Helpinstill
Encyclopedia
Helpinstill is an US
-based company which produces a unique electromagnetic
pickup system for amplifying grand and upright piano
s on stage. During the late 1970s the company also marketed a range of portable pianos ready-fitted with the pickups; these instruments were built by Kimball to Helpinstill's specifications. The company's founder and namesake, Charles Helpinstill, performs in Houston with his band, Ezra Charles and The Texas Blues Band
.
. A small mixer allows the pianist or sound engineer to adjust the output balance of the pickups.
flightcases on casters with fold-away keyboards and sustain pedals. The 88 offered a full piano range while the 64 lacked the top and bottom octaves.
Both instruments are still renowned for their authentic sound when amplified, and the Helpinstill pickup remains an industry standard.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based company which produces a unique electromagnetic
Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental interactions in nature. The other three are the strong interaction, the weak interaction and gravitation...
pickup system for amplifying grand and upright piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
s on stage. During the late 1970s the company also marketed a range of portable pianos ready-fitted with the pickups; these instruments were built by Kimball to Helpinstill's specifications. The company's founder and namesake, Charles Helpinstill, performs in Houston with his band, Ezra Charles and The Texas Blues Band
Ezra Charles
Ezra Charles is the stage name of Charles Helpinstill, the American founder of the company of the same name which makes portable amplified pianos for stage performance....
.
Description
The Helpinstill pickup comprises three long electromagnetic bar pickups which can be temporarily attached to a piano's iron frame via magnets and clamps. The pickups only sense vibrations from the strings, virtually eliminating the possibility of feedbackFeedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
. A small mixer allows the pianist or sound engineer to adjust the output balance of the pickups.
The Melodipro piano
In the mid-70s, the Aeolian piano company marketed the Melodipro upright piano, a semi-road-worthy version of their Melodigrand 64-note piano fitted with a Helpinstill pickup system. The shortcomings of this instrument inspired Helpinstill to produce their own completely portable instruments.Helpinstill pianos
Three models were produced between 1977 and about 1980. All were true acoustic pianos with soundboards.Roadmaster 88 and 64 models
These were uprights, built into aluminiumAluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
flightcases on casters with fold-away keyboards and sustain pedals. The 88 offered a full piano range while the 64 lacked the top and bottom octaves.
Portable Grand
This was an 88-note baby grand without its heavy outer case, and designed to separate into a keyboard and a "harp" section with removable "hairpin"-style legs. A fibreglass cover was fitted to the "harp" in lieu of a traditional case and lid; this made the instrument considerably lighter than a traditional grand of the same size.Both instruments are still renowned for their authentic sound when amplified, and the Helpinstill pickup remains an industry standard.