The Youtube Rhodes thread

[Jordy]

Try this one with George Duke and Billy Cobham, wait for the rhodes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2ikhatPxNE

Liked it better when I heard it.
It has no bright dyno sound but it sounds it's been played true crappy computerspeakers. (I've got my PC true two floormonitors so that isn't the problem) And I don't think it's the recording/compression too cause the digital pianos sound quite good. He plays very nice though.

[pianodano]

One of the Monkees best tunes and they have a Rhodes on stage. But it's lipsync.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9IzVbuGHXY&feature=related

Danny

[Jordy]

One of the Monkees best tunes and they have a Rhodes on stage. But it's lipsync.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9IzVbuGHXY&feature=related

Danny

COOL! silvertop! That's a pretty d*mn early Rhodes-record.

[pianodano]

One of the Monkees best tunes and they have a Rhodes on stage. But it's lipsync.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9IzVbuGHXY&feature=related

Danny

COOL! silvertop! That's a pretty d*mn early Rhodes-record.

Well, maybe a pretty early Rhodes video. If I had to make a guess, I would say the piano used on the record was a RMI. I had one of those for sometime and the piano used sounds very much like it.

Regards,

Danny

[Jordy]

One of the Monkees best tunes and they have a Rhodes on stage. But it's lipsync.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9IzVbuGHXY&feature=related

Danny

COOL! silvertop! That's a pretty d*mn early Rhodes-record.

Well, maybe a pretty early Rhodes video. If I had to make a guess, I would say the piano used on the record was a RMI. I had one of those for sometime and the piano used sounds very much like it.

Regards,

Danny

Didn't 'look' at the sound that much. I was fascinated by the beauty of the silverharpcover.

[Loucas]

The one who posted this on youtube says that is a September 1967 broadcasting on NBC!
Rhodes historians must do a  search here!

[3bergen]

since I don't own one myself (yet), here some classic clips for those who haven't seen these before....

Stevie's Sesame Street > makes me happy every day, so cool! Nice setup..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q-GX2hOlNk&feature=related

here not a video, but Monty Alexander with Ernest Ranglin doing Love & Happiness with a lot of rhodes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6cDmmONZBk

And Billy Preston rehearsing with the Beatles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-61AgGvWSA&feature=related

[3bergen]

also cool, Dr. John, The Meters and Professor Longhair on 1 stage... (though bit messy)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IOyBwrvOKA

[Ak_attack]

Probably been posted already, but if not, here's Ray Manzarek with the Doors playing a Fender Rhodes suitcase:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT4uvNe3wgQ&feature=related

[Rob A]

1979 Herbie doing Hang Up Your Hangups. You gotta wait for the Rhodes solo.

I'm kinda curious who's the second keyboard player in this video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pYN1bT7U0tI

[MikeMalone]

Billy Preston with the Beatles...aww man....no words for that....his licks and solos were so damn tasteful and restrained...what a musician...that is a shining example of the beauty of the Rhodes...

[Jordy]

Found a nice one :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X8gvr1UowY&mode=related&search=

Dutch band Gatecrash. The Rhodes is a Mk1 Rhodes pretty beat up by the looks of it. I like the effects used on this.

Kitchen

Another one,..same band...dig the effects !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSPdRzbCPlA&mode=related&search=

Kitchen

Can someone identify the effect(s) used?

[MikeMalone]

There's definitely some kind of rotary thing happenning...either a Leslie or a pedal....and maybe some wah in parts...

[Rob A]

1969 Chick playing Bitches Brew topless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5HGH4lcDXQ

[Mark II]

1969 Chick playing Bitches Brew topless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5HGH4lcDXQ

sorry, but I dont want to see Chick playing topless.

Mark II

[Rob A]

His tonebars look quite nice.

[Mark II]

His tonebars look quite nice.

that made me curious, and yes, they are shiny and indeed look georgous.
but anything will look good in black and white.
on topic, I am missing one gene, the one responsible for dealing with fusion.

Mark II

[Rune W]

Here's a clip of Steely Dan performing Black Cow. Ted Baker plays the Rhodes solo. Usually Fagen uses a MXR phaser on his Rhodes, but in this clip the sound seems to be clean. I think the original solo was performed by Michael Omartian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY_FI9J1poQ

[Dan Belcher]

Here's a clip of Steely Dan performing Black Cow. Ted Baker plays the Rhodes solo. Usually Fagen uses a MXR phaser on his Rhodes, but in this clip the sound seems to be clean. I think the original solo was performed by Michael Omartian.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY_FI9J1poQ

Actually, if you listen closely, Baker uses the MXR Phase 90 on the Rhodes in the stanzas before turning it off for the choruses and solo.

(Interesting side note: I don't think Fagen used his MXR Phase 90 during his solo tour back in March '06.  However, he started using it again during the summer when he toured with Steely Dan.)

Watching this clip reminded me of the ONE thing missing from the current tour:  Cornelius Bumpus on tenor sax.  Man, I miss that guy.  I'm glad I got the opportunity to see him perform live on the '03 tour, the last one he did with Steely Dan before he passed away.

