Well thanks to my trainees and collegues I have my "all paulownia wood" 
harpsichord playing before its premier Sat 27. The usual bugs occur and 
I'm cutting jacks down a bit for better repetition. However I'm doing 
much less tuning than with a "normal" harpsichord. The treble is staying 
dead on and the bass is creeping up. This wood is very strange. It has 
resonance to burn. Even with the light Voss stringing and thinner than 
normal plectra, I'm having to voice it down as it works in. The sound is 
over bright and exceptionally clear and clean. After the debut I plan to 
have a youtube made. I weighed it yesterday.The basic instrument without 
lid is exactly 20lbs. For an old guy like me thats a blessing. I would 
make the mouldings out of harder stuff next time. The soundboard is 
staying perfectly flat with the only support being the walnut very small 
bridge and a slender tulip poplar boudin which curves along in the 
treble and bass. It's very light perhaps 1.2" x 1/2". The bridge is 
quite close to the bentside. The pluckpoints are average.
    The inst is 7" high and 65 x 28 with a 12 1/2"c2 for those who 
measure. The extremely light and fast keyboard takes getting use to. The 
sound is way too much for the feel of the pluck. I can't wait to try it 
in and ensemble where the player can often not get enough sound. I spoke 
to a guitar maker in Tenn who has made several tops from paulownia. He 
tells me the sound will mellow and warm up.
      The keyboard is geared for continuo use starting with naturals 
G,C,D then a split sharp (front is B nat or Bb) back is Eb. This will 
confuse quite a few people but its got a useful low G. The octave span 
is made for the small hand (just under 6").With its extremely light 
weight it can be manuved into the passenger side of my Honda accord and 
sprawl accross the reclined passanger seat.
Certainly there is a lot to get used to. We'll just have to wait and 
see. I excited to order wood for a clavichord.
     The overall stiffness to weight ratio is still mindblowing!    
J.Peters ok

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