Post your Rhodes pics and its story

[vintagekeys1]

MAN Great pics, I sold both of mine years ago but hey for old time sake.....  Here goes, looking to get another one this month.





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[vintagekeys1]

Hi I thought I'd post mine. I have a Mark 1 73 Stage Rhodes. This was like 5 years in the making. Actually I fixed it around 2002.

I re-did the tolex to a the blonde color. And the harp cover..well that's a long story. I tried to do the sparkle top but it wasn't working. The top gloss coat was peeling off so I tried to redo the sparkle but it started looking like crap. Then I decided to just get some thin "furry" fabric, slap it on the cover and call it a day. And I must say I am happy with it.

I got this for about $400 but it is missing the push rod, sustain pedal, the crossbar and the case cover (which I'll get all later well except for the case cover). But everything works after a lot of cleaning and fixing the tines and pickups. I just need to solder one wire back on.  





hmm needs a cleaning there. lol

WOW Lovely you should share these for your vote of HOTTEST Looking Rhodes Thread

[vintagekeys1]

Ok here's my Rhodes stuff:

My baseball jacket:

My poster:


Carol

Where o where did you get that poster.....

[MikeMalone]

I couldnt say EXACTLY where she got it, but I'm guessing it had something to do with the fact that her dad is Harold Rhodes!!

[Mark II]

I couldnt say EXACTLY where she got it, but I'm guessing it had something to do with the fact that her dad is Harold Rhodes!!

good call  

Mark II

[vintagekeys1]

Wow and heir to the family,  I would love to have that poster in my studio........  Maybe its one of a kind or last of its kind, most folks around that era probably threw that stuff out.....

[Quatschmacher]

http://picasaweb.google.com/quatschmacher/RhodesMarkIIStage73

Well, hopefully the image upload works.

I just took delivery of this 1980 Mark II Stage 73 today

I've been looking for one for about 3-4 years now.

One came up last week, a 1979 Mark I stage 73, which had been in the owner's house from new. I had arranged to buy that after a lengthy talk with the owner who assured me of its great condition. Then my friend, who was going to give me a lift to pick it up, she crashed her car so I couldn't. Whilst trying to rearrange the pickup, the owner fianlly got round to sending me the pictures. It wasn't as good as he made out, so I backed out on Saturday.

On Sunday  I received a reply from one of my wanted ads from guy who has 1977 Mark I Stage 88. It didn't have the lid, pedal rod or brace knob, but I made him an offer. He said it was fine but was waiting for a couple of other offers coming back.

Then last night I was checking ebay (as I have been doing nearly every day for the last few years) and saw a 1980 Stage 73 listed. The seller was listing it for a friend whose numbers were listed in the ad. I rang the guy straight away and asked him about the condition etc. He said he only wanted £400 for it and said he could drop it off. I thought about it for about ten minutes and then rang him back to tell him I'd take it sight unseen (aside from a couple of photos in the listing).

24 hours later it's in my lounge! I'm sooo pleased. I was hoping for an early Mark I but at this price I'm not grumbling; I've been keeping records of sales for the last few years and this is the best (UK) bargain I've seen. It does need a bit of attention (a couple of pickups have a lower output and a hammer tip needs replacing) but on the whole it's great. I should hopefully be able to afford to get it serviced properly soon.

[james]

Since Picasa isn't being friendly about embedding these photos on other sites, I'll host them here for you instead:

[Mark II]

sweet, looks really clean. And for 400 GBP = 501 Euros it is for sure a nice bargain.

congrats, quatschmacher, so your quest finally ended.

kind regads

Mark II

[Quatschmacher]

Thanks for hosting the pics, James - I appreciate it.

congrats, quatschmacher, so your quest finally ended.

Well, as one journey ends, so begins another, as they say; I'll need to get it put into proper playing shape. Then I'll need get me into proper playing shape too. At least I can spend loads less time on the internet now!

