Non-sparkletop felt hammers?

[onthegreenline]

I've wondered - are the post-sparkletop felt hammertips still available, and do they sound drastically different from the neoprene used from the early 70's onward? From what I've read they were only used for a year or two inbetween the "piano style" hammers and the neoprene tips.

I love the bell sound of the sparkletops and would love to approximate it on my Mark 1, and was wondering if this was at all possible and worthwile.

[Ben Bove]

You're referring to the square felt tips as opposed to the teardrop hammers, correct?



I don't believe anyone produces them for sale at  a ready-made form like above.  I'm not sure what the factory used, but I'm sure you could recreate them.  Perhaps anyone familiar with acoustic pianos could better suggest possible felt supply companies.  

I had the opportunity to play on a couple of felt tipped, it does sound a little more "felt xylophone mallet-like," but not really like a sparkle top.  The sparkle top sound definitely comes from the Raymac Tines and teardrop hammer strikes.

[onthegreenline]

Yep, those are the ones... I'd love to hear some sound samples but haven't found any. I wonder how they handle the high notes - no wood cores, do they come through ok?

[pianotuner steveo]

Bjammerz, as far as I know, you can't buy this type of felt in this shape currently. Hammer head felt is much harder than damper felt and other felts that are readily available. Damper head felt would definietly not work as hammer tips. This had to be a specialized deal that Rhodes had with some piano hammer company. If anyone out there knows of a source, let us know. these tips almost look like upside down wurlitzer dampers, but again, damper felt is too soft.

[Ben Bove]

Yeah I assumed damper wouldn't work, but interesting they don't have a thickness like that.

On the high notes, they actually are wood core, it's a woodcore tip with a thin piece of felt laid across the tip.  I know of a guy that has one I'll try to get in contact with him and ask for a recording and more pics.

[Ben Bove]

I totally forgot - Bill Evans recorded an album in 1970 "From Left to Right" with a suitcase Rhodes, his first with electric piano.  Action shot on the front cover shows a black-topped mark I, and in listening to the tracks this morning he's definitely playing on a square felt-tipped Rhodes if it's 1970.  Grab this album if it's on iTunes and there are your samples!

[Mark II]

I second that proposal. "From left to right" is a really great recording and a must have for any rhodes lover.
Go and get it.

Mark II

[Dan Belcher]

I second that proposal. "From left to right" is a really great recording and a must have for any rhodes lover.
Go and get it.

Mark II

I actually prefer the album recorded shortly after that one, "The Bill Evans Album" (awesome title).  Great felt-hammertip Rhodes on that one as well, and some absolutely fantastic songs (Sugar Plum, Waltz for Debbie, and Funkarello just to name a few)

[onthegreenline]

wow... I know "The Bill Evans Album" in and out - had no idea that's a square-felt rhodes, although I always thought it sounded a little different. What -almost- ruins this album for me is the fact that the studio never bothered to tune the acoustic piano, when combined with the slightly out of tune rhodes it makes my ears hurt! It's his only album for CBS as far as I know, and I'm sure this and the sub-par recording may have been a reason why. The music is brilliant, but the album has a pretty flat sound, the rhodes especially. Sounds like they had no idea how to handle recording it yet!

[Mark II]

I actually prefer the album recorded shortly after that one, "The Bill Evans Album" (awesome title).  Great felt-hammertip Rhodes on that one as well, and some absolutely fantastic songs (Sugar Plum, Waltz for Debbie, and Funkarello just to name a few)

I will check it out. Thanks for the input, Dan.

Mark II