Bespoke harpsichord transport covers
If you're involved in regular moving or hiring work, your instrument deserves the best.
I started making harpsichord covers simply because I couldn't find what I was looking for elsewhere: a cover as thick and protective as can be before sheer added weight becomes a problem, and made from the strongest practical materials.
Having owned and/or used examples from most major European suppliers, only the Burridge covers of yesteryear came close. The fact that many of those have remained in institutional service for 40+ years - apart from being a testament to their durability - also reveals their most common failure modes, which have been addressed in my design.
- extra-heavyweight British-made 100% cotton canvas exteriors, treated for water resistance
- 15mm high-density upholstery padding (not uncompressed wadding)
- linings in heavyweight non-pilling fleece or short pile faux fur (doesn't collect stage dirt like long pile/fluffy material, and can be vacuum cleaned easily)
- sturdy leather corners, fitted as a capping after the cover body is complete (it's considerably more work, but this way the corner panel joints are reinforced at a distance and the leather remains an independent sacrificial layer; sewing leather onto individual panels before seaming is easier, but does nothing to strengthen the structure)
- wrist straps and rope loops in high-quality seat belt webbing, and thick double braid rope for comfortable handling under tension
2026 prices
Harpsichords up to 220 cm: £775
Harpsichords over 220 cm, and any size of C18th fortepiano with slanted cheeks: £825
Later fps, organs, other stuff: ask me
Current default exterior colours are dark green/brown canvas with dark brown leather. Other possibilities depend on stock and can be discussed.
VAT is not applicable; insured shipping charged at cost. For international transactions, any customs duty, taxes or fees are your responsibility.
I make these covers between my performing and instrument building schedules. Depending where I am and what I'm doing, I might be able to have a cover dispatched within a week... or not. Please enquire; I will always advise on delivery time before payment.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend this, but if you intend to occasionally use the cover with a second smaller instrument you may need a more deformable fit requiring the deletion of one or more leather corner caps. Get in touch with the dimensions and a photo of both instruments and I can advise. For safest handling and minimum paint wear to case edges, it's best to have a properly fitted cover for each instrument, and the leather corners add a significant level of protection and durability.
If you're looking for a basic zipped cuboid - a keyboard-style carrying bag for a clavichord or virginal, or for transporting stand components - I'd recommend Bags and Covers Direct of Wakefield. Polyester exteriors, foam padding, low prices. I've used them for years for stand bags.
https://www.bagsandcoversdirect.co.uk/category/587/Miscellaneous-Made-To-Measure-Bags-and-Covers