Recent Posts

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Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Valente Electric Pianos

« Last post by spave on December 01, 2021, 12:36:41 PM »

...than the Wurlitzer's they compete with. It seems like if the same keyboard had a Wurlitzer badge it would have a 10 page thread by now...

they are not competing with Wurlitzer, as there is no competition without a competitor.

Filmosound- I was referencing Wurlitzer as a competitor because I would imagine someone with $3K to spend on a reed based piano would be comparing the Valente to a used Wurlitzer. I don't think the Valente is a direct competitor to the VV piano or MK8/vintage Rhodes so I did not include them.

The review in that forum does make it seem like a compelling option. It has a much better sound in the more recent videos than their first ones. In the new videos it almost reminds me of an early sparkletop Rhodes mixed with a Wurlitzer.

It would have been nice if the Valente had a side mount or flexible pedal option. I feel like it would be better suited as a Pianet replacement on the top of someones rig than as the base like in the demos. I don't think many people would prefer a 61 note board as the base of their setup.

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The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Rhodes input too low on interface?

« Last post by javartin on December 01, 2021, 01:14:25 AM »

rhodes stage's output signal is kind weak; you need to plug it to a mic preamp or guitar/bass amp and from there to your DI and audio interface.Crank up only the gain/volume of audio interface or DAW without preamp the signal will introduce unwanted noise.

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Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Valente Electric Pianos

« Last post by Filmosound 621 on November 30, 2021, 11:17:32 PM »

good discussion here:

https://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/3081044/1

good summary in Post #3075961

 

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Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Homemade electric piano (Seeking help regarding pickup wiring!)

« Last post by Whalerman on November 30, 2021, 04:24:44 PM »

I can not speak from personal experience, as I've only wound, but not finished, my own pickups for a bass guitar - but my question is would it make sense for you to dip your pickups in wax or some other material?   I know that older pickups were done in wax - I think the idea was to prevent the wire from coming loose with all of the vibration and shock.   
I think you have built something you will always cherish.   My 100% congratulations to you on sticking with it.   Fantastic work.   And I know why you did it...   Because you were able to rationalize purchasing even MORE tools.......  :-)  :-)
- Paul

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Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / Re: MKV/Metallic an hollow sound on the lower octaves

« Last post by spave on November 30, 2021, 08:56:56 AM »

Have you tried voicing them at all yet? The springs might have an effect on the sustain of each note but not its voicing.

Take a look at this page from the manual and see if these adjustments improve the metallic/hollow sound.
https://www.fenderrhodes.com/org/manual/ch4.html#4-7

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Parts, Service, Maintenance & Repairs / MKV/Metallic an hollow sound on the lower octaves

« Last post by piano1071 on November 30, 2021, 02:14:00 AM »

Hey everyone
I just got an MKV and its sounds just great, except für the lower 14 keys. These sound very metallic and "hollow". I noticed the ton bar springs are quite rusty, the grommets seem to be fine.
When i hit the key hard, the sound is just fine....


Any clues?

Cheers
B

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Other Keyboards & Software Synths / Re: Valente Electric Pianos

« Last post by Filmosound 621 on November 29, 2021, 11:51:31 PM »

...than the Wurlitzer's they compete with. It seems like if the same keyboard had a Wurlitzer badge it would have a 10 page thread by now...

they are not competing with Wurlitzer, as there is no competition without a competitor.

Wurlitzer is gone for long, aren't they ?   

looking at and reading about the Valente E-Piano, it seems to be a new take on the "Suette" E-Piano from Brazil ...

That doesn't take anything from it of course, but would explain, why people who know about the original are
not as excited as the ones who don't. ( me )

I would love to give it a go.

 

...Would be interested to hear one through a really clean blackface style amp to see what the dynamics and attack are like with loads of headroom...

the Blackface amps with their scooped mids hifi sound are Leo's attempt to get rid of the unwanted disortion,
for which he had identified the medium frequencies as responsible.

these are not a good match for any kind of E-Piano, I believe.  At least not for something that has some medium frequencies like the Valente.

I'd prefer a large Tweed Twin like the 80 Watt HPTT.
His small brother - the LPTT with 40 Watts - would do fine as well, I believe.

 




Edit: all depending on the context in which the Piano is played of course, If one likes or needs the black- or silverface sound, that is fine. 


Edit 2: the "Suette", looks like Rhodes, has Reeds inside:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSpapooIcDs

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Other Keyboards & Software Synths / CP-70B help needed - DIY leg braces

« Last post by Whalerman on November 29, 2021, 01:23:31 PM »

Someone out there might be able to help.   I bought a CP-70B over the weekend (LONG STORY) - and it's all set up and sounds great.   But I was looking at the manual this morning (nothing better to do at 6:00 AM)...  and I all of a sudden realized that there weren't any leg braces (legs - yes, but braces - no).    UH OH.   I'm 100% sure that the guy I purchased this from never had them either (it had sat in his home studio for years, and we pulled it out together - no braces at that point).
So... Here's the question - I want to just make a set.   I can weld these up in no time.   I would just need some basic measurements.   What is the tube length (excluding the end parts).  How long is the flat part that attaches to the base of the keyboard and how far from the "bend" is the center of the hole in it?  On the bottom part, how long is that attachment to the brace, and again, how far from the pivot to the center of the hole?
If anyone wants to take some pictures with a tape measure next to one of these, it would be REALLY APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!!
I know these braces are scarce, so I'll be cutting and bending some tubing!!!
THANKS!
- Paul

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The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Rhodes input too low on interface?

« Last post by sean on November 28, 2021, 07:48:06 PM »

Miguel,

What preamp are you using?  When you say you swapped out the original Rhodes preamp for a VV preamp, exactly which preamp are you talking about?  Do you mean the passive tone and volume controls, or do you mean a powered preamp?  What power supply are you using?

You didn't mention turning up the volume on the preamp, so I fear you are just using the passive controls on a Stage piano.  In this case, I don't think that 13dB is a big deal, that isn't really much gain... 20log10(VoltageGain)=13, then Gain = 4.46.

Photos of your setup might clarify things for us.

Sean

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The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: New Vintage Vibe Electric Pianos

« Last post by The Real MC on November 26, 2021, 10:59:51 PM »

anyway, let me share with you all what I believe to be the ultimate E-Piano home set-up:

the dear sparkle-top active deluxe with two freakin' Ampeg M-15 Amps ( second one came via UPS from Italy today ... )

build in 1959, 20 Watts from two 6L6, 15" Alnico Speakers  - these two Amps are upgraded with Altec Lansing 418B's. 

Octal pre-amp tubes for all that warmth, shimmer and dynamics one can think of.

these are octal amps that stay clean once turned up in volume, there is nothing like them out there.

non compressed vintage tone, true magical 3D sound. 

I play guitar as a 2nd instrument and have a variety of cabinets with different speakers.  I experimented with my sparkletop Rhodes through different speakers.  My favorite for tone are the Celestion alnico "blues" speakers; they're only 15w each, OK for studio recording but you need at least four of them to get enough volume in an ensemble setting.