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Services available for:
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single and double manual grands;
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virginals;
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spinets;
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traversos;
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uprights
Tuning - concert, recording session, and private, as well
as tuning instruction.
Voicing and action regulation - should be consistent and predictable
from note to note,
and completely reliable and consistent whether playing rapidly or slowly,
no matter how many sets of strings are being played. We provide periodic
touch-up service to adjust for age, wear, and major humidity changes.
We also do complete requilling and voicing (where plectra are getting brittle
from age, or where less-than-ideal original voicing may not leave enough
material to revoice to a satisfactory state). We also provide new
registers, jacks and keyboards where these may help improve reliability,
lightness, responsiveness, or comfort of playing. A well voiced and
regulated instrument allows you to play the music instead of working at
playing the harpsichord.
Repairs and rebuilding - from correcting minor mishaps
and wear to complete
structural reframing, and providing replacement soundboards, actions
and keyboards.
Updating and improving older instruments where needed -
restringing - can be undertaken for two major reasons:
a. With age and use strings gradually get more brittle
and more likely to break while gradually getting brighter and harsher
as they lose their fullness of tone. (This happens more quickly with
brass strings.) Since this effect happens gradually, the sound of
a restringing can be a very pleasant surprise.
b. Recent research has led to the availability of wire more like
the sweeter sounding wire used historically, and to a better understanding
where the different sizes were placed. Both of these factors can
significantly improve a harpsichord’s tone, touch and tuning stability.
new jacks and registers - for lighter, quicker, quieter, more reliable
response
new plectra material - to improve sound, feel and playing life
new keyboards - to replace heavy, bushed, damaged or uncomfortably
sized keyboards
Transposing conversion - a harpsichord which has been built
to play at a single pitch
(usually modern a=440) can often be made transposable where there is
a need for playing at a higher or lower pitch than that for which the instrument
was designed. Many harpsichords have also been built modeled after
antiques but made to play at modern pitch, which can put up to 20% extra
tension on the case, soundboard and anchoring pins often causing structural
problems and wavy soundboards. Making these instruments transposable
relieves the excess, life-shortening tension and almost always improves
their tone.
Instruction - in tuning, regulating and maintaining your harpsichord
Appraisals, inspections, and consultations - to assess possible
work needed and to
determine value for resale or insurance purposes
Assistance for kit builders - with construction problems, possible
improvements, final
voicing, or overall completion
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