ZOOM0094.MP3

Welcome! Last updated on 12th March 2024.


I am very busy and I would like to recommend other makers and technicians for tunings, servicing and repairs. Their contact details are available here:  uk-harpsichord-makers-and-technicians 



Instruments for sale:
Full descriptions below
  • Bentside spinet by Zuckermann. c.1980.
  • Double Manual German Harpsichord by Colin Booth 2020.
  • Single Manual Harpsichord after Gregori by Peter Barnes 2023. 
  • English Harpsichord after Kirchmann, John Barnes 1962.
  • Double Manual Harpsichord by Colin Booth 1994. Extensively rebuilt in 2023.
  • Single Manual Flemish Harpsichord by Zuckermann c.1978.
  • Lautenwerk harpsichord by Edwin Russell Bishop 1997.

German Double Manual Harpsichord made by Colin Booth in 2020.

This harpsichord has a compass GG-e3 and transposes to a=415/440 pitch.The registration is 2 x 8' with buff and 4' stops. The case is decorated with painted marble, it has a parchment rose and decorative arabesque borders on the soundboard. The harpsichord is complete with turned stand, music desk and traveling cover and is in fine playing condition. 

Here is a description written by the maker, Colin Booth:

This harpsichord was completed in early 2020. It is based on the design of an anonymous 2-manual instrument in the Musical Instrument Museum, Leipzig, no. 74 in Herbert Henkel’s catalogue.

The original is considered to be German, and to have been made around 1700. It is unsigned, and has been internally altered at least once, but the basic design is very convincing, and attracted me to make a harpsichord particularly suited to the classic German repertoire of Bach, Handel, etc.. 

The compass of the original is GG – c3: a typical late 17th century compass. It was only necessary to extend the instrument a little in the treble to increase the keyboard to GG – e3, adding a transposer for use at a = 415 and a = 440. Stringing is in Rose iron and brass. Plectra are black Delrin, which has been shown to have exceptional longevity over my years as a harpsichord maker. The octave register is quilled in white Delrin, for ease of voicing.

The original’s Italianate filigree soundboard rose has been imitated, and additional decoration around the bridges and on the jack rail is in red and gold. The original’s rather odd Italian-style stand (probably from a different instrument) has been replaced by one in a German style. With removable legs and feet, it can be completely dismantled. 

The touch is firm and reassuring, and the tone of this harpsichord is unusually bright and clear. I have found it well-suited to counterpoint, having unusual balance and clarity in all parts of the compass.


The asking price is £17,500. Reserved.

The recording to follow below is played not very well by me but I hope it gives an impression of the potential of this instrument: 

CBooth2020.mp3

This harpsichord was made by Colin Booth 2010, for the current owner and has a cedar case with turned oak stands. The soundboard is spruce and it has boxwood and ebony keyplates.
There is a coupler for the upper manual, three registers: 2x8ft and 1x4ft and Transposer a=415/440.
Compass GG – e3.
Size: 230cm x 88cm x 88cm
This harpsichord is currently in South Devon and is in excellent condition. It has been kept in a humidity controlled room and never been used for concerts. A Korg tuner and spare strings are also included.

Price: £11,500. Sold.

Bentside spinet by Zuckerman Harpsichords c. 1980.

Cherry wood case, lid and turned stand. C-d3 compass with split sharps giving additional notes GG, AA and BB in the bass. Brass strings which can be tuned to 415 or 440. About 1.8m long.

Available once the spinet has been fully serviced and the small split in the soundboard has been repaired. Can be seen in my workshop near Frome. The asking price is £3,400.
Robert Goble Bentside Spinet 1981 with large compass and transposition a=415/440. 


Five octave compass GG-g3, transposing a=415/440, complete with traveling cover and collapsable stand. Ideal for transporting to musical events in the back of a car. It measures 193cm long, 76 cm wide from the spine to the treble end of the keyboard, 22cm high and locates on a stand which is 64cm high.

The case is veneered in Satinwood and Mahogany with decorative banding. The stand is turned and the key facings are Box and Rosewood. This spinet is strung with iron and brass wire and voiced with Delrin plactra and is in good playing condition. 

The asking price for this beautifully made spinet is £5,000. Sold.

Double Manual German Harpsichord by Colin Booth 2003.

Strung in Brass with a compass GG-d3, this fine instrument has 2 x 8' and 4' registers and has a buff stop. It has a transposing keyboard and plays at a=415 and 440 pitches. This instrument measures just 200cm in length.

