legs. I've seen other Zuckerman Flemish models with the hefty stand Zuckerman offers. I may opt for one in the future, or have one made. Last minot minor thing is the keyboard was not mounted, just set in the instrument, so I'll have to properly get it set in.
All in all I think it will make a nice winter project. What do you think? Am I totally mad for attempting this?
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Ryan Price
Arlington VA
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