"Thunking", dead tines, etc.

[DooDoot]

Okay, so this is my first post in this forum. I have just purchased Rhodes MK1. The action is great, but when I play the lower notes, I hear a nasty thunking sound which takes away from the piano's otherwise beautiful sound.

I have a feeling that it might be the grommets, but I am also affraid that it could be the tines. On that note, what are the indicators of worn out tines. Also, my tone bars are slightly tarnished; will that have a large effect on the sound?

Finally, many of my tines do not perfectly line up with my pickups. Are the tines bent? What is the best resolution to this issue?

The forum is awesome. I am sure that it has saved many Rhodes owners a great deal of money.

[andi85]

If the tines are slightly off-center you can take the whole tone generator out, loosen the screw, align the tine properly and tighten the screw again.

Also check the hammer tips! If they are worn out or hardened it sounds terrible.

[jim]

perhaps check that the ends of the tines arn't hitting the pickup?

[hrees]

Come on guys. The thunk is a sure sign of poor damper clearance, poor strikeline or escapement set too close. Most like the dampers.

[Ben Bove]

i always have a problem setting dampeners so that they dampen properly in the lower register, yet pull down with the sustain pedal enough that the tines don't slap them. any advice on bending or etc?

[DooDoot]

Come on guys. The thunk is a sure sign of poor damper clearance, poor strikeline or escapement set too close. Most like the dampers.

Okay. So if it is an issue of damper clearance, should I replace the whole module?

[DooDoot]

Come on guys. The thunk is a sure sign of poor damper clearance, poor strikeline or escapement set too close. Most like the dampers.

I should have been clearer. There is sustain, however when the hammer hits it makes a faint, but noticeable "tinny" clangy-type sound. It's as though the pickups are amplifying the acoustic "pluck" of the tine. The sound is found in almost the lower 30 keys. I have toyed with escapement, dampers, timbrres, and strikeline to no avail.

[jim]

do you have hammer tips on your lower 30 notes?

[BJT3]

Could you post some pictures? Maybe this would help to narrow it down.
-Ben-

[DooDoot]

Here's a sound snippet of the issue. Notice the tinny clang when the hammer hits (there are other issues in the sound, but this one is the only one I can't fix). http://www.yourfilehost.com/media.php?cat=audio&file=Rhodessample.mp3

Some pics. Not sure if the pics or links will show up on this post.

The hammers seem fine.


A shot of a pickup with a little rust; could this be the source?


Thanks again for all the help!

[hrees]

That sounds normal. You can hear it on many classic rhodes recordings. If you don't like it eq it out.

How do your low notes respond on a hard strike as that is the real test of dampers, escapement and strike line? Playing that soft you're not really testing anything.

[Ben Bove]

Speaking of hard strikes, is there any way when you really bang on the low E or F to stop the tine from striking the tonebar?  or is that just banging too hard on it