1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 The electric piano
1.1.1 Terminology
An electric piano is an electromechanical musical instrument. Sounds are produced
mechanically and then turned into electrical signals by using electronic pickups. This is quite
different from an electronic piano, which simulates the timbre of a piano (or others instruments)
using analog or digital circuitry.
1.1.2 Origin
The earliest electric pianos were invented in the late 1920s; the 1929 German
Neo-Bechstein
electric grand piano was among the first. Probably, the earliest model of electric piano was the
Vivi-Tone Clavier
created by the Gibson sound engineer and master luthier Lloyd Loar. When the
instrument was discovered in 1994, amazingly, the instrument was still in perfect tune!
Neo-Bechstein Electric Grand Piano
ViViTone Clavier
1.1.3 Technologies
Different method of tone production exist among electric pianos. They vary from one model to
another, the most common are: struck strings (Yamaha, Baldwin, Helpinstill, Kawai), tuning-forks
(Fender Rhodes, Hohner´s “Electra piano”), plucked reeds (Hohner´s “Pianet” and “Cembalet”,
Weltmeister claviset) and struck reeds (Wurlitzer, Denon Elepian). We cannot say that one
method is better than another; each of these technologies have their own tone and character.
1.1.4 Popularity
The goal at the beginning was to provide a piano which did not detune, and could be easier to
transport than a real piano. The electric piano started as a product to be more convenient but
ARTURIA WURLITZER V User's Manual
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1 INTRODUCTION
Summary of Contents for Wurlitzer-V
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