My father made a Zbox just like yours back in the 70s. I really enjoyed learning to play on this instrument. I hope you keep us up to date on your restoration.
I've rebuilt several of those. I usually give them new sound boards. Once I even cut the straight side out and made a bent side! Last year I scratch biult one as ic it was an 18th century instrument.
I adore, adore the fact that you have shared this process in detail here...that is such a gift...thank you!...I am about to get a Z-Box....and will probably have to restore it!!!
I am surrently updating my z-box that I built in 1970.Really hopeful for your second part-hope it is available soon. Thanks for your clearly done Part I.
That's a pretty early Zuck! My brother built a Flemish IV back in '74, which , after two rebuildings (one by Yves Feder, and another by Jacob Kaeser), now resides in my stepsister's house in Stonington. A very nice instrument!
I visited Yves Feder's shop many years ago, around 1988. My late father built the same Zuckerman kit in '64, and I restored it with parts and advice from Mr. Feder :-)
I have rebuilt several those harpsichord s. I like to replace the sound boards with solid spruce. I even gave one a bent side if you shorten the base portion of the bridge it improves the overall tone.God help me I love them.
Thanks for this excellent video, Matthew. I was wondering if there is a chance to email you with a question about a potential ZBox restoration project - that'd be great. Tx in advance
Lead acetate to be exact. It's waaay more dangerous than just lead because of how soluble it is in the human body. I'm very careful with it. Thank you.
I haven't forgotten. I moved apartments after this went up. The harpsichord has been sitting in my living room in the new place, virtually untouched since. I'll get around to uploading something probably after the first of the year. Thank you for your comment. It makes me happy knowing there are people out there that care about my videos. Thanks!
@@n7275 I look forward to it. I built a harpsichord from scratch (except for the jacks) about 17 years ago, and I am beginning to fix the countless mistakes I made. Back then you could not hardly find anything on the internet, so I am always curious to learn something.
@@n7275 According to Zuckermann's book, he used Styrene for his plastic jacks. His first instruments (1950's) had wooden jacks. Delrin had only come on the market a few years before (1960), and was very expensive. It's been quite a while since I read it, though. Zuckermann Harpsichord do use it now. BTW, Having worked 4 years in injection molding, Delrin and Celcon, both, were a bear to work with. It's fascinating material, but the off-gassing while hot, burned like tear gas! lol. My own harpsichord, a 1972 Ammer Bach model, has black plastic jacks, but I've no idea what kind of polymer. I'm replacing with wooden jacks, but I'll use the old adjustment screws and such. It'll be a task because there are 244 of them!
Please continue documenting your restoration project. This is very helpful!
My father made a Zbox just like yours back in the 70s. I really enjoyed learning to play on this instrument. I hope you keep us up to date on your restoration.
I will definitely keep you up to date, Kirk. Thanks for the sub. I'm in between appartment right now, the videos should resume in the summer.
I've rebuilt several of those. I usually give them new sound boards. Once I even cut the straight side out and made a bent side! Last year I scratch biult one as ic it was an 18th century instrument.
I adore, adore the fact that you have shared this process in detail here...that is such a gift...thank you!...I am about to get a Z-Box....and will probably have to restore it!!!
I am surrently updating my z-box that I built in 1970.Really hopeful for your second part-hope it is available soon. Thanks for your clearly done Part I.
Here it is: th-cam.com/video/uiNAVMOLb0g/w-d-xo.html
I have one of these which needs lighter restoration. This video is super helpful, thanks.
That's a pretty early Zuck! My brother built a Flemish IV back in '74, which , after two rebuildings (one by Yves Feder, and another by Jacob Kaeser), now resides in my stepsister's house in Stonington. A very nice instrument!
I visited Yves Feder's shop many years ago, around 1988. My late father built the same Zuckerman kit in '64, and I restored it with parts and advice from Mr. Feder :-)
I have rebuilt several those harpsichord s. I like to replace the sound boards with solid spruce. I even gave one a bent side
if you shorten the base portion of the bridge it improves the overall tone.God help me I love them.
Can you help me? I have some questions, I trying to rebuilt the same harpsichord, I need to replace the sound board and buy some Burton’s jacks
Thanks for this excellent video, Matthew. I was wondering if there is a chance to email you with a question about a potential ZBox restoration project - that'd be great. Tx in advance
Sure. mtthwhm at gmail dot com
becarrful that powdery dust on the lead is quite poisonous!
Lead acetate to be exact. It's waaay more dangerous than just lead because of how soluble it is in the human body. I'm very careful with it. Thank you.
What happened to part 2?
I haven't forgotten. I moved apartments after this went up. The harpsichord has been sitting in my living room in the new place, virtually untouched since. I'll get around to uploading something probably after the first of the year. Thank you for your comment. It makes me happy knowing there are people out there that care about my videos. Thanks!
@@n7275 I look forward to it. I built a harpsichord from scratch (except for the jacks) about 17 years ago, and I am beginning to fix the countless mistakes I made. Back then you could not hardly find anything on the internet, so I am always curious to learn something.
If you decide to replace the jacks and decide to sell them on eBay, let me know. I need about 30 of them...Thanks
@@paulelowe I am doing a full Jack and register upgrade, so the old jacks, register, and jack rail cover are up for grabs. I'll send you a link.
@@n7275 thanks
Jacks are styrene.
Delrin, actually. Way cheaper and easy to maintain than wood (they dont get stuck in the summer when its humid). Some day I'll upgrade to wood.
@@n7275 According to Zuckermann's book, he used Styrene for his plastic jacks. His first instruments (1950's) had wooden jacks. Delrin had only come on the market a few years before (1960), and was very expensive. It's been quite a while since I read it, though. Zuckermann Harpsichord do use it now. BTW, Having worked 4 years in injection molding, Delrin and Celcon, both, were a bear to work with. It's fascinating material, but the off-gassing while hot, burned like tear gas! lol.
My own harpsichord, a 1972 Ammer Bach model, has black plastic jacks, but I've no idea what kind of polymer. I'm replacing with wooden jacks, but I'll use the old adjustment screws and such. It'll be a task because there are 244 of them!