[Ben Bove]

I just saw the Herbie clip at the bottom of page 4 - for all you guys looking for the Herbie Rhodes sound, he's still using a 75-76 maybe 77 suitcase in 79, not the newest tines/amp.  

[3bergen]

The Beach Boys Wild Honey (with Elton John)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRbBPhodF4Q

[Rob A]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g62k40OTIvE

Herbie and Chick Rhodes and clav duet on Someday My Prince Will Come.

Try the undocumented high quality hack:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g62k40OTIvE&fmt=18

Top stuff!

[matt.musicman]

Rob!

Thank you for posting that link, it was fantastic!

[3bergen]

very nice Rob! Now wouldn't that be a nice set up for at home   :wink:

[Rob A]

George Duke with Zappa.

Cozmik Debris starts up at about 5:00, GD hits it at about 8:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gduwdyfaj3c

Continues to this segment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxugDMFU7PA

Anyone want to identify the board he's playing with his right hand (under the clavinet)?

Hear Zappa ask the musical question:

Is that a real poncho, or is that a Sears poncho?

at 3:10 in the second video.

Also, Ruth Underwood features in this one.

James, I believe that's Tommy Mars in the 1979 clip after the 1974 clip in the second video, right?

[james]

Yeah, that's from '77 (it's the City of Tiny Lites segment from the Baby Snakes movie) where Mars had just joined the band with Ed Mann.  Adrian Belew is on vocals, and this was his only tour with FZ.  BTW, at some point in the film you see all the guys with frizzy hair using afro picks to make their do's look as huge as possible.  The other keyboard player is Peter Wolf taking the synth solos.

And in the other clip, George's right hand keyboard is the Wurly...that way he could stretch out and play both at once!

[Rob A]

I thought it was a wurly from the tremolo sound, but it looked too big.

[Dan Belcher]

Alright guys, I finally posted a new video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4PCh3zItBU&fmt=18

To answer any questions, the Rhodes was run straight from harp to the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe.  Amp out was run directly to USB audio interface, slight EQ to reduce bass and amp noise, then mix vocal and Rhodes tracks.
Vocal microphone:  MXL 2001 condenser

[Dan Belcher]

Another new video from me, this time showing off my sweet Boss CE-5 chorus.  Unfortunately, Youtube no longer lets you hack videos into Stereo audio, it now converts everything to mono.  Therefore, the Youtube video is in mono, but I've provided a link on there to download the original stereo MP3 if you want to hear the nice, high quality sweeping chorus effect.  The song is "I Can't Tell You Why" by the Eagles.  I don't have the vocal talent to do this song justice, so I tried to keep it simple and unobtrusive and let the Rhodes speak for itself mostly.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cQW2MYI12g&fmt=18

Enjoy!

[acusonic24]

Hey does any one know what mod george has on his rhodes and what that big knob is between the vibrato box and the name plate on the rail? that rhode has lots of bite. I wonder if its a different preamp, don't sound dynoish but gritty.

[kjellg]

I love the effect with the Electro-harmonix smallstone phaser on the Rhodes piano.
I make some examples here(recommend to use headphones for better soundquality)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFTmm1JIqog&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhCmvvIwcfo&feature=channel

[Dan Belcher]

I love the effect with the Electro-harmonix smallstone phaser on the Rhodes piano.
I make some examples here(recommend to use headphones for better soundquality)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFTmm1JIqog&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhCmvvIwcfo&feature=channel

I too love the Small Stone phaser (I finally had to break down and buy one a few months ago, went ahead and got the older model like it appears you have as well).  That sound is so creamy and swirling!!  Nice song choice on the second clip by the way.  Minute By Minute just wouldn't be the same with a dry Rhodes tone!!

[kjellg]

I love the effect with the Electro-harmonix smallstone phaser on the Rhodes piano.
I make some examples here(recommend to use headphones for better soundquality)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFTmm1JIqog&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhCmvvIwcfo&feature=channel

I too love the Small Stone phaser (I finally had to break down and buy one a few months ago, went ahead and got the older model like it appears you have as well).  That sound is so creamy and swirling!!  Nice song choice on the second clip by the way.  Minute By Minute just wouldn't be the same with a dry Rhodes tone!!

Thanks for your reply!
Yes the minute by minute intro needs a smallstone or something similar.
The second clip is based on the "Body and Soul" standard tune.
Have you, by the way tried the MXR-90 on a Rhodes? I had one, but it made a lot of noise so I bought the smallstone instead. I belive Donald Fagen use the MXR-perhaps it was something wrong with mine?

[Dan Belcher]

Have you, by the way tried the MXR-90 on a Rhodes? I had one, but it made a lot of noise so I bought the smallstone instead. I belive Donald Fagen use the MXR-perhaps it was something wrong with mine?

I actually have both.  I had to mod the MXR to get the tone I wanted, since I have the newer block face model that overdrives easily in its stock configuration.  Once I modded it, the tone became much more mellow and thick.  They're both good pedals, though I prefer the Small Stone.