[Mark II]

At least I can spend loads less time on the internet now!

depends on finding someone to put your rhodes into playing shape. if not, you will definetly spend equal or even more time on the net.

good luck

Mark II

[rick88]

[3bergen]

I've got my suitcase 73 (& clavinet) back from epservice and have been playing every available moment and loving it!
It's really a joy to play, now it's time to upgrade my playingskills  :wink:



I think I posted the story before, but anyway, bought it off ebay in Germany, it was a 110V model and in pretty good state. Brought it over to EPservice the same day to get the amp switched to 230V, a pedestal kit, new felts and some small repairs.

Also had the clavinet E7 checked (also from Ebay germany).
Got a cry baby 535Q for my birthday last sunday and it works really well with the clavi.
So at the moment I'm one happy camper (though my neighbours probably aren't)

[Ben Bove]

Very clean suitcase!

[gunnar]

Congratulations, they're looking real good!

[raemon80]

Yo 3Bergen,

they were finishing up your suitcase when I picked mine up
Just finished painting the cover and it's gotta dry for a couple of days....putting the Stage Vibe on it  


pics l8rz!!

[3bergen]

Hi Raemon,
it's such a small world huh?  :wink:
Seems like a cool Rhodes you got there, cool colors, am curious how the stagevibe is.
I'm still looking for a stage Rhodes, but the suitcase keeps me busy for a while.
Maybe we'll meet someday at the EPservice

[raemon80]

Hi Raemon,
it's such a small world huh?  :wink:
Seems like a cool Rhodes you got there, cool colors, am curious how the stagevibe is.
I'm still looking for a stage Rhodes, but the suitcase keeps me busy for a while.
Maybe we'll meet someday at the EPservice

Sounds like a plan!
Funny, I'm still looking for a suitcase, while this Stage Model is kicking my ass!
The Stage Vibe sounds sweet, I had issues with the signal and pots, since some stuff must've been moved during shipping. But Chris (from VV) gave me some tips & tricks, and with simple tweaking in the circuitry board the problem has been fixed

BTW
I will definitely be at EP Service in September to have a look at this new collection of (40!) Rhodes piano's he's supposed to get. Some guy (with time, money and a passion for Fender Rhodes piano's) travelled through The States for 6 months and bought up around 40 piano's and shipped them to Holland. He's storing them all in Schagen in September ^^

[Zukanovic]

I own a Stage 73 from 1973. It's been laying around for the last couple years - hurting, some might say. It was in pretty bad shape and I simply couldn't find time to fix the minor problems (tuning, adjustment) - but! A hole appeared in my schedule and I started working on it. Didn't stop until I was satisfied.

It doesn't look like a Rhodes anymore. I have modified, restored and cleaned every piece in it. Wanted to try of as many techniques that I possibly could for improving the Beast. I'm satisfied. and by the way... It's sounds great.

Some of the things I've done,
- new hammer-tips, damper-felts and paper-shims.
- silicone-treatment of the key pedestal felts.
- retolexed (Porn-red!)
- new aluminum top, painted black.
- toned plexiglass top on the aluminum top.
- relocated logos and electronics.
- tuned after Rhodes strech tuning.






more pics of the Rhodes

pics taked during the process

[Mark II]

well done, allthough I dont like your harp cover, but that's a matter of taste.
your tolex job looks pretty clean. thumbs up.
enjoy your refurbished rhodes.

kind regards

Mark II

[Ben Bove]

Interesting looking Rhodes and great job!

[raemon80]

Well, I finally finished the paint job.
My wife took the camera that had all the pics on it from the first to fourth stage of paint layers but I took some pics with my phone of the end result. I'll post some more pics in the other forum section with.
Excuse the poor quality:



It has the red sparkle tolex, new hardware and I painted the top with DecoArt Glitter Paint
EP Service did a full run-through and I installed the Stage Vibe with a little troubleshooting help from Chris (VV).

