CBH Cutting a Canada goose quill harpsichord plectrum

• Always read the accompanying technical description!
More harpsichord stuff @ www.hpschd.nu
Carey Beebe demonstrating how to cut a genuine Canada goose quill plectrum for a harpsichord jack.
A Canada goose (Branta canadensis) feather is selected and the barbs stripped from both sides of its shaft. Using an X-Acto® Gripster knife with #11 blade, the unusable tip of the feather is snapped off and discarded.
A short section of the foam interior of the rachis is then removed, and the quill width narrowed so it will fit the tongue mortise. The point of the feather is inserted into the tongue exterior side up, and the feather pushed firmly before its excess sliced flush with the back of the tongue.
This is the first quill from this feather, and is suitable for the treble. The feather is retained for notes lower down the compass, as each subsequent quill cut from it is obviously slightly thicker and hence stronger.
The plectrum is now snapped to length on the voicing block.
The completed plectrum can then be lightly oiled before being tested in the instrument (not shown).
For complete discussion of the use of real quill, see hpschd.nu/tech...