Haas family

The Hass family were German harpsichord craftsmen active in the 18th century, primarily in Hamburg. Their instruments were known for their elaborate decoration and complexity, often featuring 16-foot and 2-foot registers, and sometimes lute stops. While their craftsmanship and design were ingenious, the tone of surviving Hass harpsichords is described as overly brilliant and thick. The harpsichord itself is a keyboard instrument where strings are plucked by plectra, and it was a significant instrument in European music from the 16th to the mid-18th century before being largely replaced by the pianoforte.12