[Ben Bove]

Funky!!

[raemon80]

Funky!!

lol
that is EXACTLY what I was thinking when I finished it....It's not the most handsome fella....but he's FUNKY!

[3bergen]

looks pretty cool Raemon!
I'm gonna look at those 40 rhodes as well, am very curious...
Maybe make it a supersite meet & greet  :wink:
All us Rhodes-nerds in 1 room, hmmmm, maybe not hehehe

[Spookyman]

@raemon80 : your Stage Piano has a "little brother"...(or a cousin)







And also a special version of the Stage Vibe...

[MikeMalone]

Wow Spooky! Did you just buy a new Rhodes? It looks GREAT!!! Tell us more about it!

[Spookyman]

No...i have it since 1990. But i made a total restoration in 2006. It was necessary.

I made a thread there is allmost 2 years ago, but now...it's in the archive part of this forum. And all the pictures are away (server in France does'nt work anymore). I should load some pics again on imageshack !

[MikeMalone]

How come ur stage vibe is not black?

P.S. My brother is dropping off my Wurly to Chris from Vintage Vibe Thursday. Im excited to see what he does with it!

[Spookyman]

It seems to be the second one built...the first prototype went to SWANG (also on this forum), he bought it from ebay.

And i have certainly the second "prototype", cause i ordered the Stage Vibe to Chris one week after SWANG showed me the pictures from his Stage Vibe ! The definitive design was not finished, so they send me the Stage Vibe with a grey rail. Black would be beautiful...But with my Stage Piano in Royal-Blue and Gold Sparkle, the grey is perhaps even better (optically).

[MikeMalone]

Yea your piano looks fantastic!

[raemon80]

super sweet, Spooky!
all this candy is making me  :twisted:  :twisted:

@3bergen
Sounds like a plan

[tightwhite85]

I saw that somebody else posted a picture in another forum on here, and figured I might as well officially post it myself.   I recently did this custom job on my rhodes.  It has been retolexed in white, the top has been painted white, the hardware has been painted gold, and I also installed the "miracle mod" (which really helps the action a lot by the way).  A buddy of mine sold it to me for a really good price, and after getting the white cabinet you see in the pictures he says as a total joke "Dude, you should white and gold your rhodes". And in a flash of temporary insanity, I tried it. And then in another moment of temporary insanity I bought another rhodes that has even better action AND includes the lid (which I didn't have on the first, but really wanted). Since I don't poop out 100 dollar bills I can't afford to keep two rhodes so I've decided to retolex the most recent one I bought and sell the white one, so you might see it floating around craigslist if you're in la. It's a darn shame I know......but hopefully someone else will appreciate its splendor.  I've got access to professional auto detailing equipment and can even do a sparkle top in any color (!!!) Any recommendations on color combinations I should try? Just don't say leopard print, please.

[3bergen]

I'd like to see one in Tweed   :oops:

[MikeMalone]

Tweed would be cool. Man that white one is WICKED!!!!!!!!! If I had the money Id buy it right now....but instead I think I'm just gonna steal your idea and do it to mine...

[Rhythmicons]

This is my fathers Rhodes that I currently am claiming as my own. It was purchased in NYC in 1971 or 72 (he was 21) for $760. I posted already that one of the channels is blown and the vibrato pot is nonfunctional, yet despite this, it is clearly an integral part of my Sound.

On its round top is a MicroMoog that was actually given to him by the original owner because he got tired of it.  It has also become an integral part of my sound.  The best Moogs in life are free.  Beside it is the Moog 1130 drum controller and a synsonics pro drum machine.

This is the most recent picture of my keyboard station.  THe Rhodes is vital to our sound. You can have the roughest synth track held together with some gentle Rhodes to really create some emotional complexities.


This is my rhodes and this is its story.



Respectfully,
Eric

[Rhythmicons]

@raemon80 : your Stage Piano has a "little brother"...(or a cousin)







And also a special version of the Stage Vibe...

