Messages

You are so right. That switch gives some great sounds. I love it and your help got me here. Appreciate it!!! Once I got all the shafts and dampers grounded, it made a world of difference.

Great. Thank you. I discovered some of the pop sounds were the plucker scraping the pick up so I carefully trimmed the edge of the plucker where it rubbed and helped a lot.
On another note, I'm impressed how much the 3 way toggle switch changes the tone on this thing.

I'm working on this now...grounded the key shafts but now working on the copper damper arms. Is it all or nothing on the damper arms? I've done the problem ones and so far haven't noticed a change.

This is extremely helpful. Thank you. Ill be starting this tomorrow when my copper tape arrives. I'll advise of my results shortly thereafter.

That is just what I needed to see. Awesome!! Thank you so much. I assume the copper tape is the conductive type?
I wonder if I should do the foam damper too at the same time or just use what is already on it since the felts are new. If the copper tape does the trick alone.

Thank you!!! That is helpful. So does the copper tape go directly on the metal tab that holds the felt damper?  Should I buy the conductive type?Does the tape restrict movement of the key? Do you happen to have a photo of your cembalet showing this? Thanks!!

Double post. Please delete.

I recently acquired a nice Hohner cembalet n. It sounds fantastic except for 1 thing. Several keys click or pop when depressed and released. You can hear it through the amp. Before I purchased it, all pluckers and damper delta were replaced.  It seems to something simple since its only some keys. It almost sounds like a static pop right into the pick up.
Any advice?

I saw that one too. Insane. It did look pretty clean though. As for the true Ray spec with the pin style pre -cbs rear hinges and hazy chrome name rail with jack over to the left, I've only seen 5 with those features in addition to my own and one was Ray's.

I ended up with 14 sets plus a spare. I will probably keep a couple for myself snd sell the rest. I'm not sure how much to ask, but these are the correct vintage knobs and not a close enough look alike. I will post in the selling section when I figure it out.

They just arrived and are definitely the correct stock knobs. These are larger at the base than the waldom or Daka ware knobs. The guy I got them from was able to get these many years ago as a buy out of a dealer's stock. I may have a set or 2 available as I purchased his remaining few knobs this morning.

Thanks! I think these are a 100% match. The are slightly different from the Waldom version and have the flatter base and thinner profile. I'm ecstatic after searching so long.

I finally found some. These were listed as 60s NOS and appear to be correct. I will have enough to paint a brown set, keep one set white and have a spare.

I have a schematic somewhere. Give me a day to locate it.

I still need these in the U.S. if anyone has any. If prefer them in white or brown if possible

I am looking for one of the original stands for a piano bass.
Perhaps you have a 60s silvertop bass with a cracked or missing fiberglass top. I have a spare original harp cover i would be willing to trade for the stand....or of course pay cash.

Good stuff, Chris.  I,  too, have wondered why the Jordan amps are so scarce. It makes no sense.
My acoustic 261 is the super rare power plus like most of the ones the Doors had. They are powered cabinets that you can run without a head to add more power. You can tell by the same amber pilot like on the blue strip on the right side of the cabinet that is just like the light the head has.
These were made in smaller quantities than the non-powered cabinet.  It was on ebay as a pick up only in Chicago with a starting but of $400 and I was the only bidder!

My RMI does have the volume amd sustain pedal. The unit looks almost mint, but smelled of mold so i had to give it a good cleaning and that took care of it.

It is great having someone else be so into this stuff!

Chris

Hey Chris!!! Thanks. Yes, Ray had the jack just over the low E which seems to only have been on 1965 basses. I'm not sure why they changed this as it helps keep the cord out of the way. The name rail is chrome like, but smoky and not as much like a mirror as the 66 versions and appears to be thicker...perhaps polished aluminium. Most of those also have the pin style hinges on the rear like Ray's.

I found this one a couple of months ago when I went to an antique store I frequent. The old guy I got it from had quite weird story about how long he had it,but I think he was building me up to purchase something he thought was junk.lol
The tolex was in great shape, but when i started cleaning it it started to smell like urine. After the cleaning and letting it sit in the sun for a couple of hours, I was relieved. Lol

Oh and the RMI I've had for about 3 weeks. I saw it on reverb for $200 and offered $100 plus shipping and he accepted my offer. It was non working, but cosmetically almost brand new. I got it repaired for $80 so it was a great deal!

