harpsichord: broken string

[Mark Cramer]

Thanks Ed, Ed and Greg for helpful information.

Ed Sutton; "where do you find the harpsichord book mentioned?" Also, would
love to hear how your life is going, what the weather there is like etc.,
Certainly enjoyed our time with you last Feb.

Greg, do please send info on the other end of the string.
I'm presuming then that you do the tuning pin first, then the hitch.  Also
that you do not remove the tuning pin to replace a broken string?

Am learning much more about harpsichords than I ever wished to.  :>)

thanks,
Mark



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Greg
Granoff RPT
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 5:00 PM
To: caut@ptg.org
Subject: Re: harpsichord: broken string




Mark Cramer wrote:

> Can someone provide me with an "idiot's guide" to installing string on a
> harpsishord?  Yes, the tuning pins w/o holes.
>
> much thanks,
> Mark Cramer,
> Brandon University

Mark,
The idea is to make a small downward flag of wire with the end of the string
and wrap the windings around that, thus effectively trapping the string to
prevent slipping.  Sounds lame, but it works very well.
After hooking the string on the hitch pin, hold it gently taught standing at
the front of the instrument and cut off enough extra past the pin hole to
give you several windings around the pin--perhaps seven or eight for the
treble, and fewer in the bass.  It is important to prevent overlap of the
bottom winding by the string as it rises up to meet the level of the nut, as
the stress this causes is often a source of breakage;  hence, fewer windings
where the tuning pin and nut are closer together.
>From there, one holds (depending on whether left or right handed) the string
in one hand and tuning pin in the other, and bringing the string along side
the pin with the string end pointing toward the threads, (or where they
would be if there aren't any) leaving about a 1/4 inch of string as a
downward pointing flag, and firmly holding the flag in place on the side of
the pin, turn the pin (making a 90 degree angle in the string about where a
string hole would normally be) and spin the pin catching the flag under the
first winding, then keeping the string taught, keep spinning the pin
catching the flag under successive windings until you are at the tuning pin
hole.  Then, continuing to hold the string taught, turn the pin back to
vertical position and shove the end in the hole.  Tap it down to same height
as its neighbors, and the job is done except for positioning over the nut
and bridge by the appropriate jack(s).  With a little practice, this can be
done very fast while keeping those windings nice and tight against each
other and the flag. Obviously, continuous tension on the string and
efficient movements are the order of the day.
I know it sounds complicated, but it is MUCH easier shown than described.  I
tend to hold the pin with the tuning lever facets to my left, and wind the
top of the pin over toward me counter clockwise, but that's just personal
preference.
Do you need info on making the 'pigtail' for the hitchpin end?

Good luck!

Greg Granoff