Piano "Lyrics"

The older generation remembers well that in the Soviet Union there were many factories producing grand pianos and pianos. Almost any family could afford to buy an inexpensive and high-quality keyboard instrument. Unfortunately, starting from the 90s, this industry could not withstand the arrival of a market economy and fell into decay. Domestic acoustic pianos today can only be purchased second-hand from private sellers or from specialized firms engaged in the redemption, restoration and sale of instruments. One of the most popular models is the Lyrica upright piano.


Short description
This piano model was produced by the Lyra musical instrument plant. Founded in 1935, the woodworking enterprise was located in the town of Babushkin near Moscow, which later became part of Moscow. The factory was actively developing, producing up to 20,000 pianos a year. Currently, the production of Lyrica has been discontinued, the plant is mainly engaged in leasing its premises, production is practically frozen, and the site advertises only three models: Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Richter, all made up of imported components.

The piano "Lyrica" came out in several variations: model "Nocturne", articles 102, 104, L-120.
Most often you can find the L-120 piano on sale - brown (natural or dark walnut). Sometimes black specimens come across.

Its characteristics:
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the body of the instrument is veneered with valuable and hardwood species with polyester varnish or enamel finish;
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has a cast iron bronze frame;
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there is a gold logo on the inside of the lid (different spellings were used in Russian and English);
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range of sounding octaves - 7¼;
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can be equipped with two or three pedals.

Some instruments have a standard look, but there are models with side feet under the keyboard. In many models, the case is decorated with decorative bas-relief overlays along the perimeter. If a used piano does not have a passport, the serial number can be found on the inside right on the hammers.

Dimensions (edit)
Overall dimensions of the Lyrica L-120 model:
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height 1200 mm;
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width 619 mm;
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length 1445 mm.
On the sites of private ads comes across a miniature model with a height of only 106 cm.

How much does it weigh?
The popularity of "Lyrica" was largely due to the fact that it was one of the lightest domestic models. The weight of the classic "Lyrics" is 200 kg. The Nocturne variation has a weight of 190 kg.

Review overview
In recent years, traditional keyboard pianos have been actively supplanted by digital instruments. The old "good" acoustics loses in the following parameters:
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large weight and dimensions - a bulky piano is difficult to transport, and it takes up a lot of space;
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volume - it is impossible to adjust and connect headphones;
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no additional functions (change of tone, music recording, built-in metronome and others);
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requires regular professional adjustment (preferably once a year), maintenance, temperature and humidity regime.

An undoubted advantage is the affordable price, because you can buy a second-hand "Lyric" "hand-held" quite inexpensively, or even get it free of charge for pickup. Well the sound of a well-tuned acoustic model will still be richer and deeper than that of the "digital".
These advantages become decisive for many consumers who are looking for the ideal “home” instrument, especially if there is a child in the family who is taking the first steps in mastering musical literacy.

At the same time, on the net you can find diametrically opposite reviews about this piano. Many people recall their experience of operating the instrument with nostalgic warmth and gratitude. Music school teachers recommend it to their students. And some had only negative impressions and persistent hostility towards the domestic manufacturer. Apparently, the long way that the Lira plant went through: changes in management, staff, suppliers of raw materials and components affected the quality of products. Along with great-sounding quality samples (especially those made for export), there were also unsuccessful games.

An interesting nuance: many tuning masters and pianists recommend purchasing a brown instrument, claiming that it sounds better than a colored one.
A tip for those looking to buy a piano: choose from a professional restoration workshop or with a good tuner. Check all keys to make sure there are no strings attached. Be sure to look inside: there should be no dust, cracks on the frame, rust on the strings, wear of the cloth parts. Pay attention to the humidity level in the room where the piano is stored. After such a "technical inspection", professional tuning and with careful care, the model piano "Lyrica" will delight you for more than one year, and you will be happy to play on it.
