Harp support brackets

[nitrob]

When I remove these brackets I get a much more open clear tone with more bark. I have done this to a 1975 73 model and a 1983 73 plastic key model. Both piano's had a dramatic improvement in tone. Has anyone else noticed this?

[jim]

really??
how do you reckon that works?

[hrees]

Removing the harp supports causes the harp to flex and sag in the middle. The reason your rhodes sounds better is because it was set wrong in the first place and removing the harp supports has changed the relationship between the tines and pickups.

So put the supports back and set your rhodes up properly.

[nitrob]

Thanks for the response guy's.

In respone to jim: When the brackets are removed, the wooden rail that holds the tine/tone bar is allowed to vibrate more freely which  is why the sound improves. This is just my opinion. Give it a try and see what you think.

hrees: You are right, the rails that hold the tines and pickups do sag a bit. I prefomed a full re-voicing of the tines after removing the brackets. This is not due to an improper set-up i've been teching rhodes pianos for the past seven years. Have you tried removing the brackets?

[hrees]

Not my experience. Removing the braces just made it hard for the piano to hold it setup as every time I took it out the case the harp would be in a slightly different place. Another reason they are important is to prevent warping of the rails over time.

Harp brace removal will subtly adjust a range of things due to the sag of the harp: pickup height/distance, dampers and strike line. So I still suspect it is showing up an inadequacy in you original voicing.

As for the vibration of the harp being important for the tone of the rhodes I disagree. Unlike on a wurlitzer or an acoustic piano the tone generators on a rhodes are separate and not dependant on harp vibration to acheive their maximum tone. The only thing you may be getting is an slight increase in sympathetic resonance with the sustain pedal down.