Harpsichords Blog

Soundboard Painting finished.

May 22, 2013

Jenny has just finished the Green Zuckermann's soundboard painting. Photos to follow. I've been re-painting a case with black paint and have some beautiful turned legs to make a stand with.

Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : working on...

Flemish Zuckermann Soundboard Repairs

April 11, 2013

Here is a picture showing the support and glueing of the soundboard and bass end of the bridge. I love these sort of repairs because they are always a challenge!

This next photo shows the temporary support under the soundboard:

..and this shows the clamping and screws that stabilise the bass end of the nameboard and wrestplank.

I now have to add additional braces inside the case under the soundboard and two more gap spacers. Photos to follow! What else would I do when not sailing?
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Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : Soundboard repairs

Sunshine at Shearwater, Sailing Club Hosts Open Race Meeting.

April 8, 2013

Have you ever wondered what I do in my spare time?

The Shearwater sailing season of weekly races continued last Sunday with two firsts for Somerset sailors. Margaret and Geoff Pell came first in the morning pursuits race and Roger Devereux, also from Frome, and his crew Peter Barnes took the first place in the afternoon points race. The conditions for sailing were perfect and it was great to see some sunshine at last.

Our next club event is a day of racing open to all Topper and Come...

Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : sailing

Single strung refurbished Italian harpsichords

March 7, 2013

Time for a new idea - the student harpsichord at a real student price: Makers, from Bizzi to Booth often offer a single 8' strung harpsichord as a starter instrument. Their prices start at about £3,500
I am planning to refurbish two Zuckermann Italian harpsichords with one register, one set of replacement strings, refurbished jacks and new dampers and plectra. By choosing to set them up with only one register I can string them slightly more heavily than would be safe with two registers and s...
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Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : Second-hand

I'm back from the ' Deep Sea Challenge'

November 17, 2012

Sorry for any delay in emails, etc, but I've been sailing the tall ship 'Stavros' from Plymouth to the Canaries. It was a great trip! Find out more on www.tallships.org .
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Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : sailing

Sold, Sold, Sold!

September 19, 2012

The Italian Harpsichord, with me since may, has sold. I'm now working to get the English Bentside spinet c.1770 ready for the Early Music Show, Greenwich.
For those with less expensive tastes, I now have a Morley single for £1,100!
The Flemish Zuckermann is doing lots of hirings. Sir James and Lady Galway (Flutes) said they loved it and it's booked in for L'Armonico in Yeovil and something at St Georges Bristol. A perfect hiring instrument!
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Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : Antique Keyboard Instruments

Greenwich Early Music Show - Thursday-Saturday.

September 10, 2012

I'll be running the Early Music Shop's Keyboard Instruments stand as usual this year. It's in the Greenwich Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Each year visitors experience problems with transport on Sunday, so this year it's running from Thursday to Saturday, 8th-10th November. Details on http://www.earlymusicshop.com/?gclid=CN6EvNLUq7ICFQfMtAodLlAAdQ
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Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : working on...

Progress report on English Harpsichord

August 2, 2012

Finally, I've got time to make the soundboard! I'll have it in the instrument next week.
I've been busy hiring instruments and fitting in servicing, etc. All good fun. The weather isn't helping tunings at Iford Manor - the venue is virtually outside and the damp is seeping in....
Check the pitch of your harpsichord and make sure it doesn't go sharp.

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Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : New build

Spinet swaps, harpsichord hirings and warm weather tuning.

May 28, 2012

The Keene and Brackley spinet kit has become a finished Storrs bentside spinet. This will save me making the kit myself, so I can start to finish my English harpsichord instead.
A newly acquired Zuckermann Flemish single has be booked up for concert hirings - the conductor at Cirencester's B-minor Mass found it too loud for the modern orchestra and large choir! There is another hiring at Bath Abbey in June.
If you're like us, the windows are opened in this hot weather and plenty of cool, humi...
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Posted by Peter Barnes. Posted In : Weather