Harpsichord and Violin Building in the 18th Century (3 of 4)

Building an English Spinet and a Violin in the old way.
Master Musical Instrument Maker - George Wilson
Journeymen - Mark Hansen, Larry Bowers, & Curtis Collinsworth
Musicians - James Darling, Ronald Marshall, & Pamela Peebles
Film by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1976

[@blipblip88]

This instructional video is the real deal, and a true gift for those interested in making a harpsichord the traditional way. Great stuff!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

11:15 Today's makers now use Geared Tuners because it saves the peg box from wearing out plus you can make fine adjustments w/o having to need fine tuners on the tailpiece.

[@Anonymous-id1ff]

Most violin Luthier doesn't really recommend using geared pegs I don't know why?
But in my experience it is very convenient.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@Anonymous-id1ff Actually that has changed nowadays they reccomend geared tuners cause it'll save the peg box from wearing out

[@Jarshvor]

thanks for these fantic videos!

[@verybigkittens7550]

Filmed in 1976, I thought it was earlier than that. After I left school, which was 1975.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

12:27 The fingerboard is made by gluing a thin piece of ebony onto a Maple Wedge.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

For the tuning pins, I'd drill a hole for the string to go through. I'd have my Harpsichord Electric so I can record more easily.

[@abdul-hadidadkhah1459]

Nobody wants to listen to an electric harpsichord.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@abdul-hadidadkhah1459 The Beatles used one

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

The Harpsichord Strings are now made out of steel.

[@toddsterben6647]

Depends, but mostly not. Mine is brass.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@toddsterben6647 You can actually substitute the violin friction pegs with Mechanical ones because it'll save the peg box from wearing out because they're not in contact with the wood anymore.

[@chouahang6572]

What song is that?
Starts @2:25

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@Helion Prestant I'd prefer hearing it on a Piano.

[@zamppa63]

Just badly tuned or wreched tape recording on the spinet...👽

[@daw162]

The video is from 1976. There's no reason to believe that it would sound like a modern digital video from a conservatory-kept spinet. I think George told me at one point that these are used at CW in houses/buildings that don't have air conditioning, so they go through seasonal change. Having made guitars, I'd bet they'd do a lot of that until they're a little older and the wood has lost some of its ability to take in and release moisture. It's very possible that changes in temperature and humidity around the spinets could make them go out of tune.