Topics

1

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Annoying keys!!

« on: March 22, 2011, 12:34:45 AM »

I have had it with these weird keys on my Rhodes. Everyone I know gets annoyed with them including me. Whats wrong? Here's a soundcloud demo, just strait clean. You can hear the annoying pinging of the two D keys. I have even found more keys similar to these two.

http://snd.sc/dQDL13

Thanks

2

Preamps, Modifications & Upgrades / The old legs question

« on: March 15, 2011, 11:25:45 PM »

My friend suggested that I put thick enough blocks of wood where the leg flanges would go on my suitcase. Does this seem like a good idea? If so, how thick would the blocks need to be?

3

The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Merry Christmas!

« on: December 25, 2010, 01:00:42 AM »

To celebrate, I recorded this famous Christmas carol. Just me and my Rhodes. Thanks for all you guys do ep-forums

http://soundcloud.com/wavedude/have-yourself-a-merry-little-christmas

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Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Building my own preamp power supply. Not working so far.

« on: December 10, 2010, 07:20:43 AM »

So, I have build my preamp power supply. I'm using MIDI DIN connectors instead of the 4 pin connectors. It powers up, so that's a good sign. Both light bulbs still work. But I cant get the right output out of it yet.
Its a very low volume, distorted sound I'm getting so far. I don't know if its the preamp or my power supply box outputs. I have everything hooked up correctly, all pins are going to the right pins. I'm not sure where the output jacks sleeve terminals should go, since there is no where for them on the pin connector. I tried just putting them to ground but its still giving me this distorted low volume output. Its bearly even an output at all.
Please help? What am I missing here?

5

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Replacing the 4 pin connector

« on: December 06, 2010, 03:46:23 PM »

I am so excited, I'm making a power supply for the original preamp. But I need some help before I start.

First, I'm changing the 4 pin connector to a 5 pin (MIDI DIN style). How do I get the original off? It's not screwed on, its actually attached very difficultly to the chassis.
And second, I have the power supply. It's a 24V DC adapter. The specs call for 25 volts, but this measures out to be just fine. Will it work? And if it's too much can the preamp handle it?
And thirdly, I understand that the vibrato is powered by 2 lamps. Does anyone know what kind they are just in the case their broken?

Thanks a bunch, I'm so ready to get this thing powered up. This is way cheaper than buying stuff through vintage vibe or something.

6

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Painted my cover

« on: November 18, 2010, 12:21:43 PM »

I think it turned out really nice! I love the red with the red dice knobs. It was a pretty easy paint job, I just primed it in a good coating and then applied a special Krylon plastic spray paint. It couldn't get rid of the deep scratches on the top, but I guess its alright for now. I should have put something in those dings to smooth it out.
Over all, it looks a lot better than it did. All it needs is new key covers and new tolex and it'll look really pro

7

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Rhodes action?

« on: October 19, 2010, 02:04:09 AM »

This is probably going to sound like a stupid question, but should the action of a Rhodes be different from a normal acoustic piano or other electric piano? I'm trying to figure out if I'm doing something wrong, my piano just doesn't feel right sometimes.

8

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Rhodes to keyboard stand mod! :)

« on: September 30, 2010, 06:24:58 PM »

I have great news for anyone that has a Rhodes being used with a keyboard stand!
I have this kind of stand: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/On-Stage-Stands-Pro-Platform-Keyboard-Stand?sku=450384. At first I really didn't like how this stand was holding my Rhodes. It looked like it was sturdy, but when the Rhodes got bumped and slipped off the stand, I knew there was gonna be some problems. Now, Ive finally found a decent mod that makes it much more sturdier. Just mount the stand to the bottom of the Rhodes! On the bottom of the piano there are some little metal foots that screw into the wooden bottom, and on the stand I use there are little cutouts in the frame (I don't know why they are there but I thank God they're there).
Just unscrew the two back foots from the Rhodes and line up the stands cutouts with those two screw holes, then screw the foots back on with the stand frame in between the bottom of the piano and the foots so the stand frame is nice and snug and mounted permanently to the piano. It wont slip, and it will be almost as sturdy as the original Rhodes legs. I even have mine set up in the old "stand up position" right now! This minor mod helps so much. Try it out if you have a stand like this or something close to it!

9

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Missing harp support shims?

« on: July 23, 2010, 01:32:25 PM »

Hey, my 88 key mk1 has 2 shims supporting the left side of the piano harp and only one thinner shim on the right side. Is that normal? It makes the harp look uneven as it sits on the rest of the keybed.
And the reason I'm concerned is because I think this might have something to do with the higher notes choking out because of the uneven escapement.

10

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Legs for a suitcase model

« on: June 25, 2010, 11:25:09 AM »

So the other night, my rhodes took a hard fall onto the stage because the stand I had for it wasn't stable. Luckily, the rhodes is completely fine, and I am really assured that these things are built tough and made to last. But it probably wouldn't have tipped over and fell if the stand I had was more stable, or actually built onto the rhodes itself.
So I really want to convert this suitcase model into a stage model by attaching the necessary parts for the telescoping legs. But is this even possible? If so, what would I have to do? Also, are the legs even more stable? I would think so, since there braced onto the rhodes. They should be more stable than this cheap stand I have right now.

11

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / weird D key harmonic ping?

« on: June 06, 2010, 10:45:30 PM »

Hi, I have this D key (actually, two I think) that gives of this weird ping noise when hit. I don't know what causes this, does anyone know? Is it a natural harmonic, or is there something wrong with the tonebar or tine?

12

Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Sustain pedals?

« on: May 10, 2010, 05:09:43 PM »

Hi, I have a mark 1 88 key suitcase model, and it is missing the bottom half, so it has no sustain pedal.
I was looking at buying the sustain rod for suitcase mods from Vintage Vibe, as well as one of their sustain pedals. Is this the best buy? Is there any other options out there that would be cheaper?
Thanks so much.