Btw, I love your videos om You tube.  I have the rare acoustic 260 with the 261 power plus powered cabinet which is hard to find over the regular 261 cabinet, but you sir, have the elusive Jordan, The Boss amp. Hats off! Hens teeth!

I will see if i can print the pic that u have onto and decal/clear sticker.  I can send one if it works. I'm waiting on this bass to come back from being serviced.

All sorted. Thanks! It was a bad solder joint. Yes and I do have the volume and sustain pedal combo.
I also wasn't a real fan of these, but with vibrato and reverb, it does a really nice EP sound. This unit, other than the familiar vintage smell, is nearly mint.

Thanks,Steve. This model doesn't have a speaker. I took it to a repair guy. It was a loose wire to the power supply.$100 for the piano and $80 to repair.
This is one very clean original unit.

I got a cheap deal on an RMI 300a. It is one of the cleanest condition I've seen on one of these , but it only powers on and has no sound. It arrives next week. Considering that, it does power up, what would be the first thing I should look for to trouble shoot? I may just drop it off with my repair guy, but am hoping this is an easy fix.

Yep, it was a typo. Fred has me covered. Thanks again!!

Does anyone have a source for a printable early fender rhodes logo seen in the early piano basses? I would like to print this on a clear sticker or I can find the correct font. The text is different than the metal badge that shows up on the name rails in the mid 60s.
Thanks in advance!

Ok, here are pics. All original.  Aside from some screw holes remaining after removing a bracket the previous owner installed on the case, it's in exceptional condition for its age.
There were 2 medium sized surface cigarette burns in the gold top, but Novus 1-2-3 polish took care of those in short order.

I managed to purchase another gold piano bass this spring. In great shape and full Manzarek spec with the shifted over 1/4 Jack and name rail slightly less chromy than what you see on 66 models.
I tried to post a pic and they wouldn't attach. I may try again later.
No serial number as the gold tag is gone,but I suspect it's a 1965.

I saw the one on ICarly too.  I was almost too embarrassed to comment.  My daughter watches that show alot and I was very excited to see it in the basement of some crazy girl in that episode. It was definitely custom and cool!

In Caddyshack, there's a mark 1 stage 73 in Chevy Chase's condo/apartment.  I'm sure most have seen the suitcase Ray Charles uses in the music store scene of Blues Brothers.

A wurly waiting for the trash pick up....just criminal.  It's funny Steve, I've heard several stories like this of various old boards, espeically Hammonds and rhodes.  I knew someone that picked up an A100 sitting in an alley. I guess there was a period of time in the not so distant past these vintage keys fell out of favor and were just considered old.  I guess people figured thowing it away was a better alternative than keeping a big piece of gear that likely wasn't going to sell.

Not that I got any replies,but an update....
I went ahead and purchased a new pedal from Vintage Vibe. No regrets, it's a fantastic pedal.

Congrats!!  Wow, I just got one last week for $300 with legs. I thought that was a good deal, of course, I still do.  Its in great shape too.  I did just get a VV pedal,but its a really great pedal and worth the $$ for it IMO. It works perfectly and looks the part too. Now I've got a great beauty and in great cond and still all for under$500. I'm stoked!

I'm not sure if this is in the right spot, not I'll move it to the wanted section,but that's usually just Rhodes stuff there.  I just picked up a Wurlizer 200 for less than $400 yesterday. It was very dirty,but cleaned up well and I got myfirst lesson on easying a key. It's now looking great,but I need a sustain pedal. I know there are a couple sources,but if anyone has a cheap spare, let me know. I'd rather spread some cash here before going to the dealers!

If you look to let it go Alan, let me know. I don't want to pay a mint for one,but would gladly pay a fair price.

Congrats on the piano bass Alan!  I've actually wanted one of those stands for a long time.

Well Ray says it was in G and you get a good look at his hands on the Sullivan footage showing him playing it in G when they get to the turnaround after the cut solo section taht goes back to the intro.

l've also had trouble finding accurate books too.  Ive' resorted to watching as much footage as  I can as well as playing by ear.    Alan, you and I have talked via email probably a year ago regarding the Vox modling amps after I got my NCM Super beatle mock up.  I didn't realize you were such a Doors fan too.   Looking at your gear line up, I imagine a piano bass will be in your future at some point?

