Searching for a Fender Rhodes Mark I from 1974 or earlier

[Jordy]

Searching for a Fender Rhodes Mark I from 1974 or earlier.
No rust please, and no fungus or stinking wood.
I want to try it first so shipping isn't a possibility.
Will pick up in entire Holland.

[Ben Bove]

Holland, NY US?  haha.

[Quatschmacher]

I guess you've already tried Marktplaats.nl. There are always several on there of various vintage.

[Jordy]

I guess you've already tried Marktplaats.nl. There are always several on there of various vintage.

Yep, I did (but thanks for the advice)
The FENDER Rhodes on marktplaats.nl is pretty rare. And mostly when a Fender is on the site it's incomplete.

[Quatschmacher]

There's a guy in Beegden (in Limburg) who sells them on Marktplaats regularly. It might be worth contacting him to see what he's got in the pipeline. His name is Ruud and I know his ebay handle is "r73-88". If you've got an ebay account you should be able to get in touch with him via their messanging service.

Peter

[Jordy]

There's a guy in Beegden (in Limburg) who sells them on Marktplaats regularly. It might be worth contacting him to see what he's got in the pipeline. His name is Ruud and I know his ebay handle is "r73-88". If you've got an ebay account you should be able to get in touch with him via their messanging service.

Peter

Thank you, and I have a question: Is it true that FENDER Rhodes's have worse action than Rhodes's because of the wooden keys? (because then I delete my request for a Fender Rhodes and search for a younger Rhodes (on Marktplaats.nl) with better action and maybe a little less good sound)

[Mark II]

no, it's not because of the wooden keys but it is said that some users prefer the later Rhodes with bump mod which makes the keyboard better playing wise.
I dont have experience with any rhodes beside my Mark II. So no comments on that by me.

But if I had to choose: better sound or better keyboard feel I would choose the sound and try to get along with the keyboard.

just my 2 cents

Mark II

[Jordy]

no, it's not because of the wooden keys but it is said that some users prefer the later Rhodes with bump mod which makes the keyboard better playing wise.
I dont have experience with any rhodes beside my Mark II. So no comments on that by me.

But if I had to choose: better sound or better keyboard feel I would choose the sound and try to get along with the keyboard.

just my 2 cents

Mark II

hmmm, though choice.

[raemon80]

pre '75 piano's do tend to have a heavier action, though this can easily be modified (key pedestal) to lighten it up.

[jim]

they are not "better" playing wise, they are different.

[Ben Bove]

The age old question!

Yes action comparatively feels "heavier" on Fender AND Rhodes pianos before mid 1978.  Mark I and Mark II pianos after that have lighter action as a result of the "Key Pedestal Bump."  This is only comparing Rhodes side by side, both actions when set up properly are ok and you get used to them.  If your Rhodes feels like a bear to play then it needs service.

On the majority (obviously not all), people prefer early fender sound but hate the action.  people prefer late Rhodes action but not the sound.

To get the best of both worlds, you'll have to adjust one or the other.

[pianotuner steveo]

Bjammerz that's "Rotterdam" NY and "Amsterdam" NY... don't know of a Holland,NY but there may be one...
:wink:

[raemon80]

I know of Holland, TX.... :lol:

[Mark II]

they are not "better" playing wise, they are different.

Thanks for putting this straight, Sir.
Dont give up on me.

:wink:

Mark II

[jim]

i just hate the early action bashing. and i don't like later action. so....thats my...thing i guess.

and i guess some people hate having to bash their early action! :lol:  gosh i'm a funny bastard.

[Jordy]

Since I already saved the money to get it intonated by Rob Coops (the Herbie-sound). I can ask him too if he wants do a key-pedestialmod for me.

So...
Still searching for a pre-74/75 Fender Rhodes in Holland (NL :wink: )

[Jordy]

I found Rob Coops a bit hard to deal with (rude, patronizing), so I went to ep-service (really nice people) and I get all my supplies from them now, but I guess many people have had good experiences with Rob, so don't just take my word for it...

The main reason I would pick Rob Coops above EP-service because of his hour wages:
EP-Service       €45,- excl. taxes (19%) (€45×1,19=€53,55)
Rob Coops    €26,50 incl. taxes (19%)

53,55
26,50-
a lot of money (its said they usually say it took them 18hrs)

[raemon80]

I'm with you Gunnar. Exactly what I felt.
Within the first 5 minutes I was conversating with him, I knew this was NOT the guy I wanted to do business with.

[raemon80]

I found Rob Coops a bit hard to deal with (rude, patronizing), so I went to ep-service (really nice people) and I get all my supplies from them now, but I guess many people have had good experiences with Rob, so don't just take my word for it...

