Electric Piano

Electric pianos are a type of musical instrument that work on electric current. These pianos have been popular since the 60’s and 70’s and were designed to supersede the heavy piano models on stage. Electronic pianos were invented at the end of 1920s. The Neo-Bechstein electric grand piano was among the first to be produced in 1929.

The tone produced by these pianos varied from model to model. There are struck string pianos which have a tonal quality similar to that of an acoustic piano. Yamaha, Baldwin, Helpinstill and Kawai's are some of the companies that produced these kinds of piano. Electric Pianos with struck reeds use metal reeds which are struck by hammers. These reeds are placed near a set of metal plates the formation of which leads to an electrostatic pickup system, using a DC voltage. Pianos with struck tuning-forks have two vibrating parts. Rhodes Company produce such pianos. Rhodes instruments have a unique bell-like tone that sustain for longer durations. The plucked reed electric pianos form the part of Hohner's original Pianet production. These pianos use adhesive pads made from foam rubber and leather impregnated with viscous silicone oil to pluck metal reeds.

People usually get confused between the electric pianos and electronic pianos. The major difference between the two is that electric pianos are an electro-mechanical instrument producing sound mechanically and then turning the sounds into electrical signals by pickups, whereas electrical or electronic pianos produce sound using analogue or even modern day digital circuitry. The last electric piano instruments were made in the mid-1980s, whereas electronic pianos are still in production by companies like Yamaha, Casio and Roland.