Courdorhodes?

[onthegreenline]

Hi again, Matt from Boston - I haven't logged on in a while and forgot my username... oh well. An opinion question - just picked up a MINT '79 Mark 1 suitcase, must've been the last of run before they went to the Mark II? Under the lid the piano looks and sounds like it just left the factory - had to replace a dead pickup, other than that it's perfect. The tolex and grill cloth are pretty beat up as it was left in storage for a while and had some stuff stacked on it, etc. My two ideas are as follows -

Anyone ever done a tweed rhodes? Maybe with oxblood grillcloth?

Courodoy? I'm thinking dark brown or black. It's cheap, fuzzy, and easy to deal with - just vaccuum it when it gets dirty. Not sure what I'd do about the grill...

any thoughts? I'll put up some pics soon. This thing needs to be seen to be believed - even the key bushings look new.

[Ben Bove]

My only suggestion with fabric exterior is that the material is so much more likely to rip than a durable leather-like tolex.  

If you're planning on leaving it in the home or studio for the duration of your ownership that should be ok, but one false move and you'll have a tear in your corduroy or tweed, much like a speaker cloth with a rip.

[onthegreenline]

so... almost a year later, decide to fix up an old stage case and create the Cordourhodes. It's going to just sit in my apartment here in Boston (and hopefully Tokyo soon), so I wasn't too concerned about it being super-durable.. The namerail is a rough cut, going to try it again with better adhesive. Waiting to cut holes until I decide whether or not I'll rebuild my suitcase preamp or just throw in some stage electronics...







Hope you like, the diagonal pattern on the sides reminds me of the seats in my old volvo...

[Rob A]

I like it.

[Mark II]

sweet, looks great.
Although I would like to see the namerail in original state.

kind regards
Mark II

[andi85]

You're crazy, but it looks very cool. Nice job!

[tomnardozza]

coolest rhodes ever!

[jus]

Looks awesome, I remember seeing the thread a while ago. I'm glad you actually went through with it.

[sean]

Looks awesome.  (I really like the non-horizontal wale on the ends.)
I like it a lot better than tolex.

I like the color contrasts between the keys, chocolate corduroy, black top, and tan-colored nameboard.  I also like the matching rug on the floor.  Nice touch.  (How about black velvet covering the round top?)

The tan nameboard looks like it would look good if it were made of wood.  Birdseye maple?  If you stick with the tan corduroy on the nameboard, maybe you should embroider the logo.

Okay, now I want a maple nameboard and walnut cheekblocks....

It is fun to dream and talk about it, but we gotta give props to you guys who actually get it done.

[Clavier]

That's so sexy, I want one. It would be perfect for me, because I am well known for wearing Cords all the time.  :oops:

[yossarian]

That is beautiful.

I want one.

[onthegreenline]

Wow... thanks for all the compliments! I need to upload some new pics, I installed the faceplace from a Mark II suitcase control panel and got up the nerve to do the cheekblocks as well... This all started as a joke at a gig a while back about how the only thing crunchier than a tweed rhodes would be a corourhodes - my wife thinks I should add elbow patches on the corners ala an old college professor's jacket or put a pocket from an old pair of cord pants on the front with my pipe perpetually stored in it... I'll take new pics when I get home!

[Spaceduck]

All I gotta say is you've got style man, youve got style! The elbow pads would be freakin exquisite! And the pocket on the front for your pipe... LMAO. Imagine all the cigarette burns that could've been avoided if Harold had incorporated that to begin with  :lol:

[onthegreenline]

as promised here are the updated pics with suitcase controls from a Mark II namerail and cheekblocks...

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/?action=view&current=DSC_0007.jpg" target="_blank">http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/DSC_0007.jpg" border="0" alt="Cordourhodes II">

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/?action=view&current=DSC_0008.jpg" target="_blank">http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/DSC_0008.jpg" border="0" alt="Cordourhodes II">

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/?action=view&current=DSC_0009.jpg" target="_blank">http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/DSC_0009.jpg" border="0" alt="Cordourhodes II">

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/?action=view&current=DSC_0011.jpg" target="_blank">http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/DSC_0011.jpg" border="0" alt="Cordourhodes II">

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/?action=view&current=DSC_0016.jpg" target="_blank">http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd226/onthegreenline/DSC_0016.jpg" border="0" alt="Cordourhodes II">

interested to see what you guys think... it was hard as hell to do the cheekblocks right, couldn't get straight edges without fraying the material so I went for the folds...

[michaeltristan]

Having seen the before and after, the cheekblocks look AMAZING!!  they really pull it all together, pushing the effect over the top!!  in a good way!  The earlier post about the elbow pads is very funny, but i think you should stop now..  I could really see someone like Bob James playing this piano... Do you have a blazer in the same material?

[funk5]

Damn dude, that's fucking sick! It seriously looks awesome now with the suitcase preamp installed. I'm in love...maybe someday I'll get another Rhodes and do something similar.  Thanks for sharing.

[onthegreenline]

thanks man! the elbow pads etc are just all tongue in cheek... I don't have a matching blazer, but I think that's a must-buy now!

[geyster]

This is fantastic!! :shock:
It's now all dressed up for a cocktail party! :wink:

I have a question though:
How did you manage to mount the MK2 suitcase controls on your MK1 namerail ?
I also have a MK2 Janus preamp which I'd like to mount on my MK1 but I can't figure out where to start !
Well, please let me know, I'm really interested !!

Thanks

[Spaceduck]

With the cheekblocks & preamp... absolutely INSANE! I really think that's the best Rhodes I've ever seen. The folds on the cheekblocks are perfect ...sort of like pleated pants. Great creativity & workmanship, without crossing the limits of good taste  

[onthegreenline]

Thanks again! The Mark I was a later model with the 5-pin preamp - the holes on the namerail align perfectly to the Mark II 5-pin faceplate. The only difference is that the Mark II faceplate is black, and is a little longer with holes to screw it to the namerail. The screws aren't needed as the input jacks hold everything in place...