The main reason I would pick Rob Coops above EP-service because of his hour wages:
EP-Service       €45,- excl. taxes (19%) (€45×1,19=€53,55)
Rob Coops    €26,50 incl. taxes (19%)

53,55
26,50-
a lot of money (its said they usually say it took them 18hrs)

he gets EU funds, so basically that's where he compensates....but just for fun, go to Schagen and have a walk-around, I bet you'll love it.

[Jordy]

he gets EU funds,

I know, Did you guys have seen Ep-service's clinic's on Youtube!?
Good lord, they have a bunch of eye-candy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t--LcG0GdDI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEF9mU6a6Cs

(I can translate some parts for you guys if you want)

[raemon80]

haha!, I used to teach at the HBA. Cool vid, Marcel is super.

[Jordy]

haha!, I used to teach at the HBA. Cool vid, Marcel is super.

Did you hear that at 2:45?
"Hier heb ik een Fender Rhodes staan.
En hier zie je dat de hamer anders is opgebouwd, want daar zit een gedeelte hout op dat is wat ik net ook al zei: "dan krijg je er dat rauwere geluid uit"
't Komt alleen maar het is zwaarder het speelt ook taaier. Als je echt de hele avond staat te spelen is het écht op het eind van de avond van uhh.. óó ik ben aan het werk geweest"

Try to translate:

Here I've got a Fender Rhodes
And here you can see the hammer is different build up, because it containst a part of wood and that's what i just told you "you will get that raw sound"
That's because it's heavier and plays tougher. Really,.. if you played this thing the whole night it's really like you've did a heavy work-out

So basically this tech confirms the myth

And I have another question () do you NEED a FENDER Rhodes to get the Herbie sound, I mean can you make a Rhodes sound like a Fender Rhodes

[Ben Bove]

Haha no it's not the "heavier hammer" syndrome.  This is always the misconception even among some techs.  The Big teardrop hammers may be heavier on silvertop models, and I believe it could increased double-striking as a result, but it isn't the sole reason they're harder to play.  When I install bump mods on Mark I pianos, the action is just about as fast as Late Mark 1s.  Also, plastic hammer models with no bump from 1976 and 1977 can be just as "heavy" as "herbie rhodes."

The reason the Mark I action is heavy is because the early action design has no "jack."  There is no single point of throwing the hammer from key to tine.  As the hammer rolls over the key pedestal, the point of contact changes continuously.  The curve of the hammer determines at what angle you're pushing on the hammer.  This means as you're pushing down, energy is constantly bled off up until the hammer hits the tine.  It will take you a lot more force to play a note if you start a key halfway down.  If you look at a grand piano action, you'll see this jack.

The pedestal bump serves as a makeshift jack to make the action throw consistent all the way through.  It helps somewhat by throwing the hammer from mostly 1 point opposed to the whole curve of the underside of the hammer.  That's why they're "heavier."  Basically early Mark I action is like a rocking chair.


Anywho - if you want an identical "headhunters" Herbie sound, you will have to get a pre-1975.  All the parts play a small role in creating that tone, and it's rather difficult to make a Mark II sound exactly like that without EQ and a lot of other things.

[Jordy]

Haha no it's not the "heavier hammer" syndrome.  This is always the misconception even among some techs.  The Big teardrop hammers may be heavier on silvertop models, and I believe it could increased double-striking as a result, but it isn't the sole reason they're harder to play.  When I install bump mods on Mark I pianos, the action is just about as fast as Late Mark 1s.  Also, plastic hammer models with no bump from 1976 and 1977 can be just as "heavy" as "herbie rhodes."

The reason the Mark I action is heavy is because the early action design has no "jack."  There is no single point of throwing the hammer from key to tine.  As the hammer rolls over the key pedestal, the point of contact changes continuously.  The curve of the hammer determines at what angle you're pushing on the hammer.  This means as you're pushing down, energy is constantly bled off up until the hammer hits the tine.  It will take you a lot more force to play a note if you start a key halfway down.  If you look at a grand piano action, you'll see this jack.

The pedestal bump serves as a makeshift jack to make the action throw consistent all the way through.  It helps somewhat by throwing the hammer from mostly 1 point opposed to the whole curve of the underside of the hammer.  That's why they're "heavier."  Basically early Mark I action is like a rocking chair.


Anywho - if you want an identical "headhunters" Herbie sound, you will have to get a pre-1975.  All the parts play a small role in creating that tone, and it's rather difficult to make a Mark II sound exactly like that without EQ and a lot of other things.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
I'm still searching for a pre 75 btw

[Jordy]

Saturdy I go to Rob Coops' Atelier. See if he has got my new pet.

[3bergen]

I think that's my suitcase standing in the video!
I also tried Coops and after a very short and unpleasant phone conversation I decided not to trust him with my precious Rhodes and clavi... And so far I'm very happy I went to EP service, very nice friendly people and tremendous amount of cool stuff!

[Jordy]

Saturdy I go to Rob Coops' Atelier. See if he has got my new pet.

He hasn't got any, so still searching.