Climate Control for Harpsichords

[Robert Goodale]

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Hello,

We have two harpsichords here at the university.  Neither gets used =
regularly, perhaps no more than a dozen times a year combined, but when =
they are needed they need to be ready.  Both were built by Roberts & =
Brazier of Los Angeles and are about 24 years old.

Las Vegas is generally about 12-18 percent humidity year round.  That's =
VERY dry for any stringed instrument, nevertheless being so consistent =
we rarely see problems.  The most common issues involve families moving =
into the area who brought their pianos from a much more humid climate.  =
You can see a "gray market" piano disintegrate right before your eyes.  =
Native pianos are remarkably stable.

We only receive about four inches of rain a year, the driest climate in =
the United States.  Unfortunately when it DOES rain it results in a lot =
of interesting things on our otherwise very dry and stable instruments.  =
Harpsichords are of course no exception, and being far more sensitive =
than pianos the results can be dramatic.  Throughout the past week one =
of our harpsichords has been involved in a stage performance with the =
theater department and has been requiring daily tuning.  The timing =
couldn't have been worse since we just happen to be receiving one of =
those rare but significant rains over the last couple of days.  The =
tuning has gone absolutely wild and impossible to keep stable.  =
Furthermore the soundboard has noticeably bulged outward in the bottom =
bass bridge area and a substantial crack has formed.  The action has =
gone absolutely haywire.

I am curious about possibly installing a DC dryer inside.  Although it =
would normally never function on in our typical 12-18 percent humidity, =
it would be able to activate during those rare and sudden 90 percent =
spikes a few times per year.  Like most harpsichords the bottom is fully =
enclosed with the exception of the periodic sound hole.  I have serious =
doubts that a DC installed externally below the enclosed case would be =
of much use, it would have to be installed within the case.  My concern =
however is that this may produce new problems being in such close =
proximity to the very thin soundboard.

Has anyone here ever attempted this and if so what were the results??

Rob Goodale, RPT
Las Vegas, NV




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