what-im-making-blog

Marble case painting - new for 2013!

Mon, 27 May 2013 16:59:21 +0100

Jenny starts throwing on the paint! and hours later, the final touches:Priceless Green Marble from the world famous marble mines of North Somerset.

Soundboard Painting finished.

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:09:07 +0100

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.

Flemish Zuckermann Soundboard Repairs

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 19:10:21 +0100

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?

Sunshine at Shearwater, Sailing Club Hosts Open Race Meeting.

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:07:48 +0100

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 Comet Solo boat owners. Racing starts at 11am and continues until about 4pm when prizes will be presented and cakes will be eaten. This event is open to non-club members of all ages and the prime aim is to get people out enjoying sailing in a friendly environment. Please come and join in the fun, either sailing or cheering from the lakeside. There will be plenty of club members on hand to explain the sometimes confusing details of the course and sailing rules. Our best Olympic sailors started at events like this, so there is plenty of opportunity for spotting rising stars!

Peter Barnes - Shearwater Sailing Club Commodore for 2013.

Single strung refurbished Italian harpsichords

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 17:12:55 +0100

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 save costs on stringing and voicing while keeping things robust and simple. The price? £1,500 each. Coming Mid April.

I'm back from the ' Deep Sea Challenge'

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:04:20 +0100

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 .

Sold, Sold, Sold!

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 21:49:14 +0100

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!

Greenwich Early Music Show - Thursday-Saturday.

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 18:47:45 +0100

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

Progress report on English Harpsichord

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:20:11 +0100

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.

Spinet swaps, harpsichord hirings and warm weather tuning.

Mon, 28 May 2012 10:31:03 +0100

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, humid air circulates in the house. Its great - but do check the pitch of your harpsichord. It will tend to creep upwards and if left could raise by up to a semitone. This almost doubles the tension on the case - sometimes with terrible results!