Harpsichord building

The Manufacturing Process

Construction of a harpsichord begins with selecting the wood based on the type of harpsichord witch has to be made. Different kinds of wood are used depending on the model and style, and they certainly affect the sound quality of the finished instrument.

The wood must be aged for at least two or three years to reduce the natural moisture content that would cause it to warp or curl.The Bent side is the side of the case that curves and is sometimes stem bent or lamented to fit a gig or form with the correct curve for a particular instrument.

The harpsichord maker's workshop resembles that of a cabinet maker, and harpsichord construction has a lot in common with boat building and cabinet making.

The process of steaming wood and forming it to specific curves is part of the boat builder's art, and is similar to constructing a curved bent side.The process of carving and fitting the smaller pieces of the harpsichord requires the skills of a cabinet maker or master woodworker.

The workshop is also filled with cabinet-making tools like planes, chisels, rasps and files. The major difference between the workshops of a modern harpsichord builder and one from the eighteenth century is the presence of electrically powered tools, like the band saw and table saw. If you would like to visit the workshop or find out about getting involved in building an instrument, please contact us, we have an apartment adjoining the workshop for anyone interested in buying or building an instrument.