how much is my stage 73 mark V worth?

[michael2]

Hi, just discovered this site, looks pretty cool. here is my obligatory newbie question:

i have a stage 73 mark V rhodes that I haven'yt been using (i just had a little girl this year); it has the sustain pedal and the top, but no legs. works great. i'm curious how much it would be worth if i sold it, and what the best way would be.

now to check out the rest of the site (i love synths and keys).

[pianotuner steveo]

Hard to say a value without pictures,but you should be able to fetch $400 minimum on Ebay,probably  quite a bit more depending on condition.

Ebay is the best way to go because far more people will see it rather than a local ad.

[The Real MC]

Rhodes pianos tend to sell for less if they are missing either the legs or the sustain pedal/rod.

[Quatschmacher]

Rhodes pianos tend to sell for less if they are missing either the legs or the sustain pedal/rod.

Since this is a Mark V is the lack of legs likely to affect value as much as with a Mark I or II? Wasn't the stand for the Mark V an optional extra as opposed to the legs of the I/II which came automatically with the piano?

[pianotuner steveo]

Yeah, I was thinking that ,and he said the pedal is there. Musiciansfriend has an AWESOME (I bought 2) stand for something like $40..very similar to the Rhodes stand.
I bought one for my Mark 1 and one for my Hammond Suzuki.

[jibbidyjoe]

the question of the value of a mark v comes up frequently here.  it is a good question, as these piano's are rare compared to other models.

in the past, i have seen mark Vs sell between $400-$2500+.  The one that sold for $2500+ (i can't remember the exact figure) was on ebay in /mint/ condition with the stand and some extra tines.

with minor issues (such as broken lid latches), case blemishes, heavily used hammer tips, i have seen them go between $800-$1500.

with major issues such as rust, broken hammer pins, bad pickups, etc, they seem to go between $400-$800

in my experience, the original mark v stand can add approximately $150-$250 to the price.

there is a mark v, new in the box, that has been posted multiple times on ebay with a buy-it-now option for $12,000 but no one has purchased it, to my knowledge.

[pianotuner steveo]

No, that New old stock Mark V belongs to Speakeasy Vintage-it's still up for sale. Anyone interested in the platform stand I mentioned should really check it out-they are unbelieveably strong,very cheap, and look like they belong to a Rhodes! Much cheaper than an original.

[jibbidyjoe]

Yes, there is a mark v, new in the box, that has been posted multiple times on ebay with a BIN option of $12,000.  And, yes, it is being sold by speakeasy vintage music.

what stand did you buy, that you are recommending?

thanks,
joe

[pianotuner steveo]

I don't remember the brand or model of the stand, but go to musiciansfriend.com. Under keyboard accessories look at stands. This one is around $40,maybe even $35. The original MSRP was like $95. It is a black platform stand, the legs fold up, and it is STURDY. The height is adjustable also. Much better than an x type stand,this won't push over.

It is very similar to a Mark V stand.

[jibbidyjoe]

is this the one you are talking about:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/OnStage-Stands-Pro-Platform-Keyboard-Stand?sku=450384

If so, I personally have heard horrible things about it.  here is one reviewer's thoughts, who is using it with a rhodes:

They may call this a "pro platform" and advertise it as able to hold three hundred and some pounds, being great for heavy things like vintage keyboards and pianos, but there's nothing pro about this stand. The quality is below average; the hardware is cheap, the tubing is skinny, and the finish is flimsy. I'm using it for my Rhodes suitcase piano, which weights considerably less than the max advertised weight capacity of the stand, and I'm barely comfortable with it in my living room. I would NOT use it in a studio or anyplace where there is going to be foot traffic, and to use it on stage would be downright unsafe. In my opinion, this stand is barely worth the thirty dollars I paid for it, and the way it is advertised and named is very misleading. I'll be keeping it simply because it was cheap and there aren't a lot of comparable type stands available for less than big bucks.

and in this thread:

http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=1605&highlight=onstage

the fenderrhodes.com site admin has this to say about the stand:

...right now the only platform stand I've found on the big dealer sites is this thing:

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-MUS-KS7150.html

As has been said before on this forum, it is a PIECE OF s**t. It is only $50 and claims to support 395 lbs., but I guess that only counts until it tips over and YOUR RHODES COMES CRASHING DOWN ON THE FLOOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A GIG. I decided to buy one for myself just to support a drum machine and a small keyboard, and I didn't even trust it with those. The legs are extremely unstable due to the fact that they're parallel rather than angled out to the corners (i.e. like the Stage legs), which means it wobbles front & back when you play or even bump it a little. I wish there were a better alternative, but I think the double-braced x-stand is the much more reliable choice....

this can't be the same one you are talking about....right?

