Clavinet vs. Clavichord — What's the Difference?

The Clavinet is an electrically amplified clavichord invented by Ernst Zacharias and manufactured by the Hohner company of Trossingen, West Germany, from 1964 to 1982. The instrument produces sounds by a rubber pad striking a point on a tensioned string, and was designed to resemble the Renaissance-era clavichord.

The clavichord is a Western European stringed rectangular keyboard instrument that was used largely in the Late Middle Ages, through the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical eras. Historically, it was mostly used as a practice instrument and as an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger performances.

(musical instruments) An electrophonic keyboard instrument, an electronically amplified clavichord with a distinctive bright staccato sound.

An early keyboard instrument with a soft sound produced by small brass wedges striking horizontal strings.

(musical instruments) An early keyboard instrument producing a soft sound by means of metal blades (called tangents) attached to the inner ends of the keys gently striking the strings.

A keyed stringed instrument, now superseded by the pianoforte. See Clarichord.

An early stringed instrument like a piano but with more delicate sound