Extension Chords
Pick Up Your Piano
There are better ways to pick up your piano than to call a piano mover.
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There are better ways to pick up your piano than to call a piano mover. For you keyboard freaks out there who still insist on using acoustic pianos because they sound better, look nice on the stage or any other variety of reasons, we've got a surprise for you. I should say a Texan who goes by the name of Helpenstill has a surprise for you.
The Helpenstill pickup is a unique little shot that enables you to amplify and play your piano for the teeming throngs who congregate at your ballroom, greasy spoon or local bar and grill or where ever you may find yourself. There are two models available, one for electrifying grand pianos and the other to do the same for upright models.
The grand version employs six electromagnetic pickups which hang down low over the strings (in suspension). You also get a six channel mixer to fine tune your sound to match your tastes.
Helpenstill's latest creation is the Helpenstill Piano Sensor for upright pianos. The design on this is quite unique in that three flexible sensors are attached magnetically to the frame behind the strings. Uke the model for grand pianos, you get a compact mixer box containing three balance controls to handle the three sensor strips plus volume and tone controls. Once again you can tune to your desire.
Low impedance microphone inputs or high impedance guitar amp inputs can be connected to the mixer. Either way you get the sound you want.
Going with a Helpenstill pickup eliminates the lousy sound so often heard from mixing a piano. There's no feedback, no noise or problems with this device. Both models are really easy to set up or break down.Plus they are lightweight and easily transportable. The Helpenstill works much like a guitar pickup, just picking up the exact string movements and no extraneous sounds.
Helpenstill has come up with a couple of unique products here that are worth the bread. The upright runs around $195 and may go even lower depending on manufacturability. The grand pickup runs about $800. Which you may or may not think is a lot, but look at what it has got to do. I think it is a fair amount to get the sound you want.
Oh, in case you can't locate a Helpenstill of your own write to Helpenstill Designs, 6124 Jessamine, Houston, Texas 77036 or call 713-785-3770. They'll let you know where it can be had.
