Messages

1

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Sluggish cp-70 action

« on: January 09, 2019, 10:37:07 AM »

Hi,
Without being there it's hard to say. Can you take out the action, inspect visually and operate each part manually: wippen, hammer, etc.? Could be a tight center pin, hammer rubbing on its neighbour...

2

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Re: DIY Sustain Pedal

« on: December 28, 2018, 08:28:25 AM »

Just wow!
Amazing work and a great detailed post. Thanks for sharing!
Martin

3

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: What Rhodes has the “smoothest” sound?

« on: November 26, 2018, 07:34:06 AM »

It seems from his signature that the OP went with the MkI.

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The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: What Rhodes has the “smoothest” sound?

« on: November 24, 2018, 10:16:59 PM »

My advice would be to bring your own amp when you go to try them. If you don't have one, borrow one.

If price is not an issue, buy both!

5

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Moving CP-70 in the cold

« on: November 06, 2018, 09:30:22 PM »

There's "cold" and there's "cold"...
I guess it would depend on the particular circumstances. If you can put thick blankets all around that will surely help.
Would it "destroy" the tuning? IMHO, no, but that's just me.

6

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Small keyboard to pair with Rhodes?

« on: October 15, 2018, 09:46:14 AM »

A few ideas: Microkorg, Roland JDXI, Novation mininova.

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Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: My homemade electric piano

« on: July 23, 2018, 12:12:20 PM »

Hi Steve and thanks for the warning, but I'm pretty confident that I'm well within the safe limits of what this wooden structure can hold. Please note that the strings are in the same direction as the wood fiber. I know that true pinblock material would be better to hold the pins on the long-term, but then I would indeed need a metal frame to hold it together with the rest of the structure. Before starting to build this, I did many tests with 2x4's and piano wire. Many of these are still sitting in my workshop after many months with the strings close to the same pitch, and no sign of cracks in the wood. My upright electric is holding pretty well after a few months too. I'm not too concerned about the long-term durability, this is all only for my personal enjoyment.

8

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Quick tremolo recording on a suitcase

« on: April 29, 2018, 10:07:43 AM »

Hi, I don't have access to a suitcase but I'm pretty sure there's a somewhat recent thread that talks about those speeds. Might be in the "preamp and modification" section.

9

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: My homemade electric piano

« on: April 13, 2018, 06:47:40 AM »

Greetings everyone,
I got a better camera and a small tripod so I made a video that shows how my square piano is tuned and how the hand stops work, I hope some of you will find this interesting: https://youtu.be/xOyIdTliMb0  (please turn close-caption on).
Martin

10

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Angelo Badalamenti on writing "Laura Palmer's Theme" from Twin Peaks

« on: April 10, 2018, 03:32:17 PM »

Thanks for sharing! I like when he gets to the part in major!

11

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Clavinet: thicker gauge strings??

« on: February 24, 2018, 07:41:34 AM »

Interesting, I just received an email advertisement from Vintage Vibe:

"Recently, we added a new string size to our kits. These strings (.011") help provide a more consistent and even tone across your Clavinet on the higher octaves."

12

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: My homemade electric piano

« on: February 03, 2018, 01:14:47 PM »

Hi Silvestre,
Yep, only one string per note.

Indeed the harp is solid wood, it's some kind of softwood. Amazingly it holds the tuning pins at pitch, though not as tight as a laminated hardwood pinblock. Even when unplugged there's a certain volume, I'd say it's a bit louder than an unplugged Rhodes.

13

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: My homemade electric pianos

« on: February 03, 2018, 08:49:05 AM »

Hey guys,
I'm in the early stage of working on a new prototype, this time with an upright action and real piano wire instead of guitar strings. Here's a little video: https://youtu.be/-4SaMtgZ4DY
Martin

14

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Fender Rhodes Pickup Rewinding Project

« on: January 20, 2018, 08:16:38 PM »

Awesome, thanks for sharing.

The M3 will be in good company.

15

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: My homemade electric piano

« on: January 07, 2018, 06:57:01 PM »

Thanks Sean.

And here's a picture of the front! (or back, depends where you are...)

16

Preamps, Modifications & Upgrades / Re: Tube pre-amp for Rhodes/Guitar

« on: December 26, 2017, 04:34:28 PM »

That's really awesome, thanks for sharing. The build quality looks top-notch. If you ever record some audio (to compare with / without the preamp), I'd really like to hear that.

17

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: My homemade electric piano

« on: December 22, 2017, 07:34:03 AM »

Hey guys, now that the piano is more or less complete, I put two more videos. I think they show well the sounds that can be had with the different settings of dampers and mute. One is through a Fender Princeton reverb: https://youtu.be/2YZEZucByUM
And the other is through a Roland JC-77:
https://youtu.be/Y3auwdh9dH8
Happy holidays to all!
Martin

18

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: My homemade electric piano

« on: October 14, 2017, 07:30:20 PM »

Thanks Steve. All the action parts come from an old upright. (As does the rounded part of the case.)