[dnarkosis]

The stand I use is of similar construction but considerably more sturdy. The legs are squared rather than round, and the material itself also quite heavy. You can see a picture of it down toward the bottom of the page here:
http://kosis.blog4ever.com/blog/lirarticle-42357-123860.html
But the brand is "Viking" -- I bought it back in the 1980s but have not been able to relocate either it or the company -- though I've not tried for a while now; it may be worth someone's while to see if they can find it.

It is definitely strong enough for a Stage 73 (for which I use it), and certainy for a Stage 54 (for which I also use it). The problem is finding it.

[pianotuner steveo]

That looks like the stand I have, but I have no idea why there are 2 bad reviews-those people either just like to complain,or they did something wrong.I own 2 of these, and they are plenty sturdy enough for a stage 73. I may even buy a 3rd one.These are NOT flimsy! Yes the legs could be thicker, but these are pretty heavy steel stands.

I have the legs in the shortest postion-maybe if you raise them they may be unstable?
Also,when you unfold the legs,you need to lock them open which they may have forgotten to do. When opened properly,the legs ARE angled out,not straight up and down like one guy said.

Also- the 2 (and only 2) bad reviews you found were from 2005 and 2006-I suspect another possibility was that the stand was improved since then,because I find nothing wrong with it. I also found NUMEROUS positive reviews...

[jibbidyjoe]

I just saw two Mark Vs sell on ebay for $2,800 and $2,400.  Wow...one without a stand:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rhodes-Mark-V-73-Electric-Piano-Fender-w-Video_W0QQitemZ370011003393QQihZ024QQcategoryZ29552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/BEAUTIFUL-1984-FENDER-RHODES-MARK-V-PIANO-SUPER-RARE_W0QQitemZ270200871334QQihZ017QQcategoryZ16220QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Ben Bove]

They're great sounding pianos, but really, they're very overhyped.  I wouldn't mind one but can't see paying 4 x the value of a good Mk 1.

[jibbidyjoe]

bjammerz,
i agree.  i would have never bought a mark v for $2,000+

Luckily I found mine for $400.

Another one to watch on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rhodes-Mark-V-Electric-Piano_W0QQitemZ230213163740QQihZ013QQcategoryZ29552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Ben Bove]

$400 what a find!  The cheapest one i've ever seen to date was on a craigslist ad - $250 no stand.  it was obviously sold before I contacted them

[Milky Way]

Hi there! Just an update with USD $4,155 starting bid at following eBay auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230218817493  (':shock:')

[Swatkins]

I bought my Mark V four years ago in Chicago for $450.
It was beat to hell, no case or stand and was badly in need of adjustment.
The guy who owned it said he had got it from a studio in New Mexico that was closing and getting rid of all of its gear.  
I knew I was lucky, but I'm a player and not a real collector.
I did some maintenance and minor action adjustments myself, and then brought it to Dave Ell for a full setup and voicing when I moved to the West Coast.

The hype around the Mark Vs is definitely collector-driven, but they are excellent sounding pianos.  The action on mine is insanely even all the way up and down the keyboard.  

Each Rhodes has its own personality and I might choose one over the other for a particular application.  The Mark Vs are definitely gems, but the insane prices make them really tough to get a hold of.  Most players would be fine with a nicely set up late-model Mark I.

[Milky Way]

Swatkins,
all you say is true, expecially

The hype around the Mark Vs is definitely collector-driven

but nothing to comparison of an early model Gibson today's price
and we know that FenderRhodes piano is assured a place in musical history,
because it has one of the most recognizable sounds in modern music - like
some vintage guitars, so I think is right that FenderRhodes best models
they have one right appraisal in the musical instruments scene.
You are musician and you know a well serviced FenderRhodes is pleasure
to play and no two instruments feel or sound quite the same, it was a semi
handicraft made product!!! (':)')