Hello I’m Robert Estrin here at LivingPianos.com. The question today is, “Is a spinet piano ever the right piano for you?” Indeed there are times when a spinet piano is the best piano! How can this be? Did you know:
Spinets aren’t even made anymore.
What are spinets? Spinets are very short, even shorter than regular uprights or consoles. They can be only three feet tall! You might wonder how they pack a whole piano in there. It is not easy! No one makes spinet pianos anymore because they were deemed to be inferior. Why? Because in order to fit the action inside, they had to cut the keys in the middle so that the keys ended right beyond the fall board and connected to the rest of the action below. It is referred to as an “indirect blow action”, or “drop action”.
Spinet pianos are generally inferior in response.
Although some spinets were better than others. What comes to mind is the Baldwin Acrosonic which is one of the best spinets ever made. It had some technologies that made it a little bit more precise than other spinet pianos. Regardless, spinets don’t have the same substantial feel as other uprights much less grand pianos. Yet, that is why it could be the right piano for you!
How can this be? Generally, you practice piano all week long and then you go to lessons, recitals, friends’ houses, or church to play. You want to make sure your piano translates to other instruments. Spinets are much easier to push the keys because they are smaller. It is easier to play overall. It is not going to prepare you or develop the strength to play other pianos. But suppose you have hand problems like arthritis. You may be limited in how much you can play the piano because you experience pain. A spinet could be the perfect piano for a person in that kind of situation.
While spinet pianos are generally not the best kind of instrument for most people,
in certain circumstances when you want an easier than normal piano with less volume, a spinet could be the perfect piano for you!
That is the long and short of it. I bet you didn’t expect that today! I’m Robert Estrin here at LivingPianos.com Your Online Piano Store.
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