From: kent@netcom.com (Kent Crispin)
Subject: Re: Harpsichords as Do-it-yourself
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 00:24:37 GMT

In article <9211121455.AA15776@risc.ua.edu> GONTER@AWIWUW11.BITNET writes:
>Re: Re: Harpsichords as Do-it-yourself
>By: Tom Knotts <knotts #0 @HPL-OPUS.HPL.HP.COM> Internet
> 
>> Does Zuckermann still sell kits? I was under the impression that
>> they stopped because poorly-made kits were bad for their reputation.
> 
>Two questions:  1)  How much *is* the Zucke kit
>                2)  How bad is it?
> 

First, Zuckermann sold me a Flemish double kit in June.  I had earlier
built a Zuckermann clavichord kit.  I believe that nothing has changed
since June -- that is, I believe they are still in the business of
selling kits.

There may be something to the idea that they were concerned that badly
constructed kits would be bad for their reputation.  The nameboards
for kits don't say "Zuckermann"  -- if you build a kit you can put
your own name on it.  Z. has a network of "associates", as well --
professional or maybe semi-pro builders that will assist you with advice
on construction.  Z is very concerned that you *successfully* complete
your kit -- a half done kit languishing in the garage doesn't do them
any good, and it doesn't do the customer any good either.

Zuckermann kits range from about $1600 to over $10000.  When I got my
clavichord it was the cheapest kit in their brochure, and it cost $1400
then.  Prices have gone up some since then.  The Flemish Double kit I
am now working on cost over $5000..

"How bad is it?"  I am not sure what you mean by this, so I will answer
several questions.

First, as to the quality of the finished product: Of course that
depends on the job the builder does.  Bear in mind that many of those
"associates" that I mentioned are professional builders, and what they
do is get kits from Z, assemble them, put their own names on them, and
sell them.  That is, the kits aren't different from the professional
versions, except that they aren't complete, and they throw in the
construction manual and plans.  There is quite a bit of leeway in
the finishing of the kits -- one of the things that differentiates the
professionally built instruments is the quality of the finish and
decoration.  Trying to be objective about my clavichord is hard, but
I think it is a fairly good instrument.  It isn't the clavichord equivalent
of a Stradivarius, of course, and the next one I build will definitely
be better.  But it is a perfectly servicable instrument that sounds
pretty good.  Maybe the equivalent of a $800 guitar?

Second, how hard is it to build one: I believe it to be the case that
there is a wide range of kit difficulty, from ones that can be done by
anyone with common sense to major projects that really should only be
attempted by professional builders.  The clavichord was straightforward
to build -- there were only a couple of times when I thought "I have
completely screwed up and my $1400 is completely and utterly wasted."
Both times were from trying to work too fast, basically, and in both
cases I was able to recover.  In fact, one time I called David Way,
the current owner of Z, to ask what to do, and he told me that all
builders make mistakes and that the best ones view the mistakes as
a chance to show off their woodworking skills.  Now everytime I show
the clavichord to a new person I just have to show them the repairs
I made, because I am quite proud of them.

I've just started on the Flemish Double -- it seems straightforward as
well, and I don't anticipate any problems putting it together.  In fact,
I am looking forward to at least a year's worth of very pleasant entertainment
working on it.





-- 
Kent Crispin			"No reason to get excited",
kent@netcom.netcom.com		the thief he kindly spoke...
From: knotts@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com (Tom Knotts)
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 00:56:45 GMT
Subject: Re: Harpsichords as Do-it-yourself
Organization: HP Labs, High Speed Electronics Dept., Palo Alto, CA