Craft harp making: concert harps, single-action pedal harps and lever harps from a master workshop.
Konzertharfenbau Riedel
Schwarzenberg (Pöhla)New on Amplifa
About us
Konzertharfenbau Riedel is a family-run traditional business founded in 1970 by Bernd Riedel in Schwarzenberg-Pöhla in the Erzgebirge, near the Vogtland Music Corner. The workshop builds concert harps, single-action pedal harps as well as lever and travel harfs entirely by hand; in addition, repairs, regulation, restoration and gilding of all harp types are offered. The instruments are built from a combination of maple, birch and mahogany and are strung with either nylon or gut strings; the construction is matched to the respective string material. The range of services includes custom-made instruments with carvings, gilding, special lacquers, soundboard painting, engravings and turned columns. Since 2011, Alexander Riedel has run the business as a master harp maker with five employees, most of whom are family members. Sales are handled through the partner Klangwelt Harfe as well as exhibitions such as the Großer Harfentag in Schwäbisch Hall.
- Site
- Schwarzenberg
- Processes
- Harp making (concert harps, single-action pedal harps, lever harps, travel harps as custom-made, Custom-made instruments with carvings, gilding, lacquering, soundboard painting, engraving, column, Repairs, regulation and restoration of harps including gilding, Instrument making (concert harps, single-action pedal harps, lever and travel harps), String and accessory sales, Repairs and regulation of all harps, Restoration and gilding, Custom-made instruments (carvings, gilding, special lacquers, soundboard painting, engravings)
- Materials
- Maple, Birch, Mahogany, Nylon strings, Gut strings
- Certificates
- Master business (craft trades)
- Founded
- 1970
- Employees
- 5
- Industries
- Musical instrument making, Harp making
- 01
Wood selection (maple, birch, mahogany)
- 02
Handcrafting of body, column and neck
- 03
Special equipment (carving, gilding, lacquering, painting, engraving)
- 04
Stringing (nylon or gut)
- 05
Regulation and final inspection
- 06
Distribution via Klangwelt Harfe
Materials and processes
Maple
Light tonewood, used among other things for gilded concert harps such as the Jutta Zoff model.
Birch
Part of the proven wood combination for robust, powerful-sounding instruments.
Mahogany
Wood species for bodies and dark mahogany-colored finishes.
Nylon strings
Hard-wearing stringing with a clear and brilliant sound.
Gut strings
Higher string tension, warm and full sounds.
Location
Schwarzenberg (Pöhla)
DEWorkshop and company headquarters
- Part weight / size
- Instruments up to approx. 35 kg, height approx. 183 cm
- Lot size
- One-off production
- Materials
- Maple, birch, mahogany
- Handcrafted master workshop
Instruments
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harp making (concert harps, single-action pedal harps, lever harps, travel harps as custom-madeAssembly | – | – | – | 1 | Maple, Birch, Mahogany, Nylon, Gut |
| Custom-made instruments with carvings, gilding, lacquering, soundboard painting, engraving, columnAssembly | – | – | – | 1 | Maple, Birch, Mahogany |
| Repairs, regulation and restoration of harps including gildingAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Quality
The instruments are crafted in master-quality handwork and are characterized by robustness, tuning stability and low maintenance requirements; the semitone mechanism is virtually maintenance-free.
| Evidence | Schwarzenberg (Pöhla) |
|---|---|
| Master business (craft trades) |
History
- 1970
Bernd Riedel founds the family business Konzertharfenbau Riedel.
- 1985
Construction of double-action pedal harps (concert harps) since the reopening of the Semperoper in Dresden.
- 2007
National winner in German craft trades.
- 2011
Business is handed over to the nephew Alexander Riedel, who takes over the family business at the age of 23.
- 2014
Expert of the Federal Republic (BiBB).