Flemish Double Manual
Plucking points and speaking lengths from a 1637 single manual Ruckers
are used as the basis for this instrument. The registration to the
original instrument was a typical Ruckers 1x8ft and 4ft choir with a
buff to the 8ft register. The upper manual 8ft and the 4ft on the
lower manual of this instrument would be similar to that of the
original Ruckers. The lower manual 8ft choir, however, is typical of
the work carried out by French makers enlarging those much sought
after instruments from the Ruckers workshop.
The compass has been extended on this instrument from the original
C/E-c to GG-d3 with a facility to transpose the keyboards in both
directions. The instrument is scaled to work at A 415Hz, but in the
transposed positions will give pitches of A 392Hz and A 440Hz.
In order, however, to keep as close as possible to the 17th Century case
sizes, there is the loss of an end note in whichever direction the
keyboard has been transposed.
The lime keyboards are covered with a resin ivory on the naturals, and
bog oak is used for the accidentals. Pear is used to manufacture the
jack blanks, and holly, which is the traditional wood, for the tongues. The
instrument is quilled with black delrin. Air-dried poplar is used for all
case and frame parts, and the soundboard is made from violin quality
spruce (Picea Abies).
The instrument can be decorated in colours of your choice. Art work
can be quoted for on request, including soundboard and case decoration,
and mottoes on the inside lid.
Prices start at £14,500 which includes a fitted transport cover.
The instrument shown, with a seven-legged stand, is available for £17,500.