Pianet

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Hohner Pianet T

The Pianet is an analog, electro-mechanical keyboard instrument with 61 keys, from model T & M with 60 keys and like the Clavinet was built by Hohner in Trossingen . Its inventor is Ernst Zacharias , who also developed the harpsichord (1958) and the clavinet (1964) for Hohner . The sound of the Pianet can be classified between the bell-like sound of the Fender Rhodes and the slightly distorted sound of the Wurlitzer EP200 electric piano .

Sound generation

Like all electromechanical keyboards, the Pianet is fully polyphonic. The sound is produced by a vibrating metal tongue ( reed ). The keys are extended to the rear by an arm to which a rubber cushion ( lifter ) is attached. When at rest, the lifter rests on the tongue and dampens it. The surface of the lifter is provided with a special adhesive. As soon as you hit a key, the arm and lifter are moved upwards, whereby the adhesive effect pulls the tongue along a little. As soon as it releases from the lifter, the tongue swings freely. Two methods are used to generate the electrical sound signal:

The first Pianet models were equipped with capacitive pickups . The sound tongue together with a counter electrode forms a capacitor charged with direct voltage , the capacity of which changes with the vibration of the tongue. Electromagnetic pickups were used in later Pianet models. Here the reeds are magnetized and vibrate in front of a coil in which an alternating voltage is induced. With both acceptance processes, the electrical signal is then appropriately amplified and emitted via loudspeakers . In some Pianet models, amplifiers and loudspeakers are already integrated into the instrument.

Advantages of this construction:

  • A pianet is quite light (around 20 kg), whereas other electric pianos are sometimes much heavier (around 70 kg for a model of the Fender Rhodes ).
  • Provided the instrument is stored in a dry place and the reeds do not oxidize, the tone generation has very good tuning stability.

Disadvantages of this construction:

  • There is no possibility of attenuation cancellation , i.e. H. as soon as a key is released, the note stops sounding because the pad is back on the tongue and mutes it.
  • Due to the special way in which the reeds are stimulated, the touch dynamics are considerably lower than with other electric pianos or a piano in which a hammer strikes the tongue or the string.

Versions

The Hohner Pianet was built between 1962 and 1982. There are different versions of the instrument:

  • Pianet - original model with tube preamplifier, still without additional designation. It is often confused with the similar-looking but slightly larger Pianet C.
  • Pianet C
  • Pianet CH
  • Pianet L & LB
  • Pianet N
  • Pianet N console model
  • Pianet N (Version II)
  • Combo Pianet - without lid and legs.
  • Pianet M - console model with electro-magnetic sound generation and loudspeaker / amplifier unit on top.
  • Pianet T - T for transportable / transportable; with electro-magnetic sound generation, but without an amplifier, not much larger than an electric guitar case, opened parts of the lid could serve as a music stand. The soft sound was somewhere between the Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer 200.
  • Hohner Clavinet / Pianet Duo, which is a combination of Clavinet and Pianet T; Here you can either play one of the two instruments or mix them continuously.

For the Pianet N, Hohner offered a loudspeaker / amplifier unit ("underbelly") attached to the instrument base, called CA and CP, as an accessory. There were three different versions, first with a tube amplifier, later with transistor equipment.

use

The following musicians have used the Pianet: