What is a spinet?
A. A spinet piano stands less than 39″ tall (from the floor to the top of the lid) and has an action mechanism much different from its taller relatives – the console, studio and upright. Consoles tend to be between 40″ and 44″ tall; studios are usually 45″ to 47″ tall, while uprights are generally 48″ or more. All are classified as vertical pianos, which distinguishes them from the horizontally-designed grand pianos. Why does height matter? Generally speaking, the taller the piano, the longer the strings are, the bigger the soundboard is and the better the action is. These features help the taller piano to perform and sound better than the shorter one – providing all other factors are equal (brand, vintage, condition, etc…). For the beginning student however, a spinet piano can serve as an excellent “stepping stone” instrument providing it has been properly restored.
