Looking to buy a MK-1

[ted1297]

Hi all,

I'm looking to buy my first Rhodes, and have been prowling Ebay lately in search of one (I live in Maine, and though I'm close to Boston Craigslist searches have been pretty futile so far). I'm willing to spend up to about $1500, considering that I'm not too adept mechanically and would like something that's been well maintained and ought to hold up.

So far, these two, especially the second, have stood out among the current crop on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1975-Fender-Rhodes-88-Mark-1-Piano_W0QQitemZ260252030647QQihZ016QQcategoryZ29552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Rhodes-MK-1-Stage-Piano_W0QQitemZ330245555804QQihZ014QQcategoryZ29552QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Considering that I'd have to pay approx. $150 in shipping if I were to buy either of those two (assuming no one bids on them and they sell for the starting bid price), would purchasing one of them be worth it? Could I get something better, or something comparable, for a similar if not smaller amount of money?

Thanks,
Ted

[Rob A]

I'd say hold out unless there's something about that one that is particularly desirable to you (some people have a thing for 1973). You can score one for half that if you just sit tight and wait.

Give the seller's opinion of the value of his included patch cable, I think his expectations are a bit out of whack.

[raemon80]

wow.....he "stretched tuned" it..lol!
:lol:

it is a nice piano, though. Especially with the current $ - € ratio.....i would get it.

[Kolbenschlag]

Well,

FIrst off, both of those look pretty nice.  If you've got the money and are willing to spend it, you'd probably be very happy with either of those. (Just judging by the way they look)

But having said that, I agree with Rob A.  I know how difficult it is to wait for the right Rhodes to come along at the right price.  I waited about 2 years to find mine.  

I think your money would be better spend finding a good deal ( you could definitely find one half that price) and then putting some money into it.  But like I said, depends on what you want.

[Ben Bove]

They're both overpriced especially on the Buy-It-Now.

The 88 from 1975 should be about $900-$1000, and the 73 is in good shape so I'd say the same.

However there are so many of these out there, you can get a comparable one usually for $600-$800 if you hold out and watch craigslist.

[Rob A]

Yeah, they really aren't rarities yet. The caveat being that you may have a desire for a specific production date range or feature, and if so expect to pay a bit more to fulfill your wishes.

[raemon80]

i have a thing for pre'75 models, and like I said...the euro-dollar ratio is ridiculous so for a European, this is an acceptable price.
But, the others are right....try craigslist or look a bit further, it'll definitely save you some cash