I can now offer twined strings as an alternative to over-wound strings: click here for details, or e-mail me for further information.
OVER-WOUND STRINGS FOR CLAVICHORDS
Over-wound strings can be used for the bass of most kinds of clavichord, and will usually produce a better sound than solid wire strings. The core wire is usually yellow brass; iron or steel may be used in certain exceptional cases. The winding wire is normally soft copper: if you specially want a silvery appearance, you can specify tin-plated copper (at a small extra cost). Occasionally soft brass winding wire may be used.
There are two types of winding:
- Close-wound: where the winding is wrapped closely round the core with no visible gap between successive turns;
- Open-wound: the winding is in the form of an open spiral and the core wire is visible between turns.
Open-wound strings were usual in the eighteenth century, and have the advantage that the winding can be adjusted to give any required tension.
The winding can start
- (a) at the loop, or
- (b) just to the right of the tangent.
When using style (a) with open-wound strings, you must check that your tangents are wide enough at the top not to get trapped in the gap between successive turns. With style (b) this does not matter because the tangent strikes the plain core wire: however, style (b) windings are not usually practicable for fretted courses.
The winding can be carried along the whole length of the string and wound round the tuning-pin: alternatively, the winding can end between bridge and tuning-pin. In my opinion, the second system is preferable, since winding an open-wound string on to a tuning pin is awkward and introduces pressure points which can lead to the core breaking.
Strings can be made to your specification or, if you wish, I can design a set of strings to suit your instrument. To design suitable strings I shall need as much information about your instrument as possible, and in particular details of the wires used in the solid-wire section. You may, if you wish, specify the desired tension for each note. A design fee is payable.
If the clavichord is brought to my workshop, I shall fit the strings at no extra charge: please contact me in advance to arrange an appointment at a mutually convenient time. I shall need to keep the instrument for about 48 hours. Otherwise, strings are supplied in individual envelopes marked with the note they are meant for. They are made as accurately as possible, but small deviations are possible. If any winding should prove to be loose when the string is correctly fitted, the string will be replaced free of charge.
Please do not hesitate to ask for advice about any of the above.
CURRENT PRICES:
For non-standard diameters of core or winding wire, I may have to charge the cost of a reel of wire in addition to the above. For quantity discounts, please e-mail me.
- £7.00 per string (£7.10 for tin-plated copper winding wire).
- Post and packing free for 12 strings or more, otherwise £1.50 in Europe (including UK) and £2.50 elsewhere.
- Fee for designing a set of covered strings: £35.00
For the moment, order form and information leaflet have to be supplied by post. Please e-mail or telephone +44 (0)20 8519 1170 for further information.
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