At 12:39 08-07-18, J. Claudio Di Veroli wrote:

 >> David wrote: ... criterion before 1900
 >> Lance wrote: ... ghosting might be useful for prefabricated plectra
 >
 >With hardly any comment from our professional harpsichord makers, here is my
 >personal view as repairman.
 >
 >Plectra length is certainly important, and indeed I know of no harpsichord
 >era source on this matter.
 >
 >
 >Interestingly, Hubbard did NOT (and I would be interested to know if any
 >historical or modern maker did):
 >       - specify plectra length
 >       - require the plectra length to be absolutely uniform
 >       - set lengths so that all the plectra ghost simultaneously.

I find that the Zuckerman/D J Way manuals contain this advice: "Much 
the simplest and most accurate way to cut quills [delrin is meant] to 
length is 'setting silences'--that is, with the guide moved to the 
'off' position, cut off the tip of the quill so it just misses the 
string. It need not miss by much, but it must actually miss, with no 
tickling or 'ghosting'..." (Italian harpischord manual 1982)

Similar advice is given for their Flemish model: "As you go along 
[the register, cutting the jacks to length] you should also 'set 
silences'--that is, with the register in the 'off' position, cut off 
the end of the quill so it just misses the string: just misses, but 
misses completely, with no 'ghosting'! ..."

Ed Kottick, in his excellent book "The Harpsichord Owner's Guide" 
writes (p.96): "Both Dowd and Herz talk about 'ghosting' in the 
maintenance manuals they supply for their instruments..."  He adds: 
"...Ghosting is a useful procedure when regulating an entire 
register, and professionals use it all the time. However, it is very 
difficult to cut a quill to that precise a length when you really do 
not know what you are doing... [!]

I do think that the concept of ghosting to achieve a common length 
for all plectra in a register is something that can only make any 
sense with plastic plectra, as they are much more likely to have 
consistent physical properties than bird feathers. As I wrote 
earlier, as long as a plectrum doesnt touch the string when the 
register is off, it seems to me that there is some leeway in the 
actual clearance, and when voicing bird feathers one is guided by ear 
rather than measurements.

David

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