Here's a quick comparison recording I did.  The first clip is dry tone the second is Small Stone, and the third is MXR Phase 90.  http://www.mediafire.com/?xgz3zznjmg1

[funkin]

funky theme from old movie feat rhodes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEdR0C03HdM

[sledge-mk1]

Stumbled upon this the other week. This guy is too good, pretty much leaves me speechless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34kfOMZ536U&feature=related

My fave bit is when he plays that Bill Evans tune.

I love the barky tone he's got too - I raised my harp a bit the other day to get a bit of that (also after having seen this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBMXJNqiv7o&feature=related). Whaddayaknow it worked!

Myself personally I really don't prefer the superclean+bellish sound on a lot of youtube vids have (and unfortunately the new VV piano in stock settings and the model I won't mention) especially when it's combined with that lush stereo vibrato.. Sounds sorta cheesy and "plastic" so I'm very glad to learn just how much these babies can be tweaked to suit personal preference.

[leon-]

I love the barky tone he's got too - I raised my harp a bit the other day to get a bit of that (also after having seen this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBMXJNqiv7o&feature=related). Whaddayaknow it worked!

Good stuff.
I've got a Mark I as well and would like to try this. May I ask: is there anywhere that describes step by step how you raised the harp ?

[Tim Hodges]

Looked like a flatheaded screwdriver being rammed in the MK1 suitcase.

[leon-]

thanks - I was at work so couldn't check out the You Tube video...

[The Real MC]

You just insert a shim between the harp support and the harp.  Too much and your escapement and strike point changes.

There's a tradeoff though.  By raising the harp, you increase the blow force when the hammer strikes the tine.  This shortens the life of the tine.  The Rhodes factory discovered that years ago, that's one way they made good on warantees by lowering the harp.

[leon-]

Appreciate that Real MC. Will give it a try (and read up how to replace tines) 

[sledge-mk1]

is there anywhere that describes step by step how you raised the harp ?

You just insert a shim between the harp support and the harp.

I inserted these metal bits shown in the pics below (sort of square shaped washers, with a little ramp at each end) originally from an Ikea shelf wall mount - it was supposed to be a temporary solution to just quickly try it out, but they seem to do their simple job very well and the height seems to be about right - so at least for now I'm sticking with it.

Unless there is a specific reason for me to make brand new wooden shims?





First I tried putting them just on the left side, but ended up putting them on both sides cause I preferred the sound that way. Another tradeoff to mention is that the lightest key strokes produce no sound, as the hammer doesn't quite reach the tine. But this only happens with Very light key strokes and overall I prefer it this way, I really love the barkier early Mk1 sound..

[The Real MC]

I just tried this on my sparkletop.

I have a damper/hammer assembly and harp supports scavenged from a Mark I.  I measured the height of the harp supports and found that the bass end was 1/4" taller.

On the sparkletop there was only a 1/8" height difference on the harp supports.  So I experimented with shims on the bass end only.

First try was a 9.5mm shim and hammers would not strike the tines.

I then tried a 6mm and the hammers worked although the dampers need to be adjusted.  It did have a positive impact on the sound.  It resolved one of my complaints about sparkletops - the bass notes don't have the "furry" tone of the later pianos.  This shim brought out that "furry" sound - I *LOVE* it.

One big improvement is I don't have to play very hard to get that furry sound, so a lighter touch means a lower risk of breaking the unobtainium Raymac tines, especially the longer ones for bass notes.  The other improvement is it eliminated the "wolfy" tone of some of the bass notes, now they ring pure.

The middle notes had a slight change in sound, the top notes sounded no different.  The top 2/3 was my favorite area on the sparkletop, now with the shim the entire range is optimal.

I'm making this shim permanent.

[The Real MC]

Finished the work this weekend.

Adjusted the dampers and one of the bridle straps came off a hammer.  Much cussing and whining of teeth followed.  Took out the hammer and damper arm (both are secured with a single phillips screw, easy to remove) and it was a simple fix - the folded part of the bridle strap still had the super glue intact and I was able to slip that fold back into the groove in the hammer.  BE CAREFUL when adjusting dampers on a sparkletop!

Big improvement in the bottom half of the piano, the tone is much better.  The bass notes have that furry tone and the middle notes have more bark.  Highly recommended for 1960s sparkletop and "jetsons" student pianos.

[Freddan]

Finally! A clip from 1965. Dave Rowberry of the Animals plays a Rhodes on American TV!Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en&v=UuzFkQlpCyE&fb_source=message&gl=US

[Loukas]

What a find again Freddan ! Very important ! Thanks!

[Christian Clarke]

It appears that no-one has posted any videos of Cinematic Orchestra, so I'm happy to be the first.

Great Rhodes sound, great everything!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcjmR0bk5wI

[b2112g]

Some great examples of Mark V playing are by Marcin Grochowina. He's a German pro who goes by jazzijazzful on YouTube. He has several solo jams of the highest order: rhodesfive ver. 1,2,3 and Rhodes Mark V.

[rhodesjuzz]

The link is missing....

[goldphinga]

Hey folks, here's a little clip of my space-funk-fusion trio The ElecTrio. Playing my custom Mk2 Rhodes. Hope you dig!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGF8M94QHNU