harpsichord Ruckers

Ruckers is the most famous name in the history of building harpsichords.

For three generations, from the end of the sixteenth to the middle of the seventeenth century, the Ruckers proved their high skilfulness in building harpsichords in Antwerp and developed instruments that were to set tonal standards for centuries.

Even about 150 years later one could read in the "Encyclopédie" by Didérot and d'Alembert: "Referring to the beauty of sound the best harpsichords that have ever been built are the ones built by the three Ruckers (Hans, Ioannes, Andreas) ....".

Starting from the harpsichord, which was in widely original state, NEUPERT developed a completely convincing harpsichord by enlarging the keyboard to G₁ - f³.

Its sound pattern reaching from delicate silvery sounds to sounds of full richness represents the typical merits of best Flemish harpsichord traditions and connects them with a comparatively small case which has the advantage of easy handling (total length 187 cm).

Technical details:

• keyboard compass: G₁ - f³ (4 5/6 octaves)
• disposition: 8₁', 8₂', lute to 8₂'
• wooden jacks, Delrin-quills
• case painted in colours according to the NEUPERT-colour-samples or customer's wishes,
• gold-coloured stripes
• stand style Louis XIV
• length 187 cm (6'2''), width 90 cm (2'11''), net weight 58 kg (130 lbs)

Additional equipment:

• transposing device (a¹ = 440/415 cps)
• ornamental gold leaf stripes
• marbled case
• painted soundboard
• stands in different styles
• benches and covers matching the instrument