Sample recordings of this instrument and CD's are available on this page of Colin Booth's website https://www.colinbooth.co.uk/dark-harpsichord-music-colin-booth

It is available for sale for £12,000 and can be visited in Somerset, near Frome. Sold

Italian Harpsichord after Gregori made by Peter Barnes in 2023.

2 x 8' stops with buff stop. C/E short octave to e3 (without eb3). Transposing keyboard giving 415/440 or 440/465 tunings. This compact and light harpsichord is strung in brass wire and has a cedarwood case, spruce soundboard, boxwood and ebony keyboard and beech jacks, registers, bridges and wrestplank. 

The tone is large and full and the touch responsive and even. This instrument weighs 25kg and is 191cm long, 81cm wide and 24cm high. 

The asking price is £7,000. 

ZOOM0134.MP3

ZOOM0135.MP3

ZOOM0136.MP3

ZOOM0137.MP3

ZOOM0138.MP3

ZOOM0139.MP3

Lautenwerk, professionally made by Edwin Russell Bishop, Ripley, 1997.

C-d3 compass with 1 x 8' strings plucked by two registers of jacks, one with Delrin plectra and the other with leather plectra. Each register can be used separately, or together. This Lautenwerk is currently tuned to a=415 and is strung with Classical Guitar strings. The sound is sweet and full, considerably different from that of a harpsichord even when using the Delrin plectra. A transposing device could be fitted, enabling the keyboard to be transposed to a=415/440, with the loss of the top d in the 440 setting.

The case is veneered in Cherry wood with Boxwood and Ebony decorative banding. The sharps are Ebony and the natural keyplates are made from fruitwood.

This instrument is 130cm long, 80cm wide and 25cm high and sits on three sturdy, removable legs which raise the bottom of the case to 65cm. The instrument is surprisingly light, weighing less than 30kg. 


For sale for £2,500.

Clavichord made by Robert Goble in 1968.

This is a fine sounding, unfretted, double strung, clavichord with a GG-e3 compass including covered strings in the bass. The case is veneered in Walnut and the music desk and legs (not shown) are solid walnut.

This instrument can be seen in my workshop where it is currently being renovated. 

The asking price once in full playing condition is £2,100. Reserved.
Harpsichord made by Colin Booth in 1994 and extensively renovated by Peter Barnes in 2023. 


This Double Manual Italian Harpsichord was made in 1994 with three 8' registers and brass scaling and was based on a historic instrument. Unfortunately it was kept in very dry conditions, resulting in the wrestplank lifting. The harpsichord was then partly dismantled and the compass reduced from GG-e3 to AA-d3 before it came to my workshop. 

I had to replace the wrestplank, the soundboard and a section of the belly rail but was able to retain the original bridge and nut. It is now restrung, has replacement plectra and is in full playing condition. The specification is now 2 x 8' with buff, AA-d3, transposing with a full compass in a=392, 415, 440 and 468. The sound is full and satisfying!

The harpsichord measures 245cm long, 90cm wide and 28cm deep/

The asking price is £7,000.


Hire this instrument from £325. See hiring-and-tuning.php for further details.

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BoothDouble1994.mp3

Zuckermann Flemish Harpsichord c.1976 renovated in February, 2024.

BB-d3 compass with 1 x 8' and 1 x 4' stops, with buff stop on 8' strings. Strung in iron and brass, this harpsichord can be transposed to a=415 or 440.  Includes stand and music desk. The case measures 196cm long, 81cm wide and 27cm high. The case is painted blue with guilded mouldings.

This harpsichord has new strings and plectra, and is for sale for £3,500.

Roger Palmer 1981 Flemish Harpsichord (After Ruckers?)
2x8' + 4' + Buff Stop
Transposing A=440/415
Recently re-strung in Malcolm Rose wire.

The current owner says that 2-3 jacks need repairing and there are a couple of splits in treble of soundboard, but nothing that affects the quality of sound. There is also one key arcade missing.

For sale for £2,800. Available to view near Whitley Bay, Near Newcastle.

Palmer 2x8's (Couperin) - 02_03_2024, 23.56.mp3

English Harpsichord by Peter Barnes 2021.

English Harpsichord jan2022.mp3

This harpsichord was made by Peter Barnes in 2022. It is in the English tradition, based on the c.1713 bentside spinet by Keene and Brackley and the 1709 harpsichord by Thomas Barton. It has traditional wooden jacks, guides and keyboard, a detachable lid and a folding music desk. The case is solid timber and the inside of the case and the nameboard are cedar, with cross-banded capping. 

