Guitar player with a question...

[jazzguitarplayer]

Hey guys I'm new here to the forum. I actually do not play a Fender Rhodes, though I do play some piano. I am studying jazz guitar at my college and I was wondering if you guys knew of any ways I could possibly get a Fender Rhodes sound from my guitar. Maybe not the exact sound but a similar tone. So do you guys know of any types of pedals that could get a "Rhodes-like" sound? I fear that the only things that can get that sound are other keyboards themselves or some kind of software. But I thought it was worth checking out. Thanks guys.

[georgem]

interesting...

the only possibility i can think of is to attach a midi-converter (pick-up) on your guitar... and then link the midi-channel to a synth or keyboard with  rhodeslike sound.

But i believe that you want a single simpel pedal to achieve that?
I dont know how...

Maybe you can specify what characteristic aspect of the Rhodes-sound you want to emulate? Maybe a bell-like sound?

Perhaps some magic equalizing/distortion of guitar can help....

What kind of guitar do you have?

[jeffwuollet]

The closest you could get would be false harmonics into some chorus or flanger, byt it'd be a pretty dark rhodes. Good luck getting chords out.

[Anonymous]

interesting...

the only possibility i can think of is to attach a midi-converter (pick-up) on your guitar... and then link the midi-channel to a synth or keyboard with  rhodeslike sound.

But i believe that you want a single simpel pedal to achieve that?
I dont know how...

Maybe you can specify what characteristic aspect of the Rhodes-sound you want to emulate? Maybe a bell-like sound?

Perhaps some magic equalizing/distortion of guitar can help....

What kind of guitar do you have?

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Yes a single pedal would be ideal...something I can gig with, etc. I guess it's hard to describe the aspect of the Rhodes I'm looking for...I really love that warm, electric sound and that's what I want out of my guitar.

I think it would be cool to mix the "Rhodes sound" with the original signal so I still sound like I'm playing guitar but have a very warm and unique tone. I am playing a Guild X-170 hollowbody through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp. It already is very warm and sounds great but I think it's cool to be able to change the texture of my sound.

I surfed the net and found guitar synths that seemed like they may be able to do the trick, but...

1) They're pretty expensive.
2) They have a bunch of different keyboard sounds and I'm only looking for one.

I'm not "set" on the Fender Rhodes sound, I'm just looking for a unique tone, but I like the sound of a Rhodes a lot. I'll keep searching/thinking...

[georgem]

if you already have a computer with low-latency-Soundcard, you could use software to do the job...
Look out for a  MIDI-Pick-up, they are not expensive...

[Zaki]

How about a mad DIY-project, rebuilding a real rhodes to be triggered by a midi-pickup.
I think there are some acoustic piano midikits out there, which are actually able to trigger the hammers. Make it fit into a Rhodes, hook it up with a midi-pickup, blend the sounds and you're off.....


Obviously an expensive and diffcult project and it won't be any lighter to gig with, than a real rhodes, but it could be sooo cool (and you'd be able to play the Rhodes as a keyboard as well).

Another option would be to develop rather supernatural capabillities, making it possible for you to take control off the keyboardplayers mind, having him play excactly what you play and at the same time!?

[Anonymous]

How about a mad DIY-project, rebuilding a real rhodes to be triggered by a midi-pickup.
I think there are some acoustic piano midikits out there, which are actually able to trigger the hammers. Make it fit into a Rhodes, hook it up with a midi-pickup, blend the sounds and you're off.....


Obviously an expensive and diffcult project and it won't be any lighter to gig with, than a real rhodes, but it could be sooo cool (and you'd be able to play the Rhodes as a keyboard as well).

Another option would be to develop rather supernatural capabillities, making it possible for you to take control off the keyboardplayers mind, having him play excactly what you play and at the same time!?

I'll keep that in mind.   I guess the "bell" like sound is what I'm after...so I'm trying to find how to achieve that sound with conventional pedals. Unfortunately nothing can seem to make the sound.

That is a pretty sweet idea Zaki. If I had all the time and resources (and know-how) it would definetly be a cool project.

Thanks for the replies everybody...by the way...for some cool Fender Rhodes jazz, check out Earl Harvin Trio. They use a Rhodes on 2 albums: Unincorporated and Live at Gypsy Tea Room. Check them out on Amazon, they're freakin' awesome.

[georgem]

The midi-kit is a nice idea.
But will a hammer-trigger-device be able to reproduce the Digging of the human hands?

[jaktron]

Roland midi pickup and box www.rolandus.com then a laptop with Scarbee VGB and a sequencer, the set up would cost between 2 and 3 G, some guitarist has already done it and has his demo is at www.scarbee.com, go to the rsp 73 demo page. then you can play anything from your guitar, pads, moogs, hammond, strings etc etc, The guitarist in Zawinul syndicate and the great Alan Holdsworth do this kind of thing, as does Mcloughlin

 The golden rule of gear:   you gets what you pay for