In electric pianos, a pickup is an electronic device that captures the vibration of the tine, reed, or string and converts it to an electrical signal. There are two main types of pickup that are used in electric piano instruments:
Electromagnetic Pickups:
Electromagnetic pickups use a magnet and coil arrangement where a magnet is surrounded by a long copper winding. These are found in Fender Rhodes pianos. As a tine vibrates near the pickup’s magnetic field, it creates a small electrical current in the coil, creating the audio signal. Hohner Cavinets use an electromagnetic pickup as well, but it is more similar in setup to an electric guitar, with a string vibrating adjacent to the pickup. Some Hohner Pianets an electromagetic pickup as well, such as the Pianet T
Electrostatic Pickups:
Electrostatic pickups on the other hand rely on changes in capacitance in between a reed and the pickup comb of the reed bar. When a reed is struck it vibrates which varies the electric field, generating an audio signal. Some Pianets, notably the Combo Pianet, have an electrostatic pickup comb too.
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