I haven't heard a good harpsichord recording that I liked as a recording, from the last century, or at least say, from before the mid-1990s. All the albums I've heard with a good rich tone that actually sounds pleasing to my ears have been recorded in the past twenty years.
It could be that I'm missing out on some great playing, but I'm not willing to listen to minutes, much less hours of tinny sharp piercing chop chopping away at that horrid instrument unless it is a very contemporary recording from a good label. Butt is a great player, as is Esfahani if you want to hear an up and coming player, but I would have never really given either much attention if it weren't for better recording technology.
Esfahani explains the details of the instrument briefly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLLzmFrx7QQ
He plays some good stuff for the Library of Congress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TioMwJreI4I
