Learned to play on a spinet piano as a child. It was in the corner of the living room. My mom, brothers and I all played. Such fond memories. We loved that beautiful little piano. I now have a beautiful grand but never forgot that little spinet. Dr. Dean
You don't mention that the spinet tone is completely different than a console and very difficult to replicate digitally. I love playing on a spinet- very bright, very quick, and it sounds like a hug from your mother- comfortable, nostalgic, perhaps a little strange, but yours all the same.
I have a Baldwin Acrosonic and I will say the action and sound is better than some of the Yamaha uprights. It isn’t a 9 foot grand but we have room for the kids to play as well.
My spinet plays freakishly like a grand, it has some unusual designs that aren't common in Wurlitzer, they don't even know why the hell they build my model, they actually suspect it was a special order and probably was built for a person who had a lot of money in Philadelphia but didn't have room in their house for a standup or even a grand.
Mr Macaroni Very much a good one. We have one, the light touch is excellent for beginners in my opinion. When tuned they have a nice tone, clear base, and best of all you shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for one.
I was and perhaps still am in the market for a good digital piano/keyboard such as a Yamaha P515 for about $1500. Yesterday a friend said he has a friend who is moving and would be happy to give me her spinet, tuned 2 years ago and still in tune, for free. I'd appreciate some opinions and advice. Thanks.
Some people are just bubbly by nature. Robert is a cheerful, positive person. That is one reason we all enjoy his channel so much. Besides, he gives good advice and is a great piano player. Not all of us can be happy all the time, due to physical ailments. But, we can try to be compassionate to others and show some considerate kindness.
With the massive amount of work it takes running Living Pianos, when I finally have a moment to share my passion for music with my videos, it is a joyful time in my life! My goal is to organize my life so I can devote more time to production of videos and writing of articles.
My first piano was a spnet. I live in an apartment so I wanted a piano with the smallest voice possible but I was dead set on an acoustic. I upgraded to a console. It still has an acceptably Small voice so it's not to piss off the neighbors, and I feel like I'm actually playing a piano.
You mentioned that a spinet is already off the market. If you can get hold of 1, it is probably a piece of antique that cost much more than an upright piano. To be practical, there are digital pianos in the market that have semi-weighed keys such as the Roland Go & Go: Keys. For people with hand problems a digital with lighter keys is accessible and much cheaper. For someone like myself who live in a high-rise building, having a keyboard that can be fit into an elevator and headphones for practicing at night is a must.
used pianos are a dine a dozen, just because its vintage and rare doesn't necessarily mean valuable, spinet's are like organs no one really wants them. There are plenty of organs that sold for mid five figures and are absolutely worthless because there is no market for them similar with antique pump organs. A pianist will more than likely never want a spinet because it feels different and sounds poor.
One aspect you didn't mention is that spinet pianos are harder for a technician to tune and work on. Everything is so crammed into small spaces that it is hard to get a tuning hammer and mutes into a spinet to work on them. Many piano techs will not work on spinets. For the size of a spinet and a slightly higher price, a good digital piano is definitely a favorable option. Also, a digital piano has the capability of using headphones, so the neighbors won't complain about the piano practicing.
If you don't have room for a concert grand, get a parlor grand if you don't have room for a parlor grand, get a baby grand, if you don't have room for a baby grand get an old high top upright, if you don't have room for an old upright get a console upright if you don't have room for a console upright then a spinet piano is for you. If You want an acoustical piano. I would go for an electronic hammer action nord 3 and get it all with less space. Bottom line you get what you have room for with the least amount of cash. Because if you don't have room for a piano you don't have the cash for a nord 3.
I find that spinet pianos are comparatively difficult to tune and get them sounding reasonable. You can just about get them OK in themselves, but they are pretty bad if you are playing along with other instruments. Because the strings are so short, they are thicker and that only adds to the inharmonicity (partials in the 'wrong' place). This is definitely one instance where I prefer a digital piano if you really need something small and lightweight. Get one without graded hammer action if you really have difficulty with arthritis etc. As spinets have not been made for quite some time, most of them will likely have issues with the action, not to mention loose tuning pins by now. They would cost far more that their worth to restore, and even then you are still left with an inferior instrument.
Should have played the intro music on that spinet. Or maybe given us a full review of it. But I know why you didnt. Because it sounds terrible. Like they all do.
Boy, I dunno. You could get a mid-range digital piano with a light action, volume control, better portability, better sound quality and a wide voice selection. There are probably plenty of spinets that are being given away for free, but if you have strength issues, then you have to pay to have someone move it. Let's leave spinets in the past.
Learned to play on a spinet piano as a child. It was in the corner of the living room. My mom, brothers and I all played. Such fond memories. We loved that beautiful little piano. I now have a beautiful grand but never forgot that little spinet.
Dr. Dean
I have a Yamaha spinet from the 1970s. The sound is very grand and loud. Love it
You don't mention that the spinet tone is completely different than a console and very difficult to replicate digitally. I love playing on a spinet- very bright, very quick, and it sounds like a hug from your mother- comfortable, nostalgic, perhaps a little strange, but yours all the same.