That is very interesting info regarding the numbers. I wonder if they just had a big mis match of parts since the K101 switched to G101 but was only a change in model number.  Its funny we talk about it as it's the same organ,but cool nevertheless.  I have a couple of generators in mine that say K101.  I've got the only owners manual I've seen that says Kalamazoo on the front....has anyone else seen any? I'm a little ocd about this stuff so I love having the "paper" 

Reving an old thread....well as least its from this year 
Anyway, I've had 2 G101s, I don't remember the number on the one I sold,but it was missing the logo,but holes showed that it had it previously.  My current one that I still own has it as well and has a serial number of 5882.
Not sure what was going on back at the factory....

This is seriously a must have the the Rhodes enthusiast.  Thank you for doing this, it was done so well that I know I'll be watching it over and over!

The spec sheet is printed on heavy stock...like resume paper and is printed on both sides with a photo and giving the specs of the Gibson G101. It was common of the time for Gibson to do these as I also have one for the 1968 Gibson Duo Medalist amplifier.  It's a neat sheet and the one I have is the only one I've seen. I also have anowners manual that didn't come with the organ,but I scored it from ebay and instead of G101, it says Kalamazoo.  Again, the only K101 owners manual I've seen, though the same  of course, it's cool to have the different print.
Edit, here's the sheet I was talking about on the right, the back has a list of all the specs of the model.

Interesting guys... very interesting.  Well this I know...all the late ones, from like 69 and 70 always have them or they are missing. The ones that don't have it always seem to be thee earlier ones.
My Gibson G101 has the vinyl cover and pedal bag, both with gibson printed directly onto the surface. I have seen some that have a patch, almost a shiny patch with Gibson printed onto that. I've always wondered why the difference. The covers and pedal bags are even more rare than the organ.
I also have a rare Gibson dealer spec sheet. I've thought about getting copies made. Perhaps I'll do this and mail them to some of you that want one.

Typically the large Gibson logo on the drop down panel is on the later Gibsons, I've had a 67 and a 69 Gibson and both had them. The earlier Gibson just after the switch from K101 did not have it.

Hey Eminor!  Congrats. I saw that one on ebay and was so surprised it took lo long to sell. It's a sign of a bad market I guess,but you got a great piano bass there. I'd hang on to it for sure. I needed cash and was very close to selling mine...so glad I didn't!  That's like the Doors holy grail right there!

Haha. Hey Steve!! Signing in buddy.  I saw the video on youtube and was seriously blown away by the detail.  It was awesome!  Makes me want to break out my Gibson and gold piano bass when I get home!

Steve, when you finally gonna let us see that piano bass you made? 

Sorry to hijack, to the OP, good luck on the project.  I currently have a silvertop that was bascially made into a stage model by the previous owner,but I still haven't gotten a sustain pedal for it.

Thanks alot Kenneth! I do still have your number.  Anything you are willing to do is great!
@ Fred, I don't want to take your spot if you had dibs,but it looks like we may both be waiting a bit 

Id like to obtain one of the factory stands that were available for purchase direct through fender rhodes for the piano bass.  I haven't seen one for sale in a while,but would really like one if someone has one collecting dust.

Thanks in advance.


PF35

I just recently sold a Jaguar organ. I have two Continentals and didn't really need a Jaguar. I wish I'd had it at the time you posted it.  I wish you luck, they are out there.  You can find a good craigslist deal if you search often.

Ebay is your best bet and there's always been a few listed at a time there for the last few months and some have even sold for a pretty good deal.  I'd go there.  Of course your rarer ones such as a mid 60s silver or gold top( if you can find a gold one) will go for a premium. I did see one of the 70s black ones go for about $500 recently...it was a pretty clean unit too.  Good luck!

Congrats MC... I got one of these last year for $500..drove 5 hours to and from Detroit to pick it up. Mine is missing the cabinet though,but I use it like a stage model for better portability anyway.   I also unplug my stuff.  WE had a huge storm the other night and the next day I realized I didn't unplug my Vox Super Beatle or any of my Vox organs or pianos.... All ok though....relieved.