R-Harps
Quality affordable harps designed by musicians for musicians
Rick Rubarth - Master Builder
About Rick ...Rick Rubarth was raised in a family that played music together around the living room. Later, Rick worked as a professional musician in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Baltimore and the tri-state area in Colorado. He learned early on how to repair and maintain his own instruments. Later he would build them for his own use.
Rick's highest qualification as a harp builder is that he is a musician. To that end, Rick loves instruments that respond, breath and project. Good dynamics and feel are essential to all his harps.
The final test of a newly crafted RHarp is "does it take you there?"... to a place where the harp and the player take a back seat to the magic of the music. Only excellent instruments can "take you there". An excellent instrument is what Rick offers.
"I'm a very fortunate man"...
I derive a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction from the conception, design, construction, and refinement of my harps. For many years, I have been building harps two at a time with only one variable between them so that I can truly compare and tweak here or change a design element there. Does this harp sound better than that one? Which one "sings"? This is called A-B testing. Through years of this kind of testing, theory has been replaced with knowledge.
"I think" has been replaced with "I know" at a huge cost in terms of building and burning. But twenty years of experimental building pays off when my customers recognize what they love about their R-Harps, I just have to smile because I know those qualities were deliberately placed there in that instrument.
All the harps I produce now are the best I've ever made. I am still so thrilled when the sawdust settles and I hear my customers produce beautiful music on my creations. These are the moments that make all the hard work worth while.
Sincerely,
Rick Rubarth
R Harps 5021 Perry Street Denver, Co 80212 (303) 480-5028
