Console and Spinet Pianos can look almost identical from the outside case but what lies beneath separates them a great deal from one another.Both spinets and consoles are upright-style pianos that are typically very short The fundamental difference between the two types of pianos are the actions.Spinet PianosSpinet pianos have what’s called an indirect blow action (or drop action). The instruments are so small that they have to change the way the action works in order to fit them into the piano.Compared to a typical piano action, spinet pianos have shorter keys and they have rods that connect each key to the rest of the action. This is why they are called indirect blow actions, because you don’t have a full length key that interacts directly with the action. Instead it drops down to the other part of the action.Console PianosWhether it is short or tall, a console pianos have a regular style upright action where the key is much longer and connects directly to the action:Pianos TodayNobody makes spinet pianos anymore.
Today you can buy pianos with high-tech computer-type player mechanisms installed: The Yamaha Disklavier® is one type of player piano system that uses computer floppy discs, or more recently, compact discs, instead of the old style paper rolls, and has a large library of selections on disc.
At some point they lost favorability with consumers and have since been replaced by less expensive consoles that don’t have to sacrifice the quality of the actions.Despite spinets having different actions, there were some higher quality models – the Baldwin Acrosonic being a classic example – that were decent pianos. The inherent limitations in console and spinet pianos lies more in the size of the pianos more than anything else. With a smaller soundboard and shorter strings, the pianos are limited in the amount of sound they can produce.Generally console pianos are superior to spinet pianos because of the regular style actions and the slightly taller size of the instruments which offers a more rewarding sound.I hope this is helpful and if you have any questions about this topic or any other, please email me for more information.
Does anyone have any specific thoughts on this brand? I am a total newbie, looking to get a piano in the next 12-18 months. There seem to be several used Baldwin brand pianos available in my area on Craigslist, in decent condition.I am a complete piano newbie. I do not need top of the line.
My goals are fairly simple: obtain an instrument that does not need any work done on it; ready to play basically (and I know I should have a piano technician inspect before I buy). My main interest is playing classical; though I'd be interested in delving outside of that into other styles a bit. My son is two and a half, and I hope for him to be exposed to it as well.So for a newbie who doesn't have specific requirements out of the piano, do you think a well maintained Baldwin upright would be a fine starting instrument? Just don't get a spinet, most everything else will work fine for you given decent condition. Baldwin is fine. Acrosonic has a fourth open string, makes it sing a little differently. Personally, for a first piano I'd try to get a standard piano more so than one of those but again, at this stage it's not a biggy.
Later on you will know exactly what you want for yourself and your then 10 year old.Baldwin uprights have nice tone, are well made and in good shape have decent action as well, even console sized are nice sounding. Forget spinets because they are just too short and goofy to tune.
I have noticed a few Baldwins in our areas craigslist as well. With craigslist just be careful of spammers. My daughter is looking for a used piano too.
I'm stearing her clear of Wurlitzer and kind of focusing on Baldwin. The local dealer has two consoles, one is $499 and the other a bit more. The problem with him is the moving charge, it's more than the cost of the piano to my daughters town.
Now all of a sudden that $500 piano is more like $1200. Rent a van with a ramp and piano dolly ( her husband used to be a funiture mover) and buy a used one for around $300 and I can tune it, she will be good to go for about $500.Edit: hold the phone on the fourth string, I believe I've mixed up the term acrosonic. Baldwin Acrosonics made the best spinets. The have a more than slightly different action than most spinets and play fast and solid. They project really well. The midrange is quite decent, but like all spinets, suffer in the lower registers and sound like glass breaking in the top octave.
![Piano Type Studios Consoles Piano Type Studios Consoles](https://brucemusicstore.com/dynamic/2013/10/DSCN0882.jpg)
I have one as a second piano that I use for piano tech learning. Its newly restrung and pinned as well as regulated, hammers shaped and voiced.
It sounds quite good and projects better than my Charles Walter, but again, the tone is no comparison. A Baldwin Hamilton from the 80's is a fine workhorse and sounds good. Its a well made machine.
I recommend it for a first piano. I've played both Baldwin Acrosonic's and The budget line Howard. I've liked all that I played, but the Acrosonic line tends to be a little louder and more brilliant in tone in my opinion.
![Piano Type Studios Consoles Piano Type Studios Consoles](https://brucemusicstore.com/dynamic/2013/01/DSCN0224-733x550.jpg)
The action was fine on either line. They have made 36' tall spinets, 39 or 40' consoles, and 44' studios.
With the price of moving and tuning being much higher than the piano itself, I would look for a 40' or 44' if I was starting out. The 36' spinets I have played sounded okay with the limited bass, but any 36' action is not as fast as a 40' or 44' action. All these old pianos have held up better than some other old US brands, indicating better wood and temperature control in the hammers, for example. Other competent 1941-1978 pianos I have played were Wurlitzer, Mason & Hamlin, Sohmer, Goodman, and of course Steinway.This experience is limited the the pianos from the US Baldwin factory. The name has been continued by an importer of pianos and I have never played one of those I understand the recycled US brand names are used as budget lines for the premium oriental made brands.I've also played some pre-1940 Baldwin upright pianos, that tend to be taller than 44'. These were also competent pianos, but have a 'tinkly' tone more suitable for ragtime or jazz piano. I used to disrespect this tone quality, but I heard a Beethoven concerto from Deutche Velle radio on an 'authentic period' grand piano, and it had a tinkly tone that sounded similar to me to the pre 1940 US upright pianos.
The biggest drawback of the uprights is the weight in moving. They weigh about 600 lb compared to 400 or less for postwar console or studio pianos.