The harpsichord is strung with Malcolm Rose Iron and brass wire, it has 2x8’ stops with Buff, and a walnut case and stand. The GG - f3 compass transposes A440 / 415 without loss of top or bottom notes. 

The stand detaches from the harpsichord and can be easily packed flat. This harpsichord is 193cm long, 88cm wide and 21cm deep. An ideal instrument to use for hiring.


This harpsichord has been on long term hire and is now sold. A similar instrument may be available for about £8,000.


Italian Harpsichord by Peter Barnes 2022.


This Single Manual Italian Harpsichord was started at the London College of Furniture by Peter Stephens c.2000. It was at an early stage with the case made and sides prepared for fitting. 

Peter Barnes has now finished the instrument and is is provided with 2 x 8' stops with buff stop and a transposing compass from C-d3 in both a=415 and 440 pitch.

The harpsichord has been strung in brass and bronze and produces a full and rich tone throughout the compass, ideal for solo repertoire and continuo playing. 

The jacks are Pearwood and registers are Beech.


Now Sold. Orders taken. Price in the region of £9,000.


Italian Peter Stephens PB 2022.mp3

This is the same instrument on hire at Exeter Cathedral before it was painted:
Italian Harpsichords after Gregori - now available to order!

These photographs are of the instrument that I have just copied. My copy, with the same compass and disposition is now available for £7,000.
Harpsichord after Kirchmann 
by John Barnes 1962.

Built using a scaling based on Kirchmann, this harpsichord is an interesting mixture of traditional soundboard, scaling and bridge dimensions coupled with a sloping case front, pedals and an iron sub-frame. 

Despite non-traditional looks, the sound is full and satisfying.
2x 8' with buff and 4' stops. FF-f3 and a keyboard which came from an 1800's Kirchmann piano. Restrung in Malcolm Rose iron and brass wire.

Available for long term hire for £90 per month or to purchase for £4,000.
New Instruments by Peter Barnes sold in 2021 and 2022:
Italian Harpsichord after Gregori 1726.

Enlarged compass GG-e3 transposing. 2 x 8' stops with buff. This harpsichord was made on commission for a customer in Edinburgh.
Further copies of this instrument, with a choice of compass and decoration are available, made to order, from 8,500. 

Italian PB 2022 GG-e3.mp3


Delin Double Manual Harpsichord by Peter Barnes. 2020.

BB-d3. Transposing a=415/440. 2x8' with buff stop.

Case and lid made from French Poplar, Beech wrestplank, bridges, jacks and registers, Spruce soundboard, solid oak stand which can be reduced to three sections for transport. Case painted red and black with bronze powder bands. A compact double manual harpsichord which is ideal for concert hiring.


Size 212cm long, 82cm wide and 28cm high, on a stand which is 73cm high. 

Now Sold.    Orders taken.

Recording made by a visitor to my workshop 24.10.2020

Delin Double Goldberg Extracts 2020.mp3

Delin Flemish Single by Peter Barnes, April 2020.
Harpsichord with 2 x 8' stops with buff. GG-f3 transposing 415/440 with full compass in both settings. This harpsichord has an exceptionally sweet sound with plenty of volume, due in part to the fabulously light French Poplar case and generous soundboard area. 

Decorated soundboard in the style of Albertus Delin c.1750 painted by Jennifer Douglas and case papers in the earlier Ruckers style. Ebony natural keyplates and imitation ivory sharp cappings. 

Case is 213cm long, 89cm wide and 27cm deep. The stand is 73cm high.

Finished on 4th April 2020. 

Now sold, but you could commission a similar instrument.

Played by a visitor to my workshop:

Delin Single Oct2020.mp3

Played less well by myself:

Delin PB 2020 Back 8'.mp3

Delin PB 2020 Both 8's.mp3

Delin PB 2020 Buff stop.mp3

Good quality Keyboard instruments wanted. 

I am happy to value your instrument for you and suggest how you could sell it if you would like helpful advice.

Further details on: selling-your-harpsichord.php



You can contact me by phone on 01373 831498 or (+44)7733619002, or by email peterbarnes850@btinternet.com or via this page: contact-us-and-instrument-transport-links.php





Peter Barnes          00447733619002                mailto:peterbarnes850@btinternet.com