When a new customer calls me to discuss having their piano tuned and serviced, I always want to know what ‘type’ of piano we are talking about. There are a number of different types of vertical pianos and of course there are a number of different sized grand pianos. Knowing what type of piano it is helps me to get a better idea as to what might be involved in servicing it. The descriptions below cover the majority of pianos. Hopefully your piano will fall into one of these categories.
Vertical Pianos – The strings in all ‘Vertical’ pianos are positioned vertically.
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 Spinet Piano ~ 36″ to 39″
Spinet – Spinets are the smallest pianos with the shortest strings. They are about 36″-40″ tall. Since the keys are about the same height on all pianos, on a spinet piano, the very top of the piano is generally 6 or 7 inches higher than the keys. Due to their shorter height, spinet pianos have ‘dropped’ or ‘indirect’ actions. In addition to being the least responsive of probably all modern piano actions, spinet pianos can be the most time consuming and expensive to service and repair. Many spinet piano owners are of the opinion their piano isn’t worth calling a really skilled technician. But it is really just the opposite. Spinets are the most difficult to tune, and generally require a very skilled piano technician to make them sound as good as they can sound. Once quite popular due to their small size, spinet pianos are less so today.
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 Console ~ 40″ to 43″
Console – The console is slightly taller (40″-43″ tall) and has longer strings than the spinet. The top of this type piano will be about 12″ higher than the keys. Console pianos are tall enough to NOT have a dropped or indirect action. Consoles contain a ‘compact’ action. A compact action sits on the back of the keys, but the hammer shanks and other parts have been shortened to get it to fit in a piano of this height. Console pianos are a little easier to tune than the spinets, but not by much. The better made consoles can be fairly predictable when it comes to their tuning, but some of the lighter constructed consoles can also be very challenging to tune. Spinets and console pianos are both much more difficult to make sound good – actually requiring more skill from the piano tuner – than the big uprights and medium to larger sized grands. Console pianos are very common pianos for the home, and are available in many styles and finishes.
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 Studio ~ 44″ to 48″
Studio – The Studio piano is normally 44″-48″ tall. This type of piano is tall enough to have a ‘full sized’ vertical action. The top of a studio piano is about 24 inches higher than the keys. The action in these pianos is generally as efficient and responsive as it gets in a vertical piano. Originally these pianos were most often used in schools and church choir rooms and were ‘institutional’ in appearance – with supported front legs, big casters, &c. But recently, manufacturers have been making this size piano in many home friendly styles and finishes. Their full size action and longer strings make them a good choice for a reasonably good vertical piano sound and feel, and a good choice for many vertical piano buyers.
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 Upright ~ 49″ to 60″
Upright – This ‘Upright’ category is the ‘catch all’ term for the big vertical pianos. Their height ranges from 49″ – 60″. This is the type of piano your (great) grandparents used to play! The first vertical pianos were these big tall ‘uprights’ or ‘Upright Grands’. These actually preceded the smaller verticals – the spinets, consoles, &c. Due to their height and long strings, the full sized actions in these pianos must be raised up in order for the hammers to strike the stings in the appropriate location. Their string length are approximately the same as a 5’7″ grand piano. These big verticals are still being manufactured today and are the cream of the vertical piano crop. Many use the word ‘upright’ and ‘vertical’ to mean the same thing.
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Grand Pianos –
The strings on all Grand pianos are horizontal.
Grand pianos are measured (in feet and inches or in centimeters) from the very front of the keys, to the very back edge of the lid that hangs out over the back end of the case. At one time a 6′ grand was considered a small grand piano but it is doubtful anyone today would consider a 6 foot grand a small or a baby grand.
As the keys are pressed “down’ in a grand piano, the hammers travel ‘upward’ to contact the string.
On a vertical piano, as the keys are pressed ‘down’, the hammers travel ‘outward’ to make contact with the strings.
Since the Grand Piano action doesn’t have this change of direction, grand piano actions are generally more efficient and responsive than vertical piano actions.
