The bulk of the soundboard work was completed over the past 2 weeks. This included fitting all of the bridges and underside bracing. The only thing to complete on the soundboard before actually installing it into the harpsichord is to finish gilding the Rose. The installation of the Rose should happen very soon.
Rather than a lot of writing about the process, here is a picture gallery of the various pieces from layout/placement to all the various gluing operations. It was a rather tricky/complicated gluing process which needs to be done in stages and you have to glue pieces on both the top (bridges) and the bottom (soundbars, cut-off bar and hitchpin rail).
Calculating placement of highest 8′ string
Calculating placement of highest 8′ string
Preparing to cut the Rose Hole
Cutting the Rose Hole
Rose Hole and Rose Band
Soundboard fit before glue-ups
All soundboard parts cut and ready
Locating the 8′ Bridge
Bridges and Hitchpins Located
Marking the Hitchpin Locations
Marking the 8′ string locations
“Dimpling” the 8′ string locations
Gluing the 8′ Bridge
Gluing the 4′ Bridge
Plugging the locator holes
Creating supports for gluing hitchpin rail
Gluing Hitchpin Rail
Hitchpin and sound bars glued in
Soundboard Bridges Glued In
Fitting the Hitchpin to the Case
‘Almost’ completed soundboard pre-installed
‘Almost’ completed soundboard pre-installed
Confessions of an Amateur Luthier 