CLAVIERS BAROQUES -- Library of Stringing Schedules

Claviers Baroques Canadian single "Althea"
at A=440, non-transposing (but can be tuned down to A=415), short-octave/chromatic bass.

Each of the Althea types we have made is strung a bit differently. We have made instruments scaled and strung for modern pitch (A=440Hz) and for baroque pitch (A= 415Hz), ones which transpose by shifting the keyboard and ones which are designed to be tuned up or down as required. We will string differently depending on whether the instrument will be principally used as a solo instrument or an ensemble instrument, and whether it will be played in a home or a concert hall. A=415 instruments will have a longer scaling and start around .085". That being said, stringing is far from an exact science, and the final test is always your ear. If a note sounds bad -- dull or harsh compared to its neighbors -- or if the string breaks try thicker or thinner wire until it sounds right.

This is what we are using on our Althea-types now. Den likes it so much he is restringing the original Althea this way.

Old schedule -- also works for most Italian singles. We make Althea's a tad differently now than the first one. We think the new schedule sounds better but not all Italian-style instruments can handle the lighter wire. This is the"vanilla" schedule for an average Italian single at A=440, but you may need to experiment a bit to get good tone without breaking strings on yours. We have used fairly beefy strings in the bass to allow for either short-octave or chromatic tuning without breaking strings, or not many. If you aren't using a short octave bass you can probably get away with lighter strings in the bass. A=415 instruments will usually have a longer scaling and start around .085".

*strings, keys and jacks are traditionally counted from the left (lowest note), although stringing schedules traditionally list wire from the highest note to the lowest, probably because most builders string the treble first. It is confusing, I know; sorry.

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