Is that  Prodigy on top?Eric

[Spookyman]

Yes, it's a Moog Prodigy Mk1. Not free...but it's still a great sounding Moog for me. And like you said, Moog and Rhodes, it's really a good sounding pair.

Your set-up is amazing, with the Voyager, the MoogerFooger's...wow !

[geyster]

Here's my cuty 54 stage I bought from Tristanyeah on this very forum (scroll down for the story):









For the story:
I live in Paris/France but I went all the way up to London to pick it up and brought it back all by myself on the Eurostar !

When I got home the output was dead because of one single dead pickup (yeah the 54 wiring is a little special so that if one pickup is dead it kills the whole output, arggh!). Anyway I rewounded the pickup and fixed it.

It now sounds awesome, I've set all tines to get this sought-after barking sound and I'm very happy :wink:

[billulsund]

I recently picked up a Mark I suitcase 88 built in late 1975. I found it on craigslist Seattle. Everything on the piano works and the tolex is in good condition, but both amps are dead, so I got it for $300. It was very dirty when I picked it up and there were a few cigarette burns on the keys. I cleaned it up, sanded and buffed the burn marks off of the keys, and adjusted the voicing and now it looks and sounds great. I also have a 73 key suitcase from early 1974 that I installed a bump mod on, and I like the action on this 88 better. The bare wood pedestals with felts on the bottom of full plastic hammers gives it a much faster action, but it still has the earlier tines that in my opinion sound better than the tines on my friends 1978 mark I 88 key suitcase. It does have a curious switch on the far left of the namerail that seems to be an effects loop bypass switch. I now have a good project ahead of me in rebuilding the 2 power amps which are totally fried (I am upset because I got outbid on an ebay auction for 2 working power amps).

[Ben Bove]

Damn a nice steal at $300 haha.

[kineticturtle]

Indeed, a steal in almost any condition at that price!

[Jordy]

Well finally
here it is:

It's a Fender Rhodes from 1971 week 11
New tines, new hammers, new tolex, new legs, new side handles, new chromed-corners, new cheeck-blocks, new logos, new potknobs, new jack input, new frontrail, new sustain-rod.

[geyster]

Well finally
here it is:

It's a Fender Rhodes from 1971 week 11
New tines, new hammers, new tolex, new legs, new side handles, new chromed-corners, new cheeck-blocks, new logos, new potknobs, new jack input, new frontrail, new sustain-rod.

I would say it's more like a Fender Rhodes from 2008 ! :wink:

[Jordy]

Here is a better pic. On the other one it's like the logo is missing:

[3bergen]

cool, congratulations!! I saw this one on marktplaats, looks very good and probably plays pretty damn good too! Enjoy it!

[RolandAliphon]

I have no idea what any of this means. I finally have my own place so I have the space to set up my Rhodes. I saw it laying under my cousins bed and gave him R900 (South African Rands) for it. There is no amp cabinet but I have all the components excluding the speakers and woodwork. It's all in pieces but I can now finally start putting it together. I'm not sure how to upload pics but here goes.

www.roland.aliphon.com/mr1.jpg
www.roland.aliphon.com/mr2.jpg
www.roland.aliphon.com/mr3.jpg
www.roland.aliphon.com/mr4.jpg

[Jordy]

cool, congratulations!! I saw this one on marktplaats, looks very good and probably plays pretty damn good too! Enjoy it!

It does: it's got the herbie-sound!!

[Ben Bove]

Hey Roland!  Looks like a cool Suitcase 88 top from 1976!  Can you make out the serial number on the gold badge?  Congrats!

[RolandAliphon]

Nope, can't make out the Serial Number. I will take pictures of all the amp parts laying around soon. Maybe someone call help me to put it all back together. Does anyone know how to hook up a sustain pedal? I don't see any place for it underneath or behind the piano.