The Clavinet is an electric clavichord created by Ernst Zacharias and made by the Hohner company in Trossingen, West Germany, between 1964 and 1982. The instrument uses rubber pads that line up with each key. When a key is pressed, the pad hits a specific spot on a tight string, producing sound. It was designed to look like the clavichord from the Renaissance period.

Although first made for home use, the Clavinet became popular in live performances. It could create sounds similar to an electric guitar when played on a keyboard. The instrument is closely connected to the musician Stevie Wonder, who used it often, especially on his 1972 song "Superstition." The Clavinet was commonly used in rock, funk, and reggae music during the 1960s and 1970s. Today, digital keyboards can copy the Clavinet’s sound, but a group of repairers still works to keep the original instruments in working condition.

Description

The Clavinet is an instrument that uses both electricity and mechanical parts. It is usually played with a keyboard amplifier. Most models have 60 keys, which range from F1 to E6.

The sound is created by a harp with 60 steel strings that are stretched diagonally below the keys. Each key pivots on a pivot point at the back and has a spring to return it to its original position. Under each key, a metal holder holds a small rubber pad. When a key is pressed, the pad presses against a string, similar to how a hammer strikes a string on a guitar. An electromagnetic pickup changes the string’s vibrations into an electrical signal. The Clavinet’s feel comes from the pad hitting the string, which makes the keyboard weighted. This allows each note to have a different volume, like a piano or clavichord, and also allows for aftertouch as the string is stretched.

The end of each string, farthest from the pickups, passes through a bundle of yarn. This stops the string from vibrating after a key is released. Each string is tuned using a machine-head located at the front of the harp. This mechanism is different from other Hohner keyboard instruments, the Cembalet and Pianet, which use pads to pluck metal reeds instead. Most Clavinet models have two sets of pickups, covered in epoxy and placed in a plastic case, positioned above and below the strings. These pickups are similar to the neck and bridge pickups on a guitar. The Clavinet includes pickup selector switches and a solid-state preamplifier, which allows the instrument to send a signal to an amplifier. The preamplifier’s volume can be adjusted using a control located to the left of the keyboard.

Background

The Clavinet was created by German engineer Ernst Zacharias. He listened to music from Bach's harpsichord as a child, which inspired him to design a modern instrument similar to it. In 1954, he joined Hohner, a company that was having difficulty making products after its factories were taken over by the Nazis during World War II.

Zacharias helped improve the company's product line by introducing the Cembalet and Pianet. He was especially interested in making an electric clavichord. He discovered that hitting a hammer tip against a string attached to an anvil allowed players to press the keys harder and produce louder sounds. He wanted to use metal and plastic keys instead of the wooden frames and action found on earlier electric pianos like the Wurlitzer. The first model, called the Claviphon, was made in 1961. It used the string harp found in later models and included a Pianet keyboard.

Models

Seven different models of the Clavinet were made between 1964 and 1982. Hohner originally created the instrument for home use and for playing late Medieval, Baroque, and early classical music. Over time, Hohner changed its design to make the instrument easier to use on stage. A total of about 38,000 units were made.

The Clavinet I was the first model, introduced in 1964. It was placed in a heavy brown teak veneer box with a bronze front panel that showed the model number and covered the tuning pegs. The panel could be removed using two thumb screws to tune the instrument. The box had a rectangular shape and a lockable lid that could be folded over the keyboard when not in use. The instrument sat on four wooden legs attached to the body with threaded knobs and a crossbar brace. It included a built-in battery-powered speaker and amplifier, but also had a jack socket for connecting to an external amplifier. The only controls were volume and two tablet switches that selected specific pickup combinations. A bent rod music stand could be inserted into two holes on the top surface. This model was designed for home use and for playing Baroque music. Early Hohner advertisements showed the instrument in a home setting.

The Clavinet II had the same basic features as the Clavinet I but replaced the built-in amplifier and speaker with a preamplifier. It was the first model to allow users to change the instrument’s tone using rocker switches.

The Clavinet C was introduced in 1968. It had a slimmer case than the I or II and was covered in red vinyl, a material popular on combo organs at the time. A removable black aluminum panel below the keys provided access to the tuning machines. The top of the keyboard was white, and a slot held an acrylic panel music rest with the Hohner logo. Four black tapered tubular steel legs were threaded into mounts on the bottom of the case. The legs fit into a box section under the top surface for transport. A removable transport lid covered the keyboard and controls. The instrument could be powered by mains electricity or a 9V battery. A rare version of the C, called the Echolette Beat Spinett, had reverse-color keys like a traditional harpsichord and included an integrated ashtray.

The Clavinet L was also introduced in 1968. It was a home model with a trapezoid-shaped case and three wooden legs. The keyboard had reverse-color keys and a clear plastic music stand. It had a built-in amplifier and speaker powered by four 1.5V batteries. This model was designed to look like a Renaissance-era keyboard.

The Clavinet D6, introduced in 1971, kept the case style of the C but was covered in black vinyl leathercloth. The top surface was made of teak veneer, which was cheaper to produce. The instrument came with a removable lid for transport that also had space to store the music stand. The D6 allowed users to select more versatile sounds using six rocker switches to the left of the keyboard. The left four switches controlled tone: "Brilliant" and "Treble" activated a high-pass filter, while "Medium" and "Soft" activated a low-pass filter. The two right switches, marked "AB" and "CD," selected different pickups. A mechanical mute slider was located on the right side.

The final models, the E7 and Clavinet Duo, included engineering improvements to make the instrument better suited for loud stage use, such as better shielding to reduce electrical noise. The E7 was introduced in 1979. It had a black vinyl leathercloth-covered case with a rectangular shape, rounded corners, and a removable metal lid to protect the keys and controls during transport. The control panels on the left side included features similar to the D6, along with a sliding volume control. It had support brackets to mount it on the rounded top of a Rhodes Piano, a popular keyboard combination. Some D6-labeled instruments were made in the E7-style case and included D6 logos on the control panel and removable tuning cover. These were called D6-N models, with "N" meaning "new."

The Clavinet Duo model was first made in 1978. It combined a Clavinet with the Hohner Pianet T in one compact, heavy instrument. A foot switch allowed the player to switch between the Clavinet, Pianet, or a mix of both. It also had a "split keyboard" mode, letting either instrument be used for specific note ranges. A stereo output jack allowed users to mix both sounds or play each on separate stereo channels. It used a black case similar to the Clavinet E7.

By the time the E7 and Clavinet Duo were made, polyphonic synthesizers had become popular, and electromechanical keyboards were less in demand. The final models were produced in 1982.

After Hohner stopped making electromechanical Clavinets, they used the name for electronic and digital keyboards. The "Clavinet DP" was used for a range of digital pianos. Though Zacharias approved of the instrument, these models were designed for home use and did not copy the original Clavinet’s features.

Effects

The Castle Bar is an add-on device created by Buddy Castle in the mid-1970s. It connects the strings of an instrument to a rotating bridge that is attached to a rod above the instrument. This design allows the player to change the pitch by pressing the rod, similar to how a tremolo arm on a guitar works. This feature makes the Clavinet a good choice for playing lead parts. Improved versions of the Castle Bar are now available, and they work more reliably than the original.

The Clavinet is often used with a wah-wah pedal or an auto wah box. This setup is especially common when playing funk music. Other types of foot pedals that can be used with the Clavinet include phaser and chorus effects.

Maintenance

The early Clavinet I and II models were not made for use on stage, and they could create loud audio feedback if connected to a powerful amplifier. Later models, such as the D6, fixed this problem by improving the way the strings stopped vibrating. The pickups in these instruments are not protected, which makes them more likely to pick up noise from nearby lights, switches, and electrical devices.

Over time, the rubber tips on the hammers that strike the strings wore down, causing the keys to stop working correctly. The strings on a Clavinet can last longer than those on a guitar because the instrument is sealed and does not get oil or sweat from fingers. The keys on a Clavinet are different from those on any other Hohner instrument, and they can only be replaced by taking them from a similar model.

During the 1980s and 1990s, finding replacement parts for Clavinets became more difficult because Hohner no longer supported them, and the cost of used models decreased. In 1999, a Clavinet fan named Aaron Kipness created the website clavinet.com and began making replacement hammer tips with his stepfather. The website became popular, and people around the world started ordering parts. Later, Hohner asked Kipness if he would buy the remaining parts in stock. The website inspired others to make spare parts, leading to a small industry focused on keeping Clavinets working. In 2018, a Clavinet in excellent condition could sell for about $2,000.

Clones

Even though some musicians prefer using a real Clavinet, many modern keyboards can offer a good copy. The Nord Stage has different pickup switch options, but it does not have a mute slider. Ticky Clav 2 is a software copy of the instrument, including all the features from the original instrument.

Notable users

The Clavinet is closely linked to Stevie Wonder, especially his 1972 number-one song "Superstition," where it plays the main melody and background music. The track includes many recordings of the Clavinet C, and during live performances, Wonder and another keyboardist played two Clavinets at the same time to recreate the song. Wonder started using Clavinets in the late 1960s when he wanted a keyboard that could make guitar-like sounds. He first used it on the song "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" (1968). Other songs, like "Higher Ground," feature the Clavinet played through a Mu-Tron III filter pedal. The album Talking Book also uses the instrument often. The song "Sweet Little Girl" from Music of My Mind (1972) includes the line, "You know your baby loves you, more than I love my Clavinet."

By the 1970s, Hohner, the company that makes Clavinets, began using photos of Wonder in their advertisements. Wonder has continued to use Clavinets in his music and performances into the 21st century. His main stage instrument is a customized D6 model with special parts, such as modified preamps and high-quality capacitors. The D6 uses a 9V battery instead of regular power to prevent noise problems.

In 1975, keyboardist Dave MacRae played the Clavinet on Bill Oddie’s song "The Funky Gibbon" by The Goodies. Oddie said MacRae’s playing style reminded him of Stevie Wonder’s. The rhythm section of the song only includes Oddie and MacRae.

The Clavinet was often used in funk music, especially with a wah-wah pedal. It appears in Bill Withers’ "Use Me" and Funkadelic’s "A Joyful Process." Billy Preston used the Clavinet on his song "Outa-Space" (1972) and on the Rolling Stones’ "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" (1973). Herbie Hancock used the Clavinet on albums like Head Hunters (1973) and Man-Child (1975). Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock both played the instrument regularly.

The first reggae song to use the Clavinet was "Attractive Girl" by The Termites (1967). Bob Marley and the Wailers’ song "Could You Be Loved" (1980) features a Clavinet riff played by Earl Lindo. Stevie Wonder’s song "Master Blaster (Jammin’)" also includes a Clavinet riff, played by Wonder himself.

Garth Hudson of The Band used a Clavinet with a wah-wah pedal on "Up on Cripple Creek" (1969). Keith Emerson played the Clavinet on Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s version of "Nut Rocker" from Pictures at an Exhibition (1971). George Duke used a Clavinet with the Castle Bar modification when playing with Frank Zappa and solo. Peter Hammill used the Clavinet as his main keyboard on Godbluff by Van der Graaf Generator (1975). John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin and Daryl Dragon of Captain & Tennille both played the Clavinet on songs like "Trampled Under Foot" (1975) and "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975). Other 1970s songs with the Clavinet include "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan and "You Make Loving Fun" by Fleetwood Mac.

Lachy Doley uses the Clavinet (with the Castle Bar modification, similar to a guitar’s whammy bar) as one of his main instruments. His YouTube videos showing the modified tremolo arm have become popular online. He bought his first Clavinet second-hand at age 17 for $150. The modification was already done when he purchased it. The Clavinet’s signal is sent through a Dunlop Cry Baby wah-wah pedal and then into a Fender Deville amplifier.