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Topics - okdk

#1
The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Red White & Blue
January 14, 2015, 11:44:40 AM
Just picked up a nord electro and have it on top of my '74 blue sparkle rhodes. What a great color combo!  Had to post this just to share with others who might appreciate it.
#2
Saw this post today for a student piano

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/msg/4477026113.html

I've seen a lot of conversations about these on this forum but I really know nothing about them.  Price seems okay, looks to be in good cosmetic condition.  Don't know what the jack problems could be, haven't contacted the seller yet.  How do these compare to a Mark 1?  They sure look cool!
#3
I bought this off ebay about a year ago.  Tried it with 3 different rhodes stage pianos and it's a piece of crap.  I get a fairly loud low hum and no signal boost.  If anything I get a little less signal than without it.  Plus the hum.  So I sent it to Speakeasy for evaluation/repair.  Finally got it back after several months, they say it's fine.  Meanwhile I got a stereovibe from VV and it's wonderful.  I'm ready to throw this stagebox in the garbage, but before I do I thought somebody might want it (I'm not sure why).  But if you cover the shipping I'll send it to you for free.  This is my first and last experience with Speakeasy, I'm not impressed.
#4
No legs or sustain pedal.  A few keys need some repair.  That's all I know so far.  Is it worth $300?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/msg/3917867157.html
#5
The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / tuning problems
June 27, 2013, 10:44:42 AM
I'm having a couple problems trying to tune my Rhodes.  I'm sure these have been discussed previously in the forum, but maybe somebody can give me some good advise.

I have several notes that have a "vibrato" to them.  They are in the mid upper register. Almost sounds like fast beating when notes are badly out of tune, but this is just the note itself.  When I adjust the tuning they still sound bad.  Are these bad tines?

A lot of notes in the mid to lower register go from flat to sharp after they are struck.  Some just slightly, and some a lot.  How do you deal with this?  Is there something I can do to eliminate some of it?  Do you just tune it to the initial frequency and whatever happens after that just happens?

#6
I wanted to share my experience so far with trying to find the best sounding amp for my Stage.  Let me first say my playing style is pretty jazzy, even when I play rock.  So reading through many opinions of others, I started with a "73 twin reverb since so many people think it's the best.  I hated it.  Way too much distortion for me.  I think I could have improved it with better speakers, but I also have a suitcase that I love which is of course solid state.  So the tube sound just didn't work for me, I sold it to my guitar player who loves it.  I started looking for a Roland Jazz Chorus.  They come and go for 300-500 but as soon as I started looking I couldn't find any.  But I did find a Peavey Stereo Chorus which is their version of the jc-120 for $250.  I really liked it.  Played it for about 6 months, then saw a nice jc-120 for $200, just needs a new reverb tank.  So now I have both and I've been going back and forth with playing them trying to figure out which one I like the most.  I really like the Peavey better.  The chorus on the Roland is better, but I really don't use it much.  The tone from the Peavey is uniform from top to bottom, punchy, and works well with a little eq.  The Roland sounds a little thin, has notes that jump out here and there, and doesn't work well with eq.  It's one of those things where I think it should sound better than the Peavey but just doesn't.  I haven't given up on it yet, but it's getting close.  So you never know!!
#7
When I place another keyboard on top of my Rhodes I get a pretty loud humm/buzz.  It goes away when I lift it up about 3 or 4 inches.  It happens with different keyboard, so I know it's not the keyboard, it's the Rhodes.  How do you deal with this?  Is there something to put in between to help?  Or do you have to raise it up?  I really don't want to raise it that much, it's too hard to play that way.  Does anybody have a solution?  Thanks!
#8
The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Huge key dip
October 29, 2012, 11:15:12 PM
I've been checking out some posts concerning key dip.  My Mark 2 ('82, plastic keys) measures 9/16 (about 14.5mm) Does that seem like a lot to adjust out?  The escapement measures about 3/16 in the bass register, and very close farther up the keyboard.  Suggestions?  Thanks.
#9
The Rhodes I'm working on has the shims on top of the felts.  Seems like they should be underneath.  Maybe it doesn't make any difference. 

Does anybody have a basic procedure for leveling the keys with the shims?  Thanks.
#10
I just picked up an early Mark 1 for almost nothing, doesn't have a date but I think it's 1974 because of those big silver knobs on it.  The case is completely shot, all corners are loose, some wood missing.  But the inside is surprisingly good.  The keys are all cracked, would need recapping.  I'm wondering how interchangeable the outside cases are from model to model, could I swap this out with another?  Or could the harp swap with another model?  Just thinking of some options rather than rebuilding the case and recapping.
#11
I've had my rhodes for about a month now, it's a '83 with plastic keys.  I was a little hesitant to get this model because I've seen a lot of comments about the plastic key model being less desirable.  However, I have to say, I really like the action.  I'm originally a Hammond guy so I like the lighter feel, never was big on weighted keyboards, so this kind of makes sense for me.  I used to play a rhodes in the 70's and remember taking a long time to get used to the action, but this rhodes feels good to me.  I just wanted to post this, maybe see if anybody else has similar feelings since I've not seen a positive post on the plastic key version.
#12
The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Newbie questions
June 07, 2012, 10:11:32 AM
Hi all, I bought a Rhodes stage 73 new back in 1976 and gigged with it (with an Arp Odyessy on top) for a few years.  I sold it and since been playing "normal" keyboards, but lately got the bug to get a Rhodes again, been looking for a while and just pulled the trigger on a Mark II.  I decided on this model because I want to put a synth on top like in the past, and that round top of the Mark I just won't work.  I'd really prefer a Mark I, but I've seen comments about getting a Mark II to sound like a Mark I by setting it up.  The piano I have is in relatively good condition, in tune, all keys work, fairly even tone.  But it does sound like a Mark II, more bell like and smooth.  I'm hoping somebody can give me some good tips on how to get it to bark a little more like a Mark I. 

Also, it has a modification done to it.  The bass boost knob has been changed to a 2 in 1 knob, the outer part controls bass and the inner controls the high end.  There is a 9 volt battery on the inside of the rail that works with this circuitry.  Can anybody tell me more about this?

The only other thing I should mention is the top octave sounds weak in volume, I'm not sure if this is normal. 

I'm still casually looking for a Mark I, maybe I can swap the tops and that would be the best.

Thanks for the help, looking forward to playing a Rhodes again