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HAPPY FENDER RHODES FRIDAY!

I have noticed that the large logo is placed differently on different Fender Rhodes/Rhodes pianos. 

On my 1973 Suitcase 88, it's placed in the rear center of the piano (not on the speaker).  On other models from around the same era, I've seen it on the top left of the speaker, but not on the top of the piano.  On some, I've even seen it in both places!

Was this something that varied from year to year?  Or from one model to the next?

At last, we can finally experience what this famous Fender Rhodes piano looks and sounds like today.  Thanks to my brother, Pcola_Rhodes for sharing this with me!

www.emodelrhodes.com

Hello all,

While removing the keys from my Mark I yesterday, I discovered that the key pin on #64 is bent.  To compensate for the bent key, someone drilled an extra hole in the bottom of the key, which seems to match the angle of the bent pin.  I've had this Rhodes for about 5 years and have never noticed anything different in the way this key feels.

Couple of questions...

1.  What are the odds that it came this way from the factory?  The reason I'm asking is because if the pin became bent later, it seems much easier for someone to bend the pin, rather than drill another hole in the key.  Also, the pin in question doesn't look damaged, or crooked in any way, almost as if it was put in the balance rail this way (it is going INTO the wood at the same angle, if you will).  And the wood around the pin doesn't look damaged or disturbed.

2.  Is this worth trying to fix?  I haven't noticed anything in the action of this key that feels different.

Thanks!

Jeremy

Thought I'd share a rendering of a 3D model I created of my Rhodes.  I worked on it for a few months, taking meticulous measurements of my actual Rhodes, getting the textures to look good, etc.  I'm using it as the user interface for a sampled VST instrument I'm programming...

The rendered images are quite large, but I've managed to get this one to a reasonable size.  A photo of my actual Rhodes is my profile picture. 

So today, I tuned my 1977 Mark I Stage Piano today and WOW!  It sounds like a brand new piano!  Now I can realize how out of tune it was before.  I spent about 3 hours and made sure each and every note is tuned within 1 cent.  Tomorrow morning, I'm going to do the voicing.  Then, on to soldering a patchbay.  hmm... I should probably get to sleep!   :shock:

I would recommend a good tuning for any old Rhodes that might need it.  Personally, I didn't realize how amazing it would sound after a good tune up.  But it made an huge difference.  I couldn't find my tuning tool, so adjusted all the springs by hand.  After a lengthy, note-by-note process, I'm happy that it's totally in tune now.  It's nice that a Rhodes holds its tune for a long time.  I won't have to worry about tuning for a while.

I'm wondering if anybody has any tips on how I might begin restoration on my aluminum name rail on my '77 Mark I Stage.

As you can see from these pictures, it has no obvious dings or scratches.  It's pretty much in excellent shape, other than a few scuffs & scratches on the left-hand side of the name rail, but like I said, no dents or dings.

I would like to avoid purchasing a whole new name rail if possible.  Instead, I'd like to restore the appearance of this original aluminum name rail to it's shiny, original-looking state.  Does anybody have any ideas of how I might go about this?

(I'm going to order and replace the logos and felt, so those will be replaced... I'm only trying to restore the name rail itself).

Thanks!

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum.  Just last week, I acquired my first Rhodes -- a 73 key 1977 Rhodes Mark I Stage from my twin brother.  ("pcola_rhodes" on this forum).

I'm currently knee deep in the restoration process.  As imperfect as it currently looks, it actually sounds like a million bucks.  I've never seen an instrument in this cosmetic condition sound so good.  I'm currently about 1/3 of the way through recapping the keys with beautiful, white key caps from VV.

Anyway, the reason for my post is that I was closely listening to each note today, and noticed something kinda strange with the lowest G note on the keyboard.  Whether I hit the note hard or soft, as the note sustains, the pitch actually goes up as it fades out.

The note is tuned properly according to my tuner.  Even when I play the note in the context of a chord, or in octaves, it's right on the money... until the low G starts to fade out.  Then the pitch gradually goes up.

Anybody have an idea what might be causing this?  Is this typical of old tines?  Or maybe a problem with the tone bar?

Jeremy
Winter Park, FL