Instrument Repair
I started repairing instruments in 2023 so I could gain experience with different types of instruments. The idea was to find an instrument, fix it to understand its mechanics, and be able to play basic songs on it so I could familiarize myself with each instrument's strengths and weaknesses. Eventually, however, this hobby morphed into much more, as I genuinely enjoyed repairing each instrument, not just playing the final product.
I was given this harp by a friend with the intention that I fix it and return it. It is a 36-string Hughes Dulcimer harp of unknown vintage. Initially, it was in rough shape: the wood hadn't been cleaned or treated in ages, some of the tuners were stuck, and some of the strings were broken. I brought it home and cleaned it up, and realized that this is one of the best examples of a Hughes Dulcimer kit harp and was put together with extreme care and skill. Oftentimes kit harps can suffer from subpar construction, but this one was put together square and true, and it is an incredibly well-built instrument.
Repairs made:
Removed old strings and tuners
Cleaned and oiled wood
Cleaned tuning pegs
Restrung instrument with new strings
Hughes Dulcimer Harp
I inherited this 1969 Neupert Telemann harpsichord many years ago, but only had the time to work on it more recently. It had been stored in direct sunlight for many years, so the exterior wood was in rough shape. In addition, it had been used as a plant stand for many years, so there were many large stains on the lid. When I opened it up, however, the inside was nearly pristine. Most importantly, the soundboard was still intact, meaning that it was repairable. I then decided I would return this instrument to its former glory.
Repairs made:
Refinished lid
Cleaned keyboard and soundboard
Replaced broken strings
Adjusted jacks
Replaced, cut, and voiced broken plectrum
Polished brass fixtures
Neupert Telemann Harpsichord
I bought these four trumpets from Wedgles Music in Denver for the purposes of teaching myself brass repair. These instruments were considered "totaled," which I figured would be the perfect kind of instrument for me to learn on. After all, if I messed something up, they were very budget priced instruments. I knew I wouldn't be able to completely fix these instruments - my goal was to make them better than when I got them. I specifically bought these trumpets because they all have at least one thing on them that works well. I figured if I couldn't get the individual trumpets to work, I could take them apart and make a "frankentrumpet" out of all the working parts.
