Wood keys are *NOT* interchangeable with plastic 2-piece key

[The Real MC]

I have a handyman's special suitcase 73 Rhodes that I am restoring.  It has sloppy action and I decided to replace the two-piece plastic keys.  I had played Rhodes pianos at stores that had full wood keys that felt much better so I went looking for full wood keys.

I found a set of full wood keys from a scavenged Rhodes and proceeded to swap them out of my project Rhodes.  I quickly discovered they are NOT interchangeable as the guide pins are not lined up the same.

They can be made to fit, but it requires removing the two guidepin blocks and relocating certain pins.  I haven't gotten that far yet so we'll see how hard that is, that may be a job I'll leave to Vintage Vibe when I send them the piano for retolex, new tines, new hammer tips, and new harp top.

It's too late to scavenge the pin blocks from the other piano where I got the wood keys, unless I'm lucky enough to find another Rhodes for parts.

Damn....

[The Real MC]

Nope, the balance rail is not easily modified.  I would have to replace both the balance rail and front rail.  Not an option, I'll look for a piano with wood keys and scavenge this one for parts.

Lesson learned the hard way.