The hammers are now in the place of where the catchers used to be. It may not look like it, but I actually spent a lot of time deciding how the hammers would be positioned relative to the capstans. In the last few weeks, I ended up repinning most of the hammers, which had become very sluggish because of the autumn humidity. I learned that with such a simple action, there's a fine line between sluggish and double-strike!

The dampers were cut in half to accomodate their new location.

I drilled new mortises for the balance pins closer to the front of the keys (and made a new balance rail).

The case veneer was glued with hide glue, I still have a few "bubbles" that I'm not sure how to correct before I finally dye and varnish the thing. I also bought some metal corners but then I figured I'd have to route the sides for them to fit, so I don't think I'll use them.

19

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Tube preamp for Clavinet D6?

« on: October 13, 2017, 07:59:29 AM »

Hi joostovermars,
I can't really help you but I think that would be awesome. Do you have the schematics for preamps that have a similar function?
Martin

20

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Yamaha P255 digital piano vs P115

« on: October 13, 2017, 07:51:11 AM »

I just saw the P115 has USB, so there's got to be a way to convert to MIDI. There may be a USB-to-MIDI interface available on the market, but worst-case scenario you could connect to a computer and use a MIDI interface to connect to your module.

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Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Yamaha P255 digital piano vs P115

« on: October 12, 2017, 09:00:26 PM »

Ok I see. I also always prefered the Yamaha digitals over Roland or Korg. I don't use the MIDI on mine so can't comment on that, and I wasn't even aware that there were drum sounds. It literally lives in a closet except when I take it on gigs. Maybe someone else will chime in.

22

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Yamaha P255 digital piano vs P115

« on: October 12, 2017, 08:07:06 AM »

Would you play mainly with headphones? If so, then do you really want onboard speakers?

If you're looking for more sounds and MIDI capability, I'd say there are better options for much cheaper than the P255. The Casio PX5S comes to mind.

23

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Yamaha P255 digital piano vs P115

« on: October 11, 2017, 10:08:09 PM »

Hi Steve, I own a P255. I bought it to "upgrade" from my P80. When I A/B'ed it with the P115 (or was it P105?), I remember prefering its action and speaker system, which can be a nice addition in certain very low volume gigs. As for the samples themselves, I guess in theory the P255 should be the winner, but IMO there wasn't a huge difference. Actually, while it might be more realistic than the P80, when I compared them I found that the old P80 had a certain "in your face" / "cuts in a mix" aspect that I don't find in the P255.
When I compared it with the equivalent but cheaper Casios with onboard speakers, I much prefered the P255.

24

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Mk1 Case Lid

« on: October 10, 2017, 08:27:57 AM »

Hi Dave,
I can't tell, since my MkI didn't come with a case lid.

Maybe you could dovetail the four sides together, and glue/screw that to the top part?
Martin

25

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: My homemade electric piano

« on: October 05, 2017, 11:19:54 PM »

Hey guys, I thought I'd share how this project is going.
The sound hasn't changed much, except that I put new pickups and wired them in series instead of parallel. I've covered the exterior with a mahogany veneer, I've yet to apply a finish. As you can see I made some "levers" to activate the mute and the sustain. I still have to make some kind of front panel and a keyslip.
The instrument had its first car ride today and should be used on a gig tomorrow!

26

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Microtonal Tuning for Rhodes?

« on: October 02, 2017, 05:07:12 PM »

I'm not aware of a pedal that does this, which doesn't mean there isn't one. There must be a way to do it with a plugin/software, so you can at least hear the result.

27

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Microtonal Tuning for Rhodes?

« on: October 01, 2017, 05:54:23 PM »

I don't understand what kind of out-of-tuneness you're looking for. Shift the whole thing up or down? Layer an off-pitch signal with the original for a chorus effect? Having a kind of pitch bend joystick?

28

Preamps, Modifications & Upgrades / Re: Designing/building a preamp for a Stage Rhodes

« on: September 26, 2017, 09:37:34 PM »

Well done, sir!

29

Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Electro mechanical keyboard design

« on: September 03, 2017, 06:02:21 PM »

Hi there, interesting project!
If I understand your drawing correctly, it looks to me like at the moment of impact, the hammer won't be in a "almost perpendicular" motion relative to the tine, which means a less-than-ideal energy transfer. Just trying to bring some constructive criticism!

Also, as it's been mentionned, the action of the Rhodes is one thing that's often complained about. A tine piano with an action similar to a grand would be pretty awesome IMO.
Another thing that I'd like to see incorporated in a tine piano: a mute stop that partially mutes the tonebars.
 
Good luck and keep us updated,
Martin

30

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: How to make built in effects pedal?

« on: September 03, 2017, 05:06:42 PM »

I've sometimes thought of adding onboard tremolo to my MarkV using a DIY pedal I made some years ago, but I'm glad I never did it, and I don't think I ever will.
Keeping your Rhodes "stock" has its advantages:
-no need to modify the namerail
-you have a good reason to try many pedals!
-no need to worry about batteries, unless it's a true-bypass setup - which can also have its own problems

Just my 2 cents
Martin