Harpsichord Wire

[Fred S. Sturm]

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    So far nobody has listed Hubbard's URL. It is
http://www.hubharp.com. They have a catalogue from which you can order
most strings you might need (and they will tie tails for you, if you
like). I also like the Instrument Workshop, which someone else
mentioned. Definitely use a micrometer to measure broken wires. You can
usually measure what's left on the tuning pin if the whole wire is
missing. Typically there will be four to eight different diameters of
brass (red brass, yellow brass, phosphor bronze, or whatever is used on
that instrument), and if you get it wrong in the wrong direction, it
will break. Or sound pretty bad in the other direction.
    Probably what you say looks like copper is "red brass." And what
looks like brass is "yellow brass." It would be nice if you could find a
manual or stringing chart (which should be somewhere with the
instrument). BTW, if you DO have trouble with breakage (not caused by
bad tails or crossed windings on the pin), go thinner, not thicker. Kind
of counterintuitive, but that's how it works (not to get into theory).
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico

Stephen Snyder wrote:

> Dear Friends, I service a harpsichord built by Eric Herz in 1969.  2
> manuals, 2- 8ft, 1- 16ft and 1 - 4ft.  Several strings have broken in
> the lowest octave in both the 8 ft and 4 ft registers.  The wire is
> not steel - some looks like brass and some looks like copper. 3
> questions - 1. Does any one have experience with this type of
> instrument?  2.  What exactly is this wire made of? and3.  Where can I
> get the wire.  Any help would be gratly
> appreciated. Regards,Steve Stephen Snyder
> Piano Technician
> 342 Scotts Lake Road
> Salem, NY 12865
> 518-854-3888 e-mail: shsnyder@sover.net

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