Building clavichords?

[derek]

I know a lot of discussion about building takes place on the yahoo clavichord group. I recently posted there asking "how would I start." I haven't done any woodworking except the most basic of projects way back in the 7th grade. I'm not actually yet quite sure how serious my desire to build an instrument really is---but it seems like it would be a really rewarding and interesting project. Since I have no woodworking skills to speak of, I think I would give myself about 10 years to both learn the craft of woodworking and to finally build an instrument that anybody would want to play. Thoughts?

[keyboardclass]

I bought one of these at a yard sale in Nova Scotia last summer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiYaW2NmX_E
Maybe start with something like that (a dulcimer)? Sadly I won't get to play mine till I get back there in the summer.

[thepianist]

I might recommend learning luthiery (is that a word?) by building a guitar instead.

Sites like Stewmac have a lot of stuff for beginners and pros alike.

[derek]

I dunno, it seems like different instruments will have unique problems. For example, building a guitar that has all that rounded wood shape would probably require different tools and skills from building a box shape for a clavichord. Building a clavichord would pose different challenges, for cutting keys and so forth. I think no matter what instrument I chose it would be a big challenge, and it would probably be most wise to simply focus on the one that I'm most interested in. I'd plan to learn the basics of woodworking for a number of years before I even attempt this. When I do, I think I'd make a small fretted clavichord---with the full awareness that the first attempt will probably be a failure. After enough attempts I expect I might build a halfway decent instrument. I estimate if I actually do this it'll probably take me 10 to 20 years to get right =D but it sounds like a really fun hobby to get into.

[currawong]

Hi derek! You might consider building a kit instrument for starters. I built a Zuckermann fretted clavichord in 1982 and I'm still pretty pleased with it. If you haven't done any woodworking this could be a way in. The manual gives you lots of advice (eg "measure twice, cut once") which I found helpful.
I also built a Zuckermann english spinet, which was a fair bit more work.