loading
reading
writing
saving
searching
Harpsichord - $100 (mountain view)
QR Code Link to This Post
Harpsichord For Sale
$100
Here is a working, stable, fine-sounding instrument built by me at the beginning of my harpsichord-making career in the mid 70’s. I’m asking a token price; I hope suitable for an amateur instrument builder or an ambitious musician. Looking for a low-drama sale.
I built a dozen harpsichords and ten more clavichords over a 3-year period (along with 10 hammered dulcimers and a dozen banjos ). I had been laid off as a teacher. I took three years in my basement to build musical instruments. I owned only a single power tool, an ancient and dangerous Sears table saw. So, mostly, all my instruments were built with hand tools in a tiny shop using strictly traditional methods.
Once I quit building Hubbard kits for clients, I booted myself up, starting with this 8’x4’ Ruckers following a measured drawing purchased from the Smithsonian. There were a few compromises with strictly antique methods. See details below.
This has stood alongside our Bösendorfer upright and my best clavichord for 45 years. Now we are very retired. We need to reclaim the space. It’s playable but it’s ready for 45 year service which I no longer have the time or inclination to perform.
More detail
It is very stable. I used a piece of modest-quality plywood for the bottom but the rest of the case is Poplar. I went on to use pine for bottoms, but for this benchmark platform I wanted stability. Also. I used screws on the bottom. That’s how Hubbard kits did it. This was the last instrument I ever built that used screws. I kerfed the bent side because I hadn’t realized how easy it was to make a steam box.
The 8’ will stay in tune for a month. The 4’ is like most of those I’ve encountered: finicky, needing a tuning every third day, and IMHO hardly worth the effort. I’d seriously consider converting the 4’ to a 2nd 8’. Oh, there’s also a buff stop that I find delightful.
The jacks are delrin, purchased from Frank Hubbard; “Three Centuries of Harpsichord Building.” Hardback available used for about $20 . For a few of my harpsichords I made traditional jacks from beech but the stability and adjustability of delrin is unbeatable and 45 years later I’m happy to have taken this route.
OK. It needs some regulation ( delrin plectra ), but not a lot. It’s 95% playable right now. If I were the new owner I’d consider putting in all new plectra and voicing from scratch. But if you are a beginner, you can easily fix those that need help ( mostly thinned or weak from a million repetitions ). The job is tedious but you set aside a half-day, maybe two and spend a good stretch of quality time with the magic of harpsichord timbre and antique sounds.
I have ( perhaps ) enough new plectra to re-voice. The jacks are very easily adjusted with little screws.
Also: a couple keys stick a little. That’s no big deal and is routine Harpsichord regulation 101.
Finally, if you want a first rate 8’ register, it could be restrung. It’s a one or two day job and not terribly difficult. I assume piano steel is still available in bulk. It will sound stupendous.
If you’ve ever regulated a harpsichord, it’s a piece of cake. Otherwise, I would be willing to spend an hour or two showing you the ropes, though it’s been a while. Basically you need a good #11 Exacto blade and a holder.
Width, 32”, Length, 74”, Sits easily on it’s spine.
B-2(usually I dropped to G2) , C-3 to D-6
The stretcher is not included ( It’s on loan from the clavichord ).
Please call with your phone number and I’ll get back to you relatively quickly.
Once it has departed to its new home I’ll remove the ad.
Cheers, Russ