The Hubert Clavichord

Christian Gottlob Hubert (1714-1793) is today regarded as one of the great clavichord builders of the 18-century. Like almost all German keyboard instrument makers of his time, he was primarily an organ builder who also made harpsichords, fortepianos, and clavichords. None of his harpsichords have survived, and only one organ and two pianos, but 18 of his clavichords have endured the ravages of time. Of these, the best-known, perhaps the best-sounding, and the most-often copied, is the 1784 instrument now in the Russell Collection in Edinburgh, Scotland. Many builders have made "copies" of the 1784, and we are delighted to be able to offer this outstanding clavichord in kit form.

With its free, resonant, robust, singing sound, this instrument is quite close to the 1784. We give you the same case measurements, fretting scheme, keyboard layout, key span, compass, soundboard area, and barring. We replicate Hubert's sophisticated method of guiding the leather-lined key ends between pins, and we even copy his fancy lid design. We place the front and sides in dadoes cut into the bottom to assure the proper lineup of the case, and we run the grain of the bottom parallel with the string band; but these are Hubert's ideas, not ours. Of course, we differ from the 1784 in some minor ways: our hinges are not quite as fancy, we close up the toolbox differently, our moldings work better for kit construction, and our case joinery is easier to assemble. But these are insignificant matters, and do not affect the sound. What does affect the sound is the quality of materials, and we give you the best we can find.

Kit designed by Ed Kottick.