How much does a piano weigh?

The piano is that rare universal instrument that can replace many others. In the right hands, playing the piano can replace the playing of an entire orchestra. But there is also a downside to great music - the dimensions of the instrument. Almost everyone who plans or already knows how to play an instrument, before buying and not only thinks about how much the piano weighs. The spread in weight for different models is almost 300 kilograms. What this is connected with and why the spread is so large, this article will tell.

The cast-iron frame adds tangible weight to the tool. It is solid and plays not only the role of a frame, but is also needed in order to be able to pull the strings. Obviously, the larger the piano, the greater the weight of the cast iron used to make it.

The back side of a cast iron frame is called a foot. It is made of wood or MDF boards. ? The second is noticeably heavier than the first. Some modern manufacturers also make it from boards made from pressed shavings. Such a wooden chipboard weighs less than its other counterparts. Wood shavings began to be used in the early 90s for reasons of economy in production. But it is worth remembering that even an ordinary wooden foot is not lightweight. The front panel of the frame is also a wooden resonance board.

In addition to the main parts, small but important parts add weight to the piano. One of them is strings. There are 230 of them in a standard piano. Weight is also added by 85 (or 88) keys and pedals. Some models are equipped with high quality cases. These details can often be quite heavy. ?

The lightest piano produced "Red October"... It was called "Kama" and weighed only 90 kilograms.

The heaviest were the models under the article number 102. The standard list included the following models:

• "Red October" (360 kg);
• "Kuban" (360 kg);
• "Petrov" (330 kg);
• Krasnaya Zarya (350 kg).

The tools were especially heavy Becker and Bernstein, which weighed 350 kg. In general, the weight of the models of this line could fluctuate from 330 to 370 kilograms at different times. Later, under the same article number, lighter models began to be produced, which weighed from 245 to 300 kilograms. These are models under the names:

• "Belarus" (250-260 kg);
• "Ukraine" (260 kg);
• Rostov-Don (270 kg);
• Rodina (300 kg).

They were considered mid-range models and even came in black. ?

The line of other instruments was produced under articles 37-39. Their weight could vary from 200 to 260 kg. These are models such as:

• Nikolay Rubinstein (210 kg);
• "Accord" (200 kg);
• Lyrica (200 kg);
• "Elegy" (260 kg);
• Irtysh (200 kg);
• Nocturne (230 kg);
• "Swallow" (260 kg);
• Zarya (260 kg).

This line included a number of common, most common models. This also included model "Desna", which weighed less than the rest of the models, it was 190 kilograms. By the way, the price of old used models from this list now reaches just over $ 200.

The heyday of the production of most instruments fell on the post-war 50s. With the collapse of the Union, the factories continued to work, but by the beginning of the 2000s, most of them had gone bankrupt. Most of the Soviet-made tools are still in wide use, but require regular and appropriate repairs.

The Krasny Oktyabr plant was considered the mastodon of piano production. The instrument of the same name had the fame of not only one of the heaviest, but also the best pianos in the country. Often, due to wear and tear, a crack appears in the piano frame (frame), which renders the instrument unusable. After that, the tool is waiting for disposal. ?

Imported tools can be roughly divided into two categories - large and small. The latter, the height of which can reach 1 meter, usually weigh about 200 kilograms. The large ones, measuring 1.3 meters, can weigh about 250 kg. Individual models can weigh up to 350 kilograms.

The West was one of the first to launch the production of electric pianos, which differed and still differ in their low weight - only from 100 to 150 kg. In general, foreign pianos are difficult to divide into certain weight categories. The production of tools abroad was not limited to government standards, but was determined by competition and the personal preferences of manufacturers.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the weight of the piano becomes especially important during transportation. The better it goes, the less damage to the tool. Sometimes, due to poor-quality transportation, the instrument can become upset.

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