Clavia electro 2 Guida Utente

T

HE

 H

OHNER

 C

LAVINET

The Clavinet is another story. It's based on strings and guitar 
pick-ups. Ernst Zacharias designed the Clavinet during the 
mid-'60s and filed his patent in 1966.

Previously, Zacharias had designed an instrument called the 
Cembalet -- a keyboard that used accordion reeds as the tone 
source. This instrument was very popular at the time and was 
in production for ten years. Hohner released the Pianet L -- an 
electrified metal-reed piano -- in 1962. In 1977, the company 
introduced another version called the Pianet T, which was the 
cheapest, most popular, and final model of the Pianet series. 

While designing and building the Pianet series, Zacharias also 
worked on another project. As he was very interested in early 
keyboard music, he investigated the clavichord to see if he 
could make an electric version. This work finally resulted in the 
Hohner Clavinet I. It was primarily designed as a home instru-
ment for playing baroque or classic music. Of course later his-
tory proved that this instrument instead had a huge impact on 
the rock/funk keyboard player. 

The mechanics of the Clavinet is similar to what happens in an 
electric guitar, and offers a distinct powerful attack. Thanks to 
the keys is in direct applied to the hitting the string fast rhythm 
patterns. Unfortunately, the first Clavinets were difficult to 
play in high-volume situations because of major feedback prob-
lems.