Harpsichords Blog

Showing category "New build" (Show all posts)

English Harpsichord, Finally Finished!

Posted by Peter Barnes on Sunday, January 9, 2022, In : New build 
The finishing touched on this harpsichord are now complete. Yours for only £4,995!


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English Harpsichord from EMS kit

Posted by Peter Barnes on Friday, September 17, 2021, In : New build 
I'm making an English Harpsichord which I designed for The Early Music Shop some years ago. This kit was bought and not started. It has provided me with a chance to revisit and rectify the shortcomings of this kit, and a relatively quick way to make a new instrument. 
I expect to use it for hirings until it is sold.
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Finally, (almost) finished! Delin Double.

Posted by Peter Barnes on Saturday, October 10, 2020, In : New build 
No 4' on this one. Make of that what you will, but many people hardly use a 4', it goes out of tune quickly in concert conditions and robs the soundboard of space for the 8' stops. My Lockdown Luxury has been to make a double without the usual 4'. I like it.


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Double Manual Flemish nearly finished.

Posted by Peter Barnes on Wednesday, September 30, 2020, In : New build 
Just voicing the October offering from peterbarnesharpsichords.com 
It has a hiring on 31st October 2020 at the Malvern Theatre for the Four Seasons with Armonico consort.
Pictures to follow!
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Delin Double continued!

Posted by Peter Barnes on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, In : New build 
So, a big step today putting in the soundboard. I hope I checked that there were no tools left inside!


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Delin Twins

Posted by Peter Barnes on Friday, May 15, 2020, In : New build 
Side by side for comparison at last. Both of these instruments sound fantastic. The Oliver Moor is slightly deeper, heavier and significantly cheaper, the Peter Barnes is very resonant and has an even more lovely soundboard painting. I have no idea which one will sell first!
My next Delin project will be a small double manual with AA-d3 compass, transposing of course!


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New Flemish Harpsichord after Albertus Delin.

Posted by Peter Barnes on Saturday, May 18, 2019, In : New build 
I'm now making a Flemish harpsichord out of very light French poplar, specially imported from a little saw mill in the south of France. 
The case is made and I'm working on the soundboard today.
The instrument is 210cm long, 88cm wide and 26cm high, slightly smaller than the Delin harpsichord kit produced some years ago by the Early Music Shop. The most striking difference however is the weight; American Tulip Wood, often called Poplar, is much more dense than French Poplar. I can't stop myself...
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English Harpsichord after Barton, Made, Sold, Delivered.

Posted by Peter Barnes on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, In : New build 
The project this year was to reduce the repair work I am doing and make new instruments. Here is the result, including a lovely soundboard painting by Jennifer Douglas.


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New English Harpsichord update.

Posted by Peter Barnes on Wednesday, February 10, 2016, In : New build 
We are on the home straight now of such an enjoyable project - it is a treat to make a harpsichord from scratch after many years of repairs!
I'm working on the keyboard in the workshop and Jenny is preparing to paint the soundboard in the style of the 1725 Coston. This is of course a liberty since the harpsichord is modelled on the Barton of 1709 and the Keene and Brackley spinet of 1713. The only excuse is that there is a soundboard painting on a 1710 Tisseran harpsichord which may ave been p...
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Three Michael Johnson Harpsichords for sale!

Posted by Peter Barnes on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, In : New build 
One double and two singles. These instruments are a delight to play, and at these prices, they won't be about for long. Look at them on my mail listings 
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Michael Johnson Harpsichords

Posted by Peter Barnes on Saturday, August 3, 2013, In : New build 
I'm so impressed by Michael's wonderful instruments and thrilled that he has asked me to advertise one for him. For those who don't know, he is a top maker and perfectionist who has been making lovely Flemish instruments since the year dot. This one will be one of his last. It's priceless.
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Progress report on English Harpsichord

Posted by Peter Barnes on Thursday, August 2, 2012, In : New build 
Finally, I've got time to make the soundboard! I'll have it in the instrument next week.
I've been busy hiring instruments and fitting in servicing, etc. All good fun. The weather isn't helping tunings at Iford Manor - the venue is virtually outside and the damp is seeping in....
Check the pitch of your harpsichord and make sure it doesn't go sharp.
 
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Just finished making this Flemish Harpsichord

Posted by Peter Barnes on Thursday, April 12, 2012, In : New build 
Ready for delivery at last:
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Flemish Case Painting

Posted by Peter Barnes on Friday, March 23, 2012, In : New build 
I'm just painting the third Flemish case this year! All three have also had printed papers put inside. They look lovely! 
If you'd like me to 'Pimp Your Harpsichord' (look up 'Pimp My Ride' on youtube if you don't know what I'm on about) just drop me an email.
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Finished in time!

Posted by Peter Barnes on Friday, December 16, 2011, In : New build 
The Zuckermann Flemish is finished except for case painting. It's been to three hirings this month and is looking for a nice home - and a bit of a rest!
 
 
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Zuckermann flemish 1975/2011

Posted by Peter Barnes on Saturday, December 3, 2011, In : New build 
Stringing is finished and voicing started. 7 days until the first performance with Cirencester Choral Society. 
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What did 18th century harpsichord makers do without masking tape?

Posted by Peter Barnes on Sunday, November 20, 2011, In : New build 

 
    You can see loops of masking tape on the sound-bars and cut-off bar. I'm about the put the soundboard in, press it down on the tape and carefully lift it out so I can mark out and glue the bars in place on the soundboard. 
It occurred to me to wonder how this was done 250 years ago. Then I realised that I'd put the base-board on too soon. Without a bottom, one can mark round the bars easily enough. Sequence - that's what it's all about.

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Flemish Single, from kit parts to playing in 20 working days.

Posted by Peter Barnes on Sunday, November 20, 2011, In : New build 
Day ten on this project and I've got the soundboard in. The case was all separate parts, the soundboard needed thinning, everything is fitted individually. Never stop until you have run out of clamps for gluing jobs!
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Harpsichord Maker, restorer, repairer and vendor.