Split Harp mod by Buz Watson

[pushingbuttons]

Ive had this 77 Rhodes MK1 for a few years now and have been contemplating to remove the split harp mod and back to original factory. Its nice to be able to boost the bass when I want, but also hard to balance the high and low keys at times. I think its time for to remove the mod. Hoping someone can take a look and if possible have a diagram to rewire it to original specs.

[sean]

See my ancient history at https://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=4730.msg52770#msg52770

Looks like your mod isn't switched, right?  Take a look at my diagram, and this is what you want to do:

Remove the wire that comes off the harp somewhere in the middle.  In my diagram, the split is between E32 and F33.  Clip the wire off, and then replace it with a jumper.  In my diagram, the jumper would go on the BACK terminal of E32 and F33, exactly where the split wires were connected.  Be as gentle as you can be with your soldering iron - if you overheat the lugs, they will melt out of the nylon pickup bobbin.  Also make sure that the tiny winding wires of each pickup are still connected to each lug.  Hey - I got an idea... you could simply cut the split wires off about an inch away from each lug, and then solder them together.  That way you wouldn't have to re-heat the connections on or near the pickup terminal lugs.

So then rip out the cable that goes up to the second jack that was blasted into your name plate.  Obviously, remove that jack and the volume pot. 

Order a new faceplate from VV:  https://www.vintagevibe.com/products/stage-piano-name-plate


Sean

[4kinga]

Since it is a neat piece of history, and the face plate has already been drilled, you could drill another hole, install a DPDT switch and sum the split?  Then you would have both options.