Harpsichord strings

[Newton Hunt]

Well, first 16' is very non traditional.  No one made a harpsichord with a 16'
stop except a very few pedal boxes played with the feet.

Secondly, you may have to recalculate the tension of those strings to prevent
further breakage and find the location to terminate the windings so they do not
cross the nut or the bridge.  If you have the original strings you can get some
idea of what the manufacturer was aiming for.  If not then you will be shooting
in the dark.  I hope you kept some information, like core size and wrap
diameter.  Try getting in touch with the manufacturer, they may well have a set
in the shelf ready to go.  If not that then you have to get out the old slide
rule and calculate tensions and breaking %.

Lots of luck.  For me this would be a real head scratcher.  I know enough to be
dangerous. :)

		Newton

"D.L. Bullock" wrote:
> 
> On the subject of strings.  I have completely restored a harpsichord with a
> 16'choir and most of those strings are wound.  They are very small with very
> small windings.  I asked Mapes and they would not bother with it.  I sent
> away to Neupert for strings, but when I put them on the windings not spaced
> right and were long enough to go past the pressure bar.  This was not like
> the old ones I sent them.  I had them replace them once and the other set
> was better but not great.  I found that man of them broke before I got them
> up to pitch.  The pressure bar was also separating the windings when the
> string went over it.
> 
> Does any of the string makers here wish to make me a set of Harpsichord 16'
> strings?
> 
> This is a John Feldberg harpsichord from 1966.  It was unplayable by 1977
> and is now completely reconstructed and works very well.
> 
> D.L. Bullock
> www.thepianoworld.com
> St. Louis