Harpsichord

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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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

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 

------------------------------
Barbara Richmond, RPT
Bloomington, Illinois
------------------------------

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

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 

------------------------------
Barbara Richmond, RPT
Bloomington, Illinois
------------------------------

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?

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

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 

------------------------------
Barbara Richmond, RPT
Bloomington, Illinois
------------------------------