Harpsichord

[@douglasnadel1028]

I am building an Ottavino now -- a mini-harpsichord. Will post video when it's done

[@monolito8556]

Is it done yet?

[@auxxik3805]

It looks like a clavichord

[@tuileriesantiques9057]

Dont say it needs tuning, its a true piece of art that is far beyond what you could create, it might not sound perfect, but its still a true instrument

[@catnoir7993]

this was prob meant to be replied to somebody else so yeah don’t think he’s talking about the creator

[@tuileriesantiques9057]

this comment was mean for “Designworld!”

[@moseskfrost]

Wow, such precious instrument! Tuning my own harpsichord, I know how difficult maintaining the tuning is, though I must say, I enjoy the dissonances. Great work, Douglas. Best: Moses K. Frost

[@alvenhchanne]

I am currently building a fretted clavichord using old oak hardwood flooring pulled from a 1927 house for the case. The pieces are glued side by side and layered to a useable thickness, cut to width and put together with hand-cut dovetail joints. The soundboard is made from an old wine box, built up from quarter sawn parts of the boards, planed to 1/8" thickness and cut to shape.

[@douglasnadel1028]

That's cool, hope there aren't many nail holes in the floor boards!

[@John_Weiss]

Uh Oh. It's a pianist playing a harpsichord like a piano … you can hear the jacks *thwack!*-ing into the jackrail! The end-effect is what Professor Susan Cook once called, “Sewing-machine Bach.” ^_^ :-D

[@philipbay1548]

Couldn't have said it better myself

[@John_Weiss]

@ “Sewing-machine Bach” is _never_ enjoyable. 😜

[@zorgitron]

Gotta make more harpsichords available to practice technique on. Fight the piano hegemony.

[@jimbo2629]

I started like you by building a harpsichord that I veneered. Not as beautiful as yours.It didn’t sound too good as I used slab sawn pine for the soundboard. I then got into copying original instruments. In Europe, Norway spruce quarter sawn and close grained is often used for the soundboard.. I think Sitka Spruce is often used in America. Poplar is an exellent wood for the case. Bentsides are usually laminated these days. I use an electronic tuning meter. Thicknessing and barring of the soundboard is the crucial skill. I use steamed pear wood for the bridges as it is easier to bend when steamed. Authenticity produces the best sounding instruments. If you get the stringing lengths right it can be tuned to concert pitch and you can then make music with your friends with modern instruments. Alternatively build as the original and tune to the appropriate pitch. I make my registers, but buy my jacks. Great video and lovely craftsmanship. Nice quiet keyboard.

[@douglasnadel1028]

Thanks Jim. I also purchased the jacks. I posted a new video on how to make the marquetry veneer on an Ottavino harpsichord I'm building now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJ_ZeX59bLKfntk

[@jandpmanagementcompany2607]

Amazing piece of craftsmanship!!! you are a true Renaissance Man. I loved the You Tube Narritive - great job - josh

[@robcat2075]

Hooray for completed projects! That is beautiful!

[@deancoyle]

Beautiful work!

[@jimbo2629]

There is a tuning app called clear tune. I don’t have it but I am told it is exellent. I think you can tune different temperaments with it. It’s worth checking out and it’s very cheap. I gave up on trying to tune solely by ear and counting beats very soon after finishing my first harpsichord. Tuning meters were expensive then.

[@douglasnadel1028]

Thanks for the advice. Actually I've been using a little clip-on tuner, just attaching it to the case, and it works great!

[@zirconova150]

The higher notes are really sharp

[@alandana]

Ah! ❤

[@tedphillips3973]

awesome.

[@designworld7250]

It needs tuning

[@John_Weiss]

Ugh! And you can tell that the woman playing is a pianist … waaaaaay too much arm movement there, madame! You could hear the, ”Clack Clack Clack Clack Clack…" in the background. Personally, I also felt that she was sacrificing affect for technical execution according to the proscriptions of whatever arrangement she had. As professor Susan Cook would say: "Sewing-machine Bach." ;-)

[@beyondannonymous9955]

if you were to build a baroque violin I would subscribe

[@allanwolfe6071]

I’m curious. Where did you source your plans for building your virginal. If you designed it yourself, how did you go about calculating dimensions for the case, keys, bridge, etc? Love your marquetry.

[@douglasnadel1028]

Thanks! I got the plans from Zuckermann Harpsichords. They sell kits, not really plans, but they sold me the plans anyway. However their plans didn't include the keyboard (when you buy a kit the keyboard comes assembled). I visited their factory and took a bunch of pictures to figure it out.

[@allanwolfe6071]

Douglas Nadel thanks. I’m surprised Zuckermann parted with just plans!

[@douglasnadel1028]

Well I think I paid them about $200+ for the plans, and for a Construction Manual that was very helpful.

[@ThePrime125]

it is build so well, such a shame that the tuning is really awfull ^^

[@cangjie12]

N dV yeah it sounds like pythagorean tuning, or more likely actually a ‘reverse’ well temperament.

[@esmircaceres]

the music of 2.38 is Bach?

[@douglasnadel1028]

Yes, i think it's from "Well-Tempered Clavier," my daughter's piano instructor brought it over and plays in the video.

[@esmircaceres]

now I know where I hear it before. I listen a Spanish radio by internet, and the opening music of each podcast is the same www.rtve.es/m/alacarta/audios/fila-cero/fila-cero-fundacion-juan-march-beethoven-schubert-fortepiano-05-10-16/3745797/?media=tve

[@Geopholus]

WTC # 1 prelude in "C". Later WTC #2 prelude

[@SkyGameZZZZ]

It sounds more like a piano but needs some tuning

[@lucasc5622]

are you deaf?

[@manuelschiopu4856]

Oh no!.. plywood....

[@lucasc5622]

can we see your harpsichord made of nothing but solid hardwood?

[@argi0774]

It looks good, but the sound of it...let's say I don't know