I have a Baldwin Acrosonic and I will say the action and sound is better than some of the Yamaha uprights. It isn’t a 9 foot grand but we have room for the kids to play as well.
Just like anything spinets have their place. I have a weighted key digital piano and a spinet piano. I live in an apartment. It works for me.
May you do more videos on spinets?
“How can this be?!” 💓
My spinet plays freakishly like a grand, it has some unusual designs that aren't common in Wurlitzer, they don't even know why the hell they build my model, they actually suspect it was a special order and probably was built for a person who had a lot of money in Philadelphia but didn't have room in their house for a standup or even a grand.
Would a Baldwin Acrosonic be a good starter Spinet piano? My cousin wants to play piano and he asked what a good starter piano would be.
Mr Macaroni Very much a good one. We have one, the light touch is excellent for beginners in my opinion. When tuned they have a nice tone, clear base, and best of all you shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg for one.
I love my acrosonic.
I think spinets are fantastic second pianos cause they’re just a lot of fun to play.
We have one in the living in our Allentown apartment. I pushed it home as someone was throwing it out a mile away. I think it’s from the 1970’s.
I was and perhaps still am in the market for a good digital piano/keyboard such as a Yamaha P515 for about $1500. Yesterday a friend said he has a friend who is moving and would be happy to give me her spinet, tuned 2 years ago and still in tune, for free. I'd appreciate some opinions and advice. Thanks.
TAKE IT!
What is your secret to always be happy? Regards!
Some people are just bubbly by nature. Robert is a cheerful, positive person. That is one reason we all enjoy his channel so much. Besides, he gives good advice and is a great piano player. Not all of us can be happy all the time, due to physical ailments. But, we can try to be compassionate to others and show some considerate kindness.
With the massive amount of work it takes running Living Pianos, when I finally have a moment to share my passion for music with my videos, it is a joyful time in my life! My goal is to organize my life so I can devote more time to production of videos and writing of articles.
My first piano was a spnet. I live in an apartment so I wanted a piano with the smallest voice possible but I was dead set on an acoustic. I upgraded to a console. It still has an acceptably Small voice so it's not to piss off the neighbors, and I feel like I'm actually playing a piano.
You mentioned that a spinet is already off the market. If you can get hold of 1, it is probably a piece of antique that cost much more than an upright piano.
To be practical, there are digital pianos in the market that have semi-weighed keys such as the Roland Go & Go: Keys. For people with hand problems a digital with lighter keys is accessible and much cheaper. For someone like myself who live in a high-rise building, having a keyboard that can be fit into an elevator and headphones for practicing at night is a must.
used pianos are a dine a dozen, just because its vintage and rare doesn't necessarily mean valuable, spinet's are like organs no one really wants them. There are plenty of organs that sold for mid five figures and are absolutely worthless because there is no market for them similar with antique pump organs. A pianist will more than likely never want a spinet because it feels different and sounds poor.
A Digital Piano Is A Modern Interpretation Of Spinet Pianos
One aspect you didn't mention is that spinet pianos are harder for a technician to tune and work on. Everything is so crammed into small spaces that it is hard to get a tuning hammer and mutes into a spinet to work on them. Many piano techs will not work on spinets. For the size of a spinet and a slightly higher price, a good digital piano is definitely a favorable option. Also, a digital piano has the capability of using headphones, so the neighbors won't complain about the piano practicing.
It's still slightly better than the digital piano, but the keys action is slow , not situable for fast song.
If you don't have room for a concert grand, get a parlor grand if you don't have room for a parlor grand, get a baby grand, if you don't have room for a baby grand get an old high top upright, if you don't have room for an old upright get a console upright if you don't have room for a console upright then a spinet piano is for you. If You want an acoustical piano. I would go for an electronic hammer action nord 3 and get it all with less space.
Bottom line you get what you have room for with the least amount of cash. Because if you don't have room for a piano you don't have the cash for a nord 3.
Compact consoles killed the spinet.
Jason Tandoc Their actions are so much easier to service
Exactly, Slim and tall
When your girlfriends grand is louder then your guitar and banjo.
I have a Rudolph Wurlitzer spinnet and I'm not very happy with it it lacks feel and nah just I don't like it
I find that spinet pianos are comparatively difficult to tune and get them sounding reasonable. You can just about get them OK in themselves, but they are pretty bad if you are playing along with other instruments. Because the strings are so short, they are thicker and that only adds to the inharmonicity (partials in the 'wrong' place). This is definitely one instance where I prefer a digital piano if you really need something small and lightweight. Get one without graded hammer action if you really have difficulty with arthritis etc. As spinets have not been made for quite some time, most of them will likely have issues with the action, not to mention loose tuning pins by now. They would cost far more that their worth to restore, and even then you are still left with an inferior instrument.
Should have played the intro music on that spinet. Or maybe given us a full review of it. But I know why you didnt. Because it sounds terrible. Like they all do.
Boy, I dunno. You could get a mid-range digital piano with a light action, volume control, better portability, better sound quality and a wide voice selection.
There are probably plenty of spinets that are being given away for free, but if you have strength issues, then you have to pay to have someone move it. Let's leave spinets in the past.
First
Answer: Never
When is a spinet best? Never!