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 Small or Baby Grand ~ 4’5″ to 5’3″
Small or Baby Grand – Generally speaking a baby grand might be any grand less than 5’3″. Even thought the string length on these small grands can be less than on some verticals, all grands have a grand action, which doesn’t have to go thru the change of direction the vertical action does in order for the hammers to strike the strings. At one time a manufacturer made a grand that was so small (approx. 4’6″) not only were the strings shorter than many spinet pianos, the action was somewhat radically modified to get it to look right in a piano that small. And since the string lengths are often so short, the same difficulties in tuning spinets and consoles are often found on these small grands. Even though this piano was a ‘grand’ piano it was very compromised when it came to sound quality and playability.
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 Medium Grand ~ 5’3″ to 5’8″
Medium Sized Grands – This term is often used to describe pianos from 5’3″ – 5’9″ in length. The string length of these grands is generally equal to or longer than those of the larger console and studio pianos. Generally speaking, the longer strings allow for better scaling and more ‘predictable’ tuning procedures. A good tuner/technician is always a plus, but these larger pianos are definitely easier to tune. This size is a very popular choice due to affordability, aesthetic appeal and sound quality.
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 Large Grand Piano ~ 5’9′ to 7’6″
The Larger Grands – The larger grands range in size from around 6′ to over 7′ in length. These larger grands are wonderful for home use. A 7′ piano is often the pianist’s piano of choice for their personal use and are very commonly found in university piano faculty studios. A 7′ piano is often generally enough piano for smaller recital halls, church sanctuaries, and other applications where a concert grand is not necessary or affordable.
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Bob, The piano sounds beautiful! I did some recording of it tonight. Suzanne
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Bob, Thank you for bringing my piano back to life! It sounds beautiful! Linda
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Hi Bob. . . Yamaha sounds fantastic! Great Job! Thanks so much, Carol & Wayne
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Bob, my piano sounds much better! I'm impressed with your ear and your knowledge.
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dear bob, just wanting to tell you, piano sounded great. yours is the best tuning I’ve had in years. let’s set up another time for some more magic.
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Hi Bob The piano sounds beautiful. Thank you. I’ll put you on the calendar for next year.
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Bob, I just wanted to tell you how wonderful the tuning job was, I never heard the piano sound better, either I am getting older and cannot hear or you are getting better, I think it is the latter. You...
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. . . the piano sounds great!
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Thank you, Bob, for the fabulous job you did with our piano. It sounds wonderful! Regards, Meryl Wade
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Thank you so much. We feel really grateful to have you keeping our piano in working condition. It’s so nice to have someone we can trust and who always does such a great job.
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Bob, I have owned the 1904 upright you recently tuned for over 50 years. I don’t know what magic you did, but I must compliment you! My sturdy old friend has never sounded better in all the years I have owned...
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Hi Bob. Thank you so much for the exceptional job you did tuning my husband’s old piano back on February 13th. He was thrilled and it sounds just gorgeous now! Best, Janet Mabon
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Thank you so much, Robert, for the wonderful job you did tuning my very old upright grand piano. Stopped playing long enough to write this review. You worked a miracle and what a thrill to hear those rich bass sounds...
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Just a note regarding my Schimmell grand piano. It sounds fantastic and bell like with very pure tone just like when I bought it. I played it quite a bit this weekend and as you noted one hears every note....
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Good morning Bob…….Thank you for sending the excellent report. It is well written, thorough and….well, perfect! You have mucho expertise when it comes to pianos…..we were lucky to have such a person….
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Very professional. . . . .
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My Hamilton console piano had not been tuned for over 6 years and moved from humid South Carolina to dry Tucson. So I called a friend, who plays the contemporary music at our church, and he immediately recommended Bob Conrad....
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Bob, your class at the Convention was amazing. Now I have a thirst for more. I am interested in your tunings for my SATIV.
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Bob is a great tuner. He has tuned not only my studio piano but those of my my voice and piano students. He’s more than just a tuner, he’s a fine technician as well. He’s a fine musician too, possessing...
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Bob did the best job possible tuning my piano which I had neglected for five years I am ashamed to admit. Thanks Bob it sounds awesome....
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