Replacing Harpsichord Strings
Woo-ee, replacing harpsichord strings is probably one of my least favorite things to do on the instrument. The sound of a breaking string strikes fear in my heart and jarrs the ears. In fact, I heard the sound of a breaking string on a video today and it almost gave me a heart attack.
On the harpsichord list, there has been a discussion about old style pins vs. zither pins. I am very much a fan of old style pins and find them easier to deal with when it comes to replacing strings. Oh, I can handle both, but I feel clumsier with zither pins (which used to be ubiquitous, but are not so much these days). I am comfortable with old style pins that have holes or not, thanks to quality instruction early on. I do remember the first time I tried to change a string (before I was taught how) and it was a nightmare - horrible! Glad I was finally taught how to do it right.
Are you curious how to change a string on an old style pin? Well, here is an instructional video to assist you in learning how! YouTube user hpschdnu (AKA Carey Beebe from Australia) has posted a number of instructional videos on the elements of harpsichord upkeep. Very helpful! Many thanks.