TYPES AND SIZES OF PIANOS - Vertical PianosTypes & Sizes of Vertical PianosThe height was reduced by lowering the position of the action in relationto the keyboard, so that the lever was pulled up by the key instead of beinglifted in the normal way. This type of piano sold as a “Spinet”. When comparedwith the small Grand pianos condemned in the previous paragraph, these miniatureUprights sink to about the same depth of tonal and acoustic banality. I canappreciate the demand for small pianos for small rooms, and in small orchestraswhere space is limited and the player must be able to see the leader, but Icannot see the sense of mutilating the tone and touch of a piano merely toreduce the height by a further three or four inches.Sizes and Types - The standard width of an upright piano isabout 5' and the depth is between 2 - 2½'. The total floor space allowanceshould be about 5' wide by 5' deep, including bench space.
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Pre-owned and rental console, upright, and studio pianos at Steinway Piano Gallery Eastern Shore in Spanish Fort, AL. At this price point you should be able to find a console or studio upright that has a good musical sound, and a solid touch to the action. The best examples of pianos in this price range are Yamaha, Kawai, Young Chang, Sammick, and Sohmer. Yamaha would be the best in this category.
The height of thepiano makes no difference in the floor space needed but it makes a majordifference in the quality of sound the piano produces. The height of a verticalpiano is measured from the floor to the top of the piano. There are four typesof vertical pianos, based on piano height:The size is measured from the floor to the top of the lid.Spinet - 36' to 37' Consolette 38 to 39” Console 40' to 43' Studio– 44” to 45” Studio Professional 47” to 49” Upright – Over 50”Spinet Pianos The spinet piano isthe smallest of the vertical pianos. The spinet piano has what is called adropped action.
The piano action is the part of the piano that transfers theforce of striking the key to the hammer striking the string. In appearance thespinet and console pianos are very similar.
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Some technicians charge more to workon spinet pianos because they feel they are more difficult to repair. There aremore working parts in a spinet piano than a console but a qualified pianotechnician should be able to service the spinet piano at no additional charge.Console Pianos The console is themost popular of the vertical pianos. The action of a console piano sits directlyon top of the keys and as with all vertical pianos the hammers sit in an uprightposition. Once the hammer strikes the string and the key is released a springpulls the hammer back to its original position, ready to strike the stringagain. The action of a vertical piano is usually not as 'quick' as the action ofa grand piano.Studio Pianos The additional heightof the studio piano gives it a richness and tonal quality comparable to those ofmany grand pianos.
The location and feel of the action is also different in astudio piano. Many of the newer studio pianos mimic the feel of a grand piano.
Upright Pianos: The tallest of thevertical pianos is the upright. Today this term is usually used to refer to theolder, tall pianos - Grandma's piano. There were many wonderful upright pianosmade in America in the 1920 - 1940's. If properly preserved these old pianos aresome of the most esthetically beautiful and durable instruments ever made. Thekey is 'properly preserved'.
If not properly maintained an old upright's onlyvalue is as a large piece of furniture, beautiful to look at but nerve rackingto listen to.
The piano is a stringed instrument producing sound through the impact of a series of hammers striking the strings with various intensities. The piano was the first keyboard instrument to adjust sound volume by the amount of force used to strike the key. Pianos originally were large horizontal instruments taking up many square feet of floor space as are today's modern grand pianos. As the need arose for pianos with smaller footprints, the obvious alternative was to 'turn' the piano vertically.
Today, two types of vertical piano are on the market: console and spinet models. Console piano advantagesConsole pianos retain much of the volume and dynamic range of the grand piano. Larger sound boards, longer strings and greater hammer leverage gives the console a deep resonant tone able to fill even the largest concert hall.
Concert quality console pianos retain their value and can even appreciate with age. Console piano disadvantagesThe same features giving the console piano its advantage also works against it: size, weight and cost.
Console pianos can weigh as much as many grand pianos and also have an equal cost. The same amount of labor needed to move and install a grand piano is also required for the console.
Spinet piano advantagesSpinet pianos are smaller and more lightweight than consoles. They are ideal for small apartments and homes, small performance venues and consumers wanting a piano but not wanting to make the major investment needed to acquire a large concert quality instrument.
Spinet piano disadvantagesSpinet pianos have adequate volume for smaller venues (a home, a small club stage) but cannot fill a large hall. Spinet pianos also require tuning more frequently than larger more stable console cabinets. As an investment, spinets rarely retain value through the years. Console and spinet piano manufacturersSteinway, Yamaha and Boston manufacture high-quality vertical console pianos. Baldwin, Kawai and Yamaha are leading makers of spinet piano instruments.