Fender Rhodes Mark 1a questions

[tomcurrie]

I just recently purchased a Fender Rhodes Mark 1A for $80 at a garage sale. Needs a small amount of work. Some keys are quieter than others. 2 hammers are broken. Does anyone know the difference between the Mark 1 and Mark 1A. I hear the Mark 1A are the most desirable of all Rhodes. Someone please give me some info on what I have.

[raemon80]

$80??!!
You Die NOW!!!! :twisted:

[Mark II]

Hi.
congrats on your steal

http://www.fenderrhodes.com/models/mark1a.php

http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=514

age:

http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=512

Mark II

[MikeMalone]

$80 !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[Mark II]

compared to the other US citizen who gets things like that for free it's a lot of money.

Mark II

[Ben Bove]

There's a misconception about the Mark IA.  Mark IA was only a designation from 1971-1972.  I'm not sure exactly why the A was added, but there's really no discernable difference in sound/playability compared to pianos up to 1974 (perhaps the A was just to note a production line change).

So the A in my opinion doesn't mean much but the actual vintage of your piano, 1971 or 1972, is a great era to have.

[dnarkosis]

The guy from whom I bought my Stage 54 bought it originally at a yard sale for ...

$25.00  :shock:

I almost fainted when he told me.
But then he asked me, "Do you think that was a good price?"
I responded, "Well, umm, yeah, I guess, probably, maybe, depending etc. ... " :roll:

[Rob A]

My home piano was sold at a yard sale for $25.

Unfortunately, not to me.

Fortunately, I eventually did acquire it.

[raemon80]

my wife is in Dallas atm visiting her familiy. I'm calling her RIGHT NOW to scavenge yard/garage sales!

[tdintbl]

I'm feeling quite lucky again as I got my 1973 Mark 1A 88 in quite good condition for free. It had been sitting unused in the band room of the local high school for at least a decade, possibly more. No one seems to know where it came from, who put it there, and certainly the previous owner hasn't ever shown any intention on reclaiming it.

So the band director, after a five minute rant about it being a boat anchor, told me I could have if I just get it out of there. It needs some help on a few specific notes, cleaned or replaced pots, replacement of missing cover clasps, repair of the sustain rod, and legs. Of course the legs were missing, of course...

[rick88]

I got my MKII for a old roland drum machine  in a trade !!!

[liamliamliam]

hate to say it, but I got my 1976 mk1 stage 73 free from the college I work at.

A previous employee had gifted it to the library. The library didn't have an amp for it or anyplace to put it... so they stored it in an unused bathroom for 10+ years until one day I happened to accidently find it... that was a magic day! I almost crapped myself when I realized what it was! Pretty good condition as well, only real problem was it needed some adjustment and had a few rips in the tolex.

For whatever reason there are lots of pianos and console organs as well laying around this school, hidden in closets and collecting dust (it's a catholic all girls college on the main line outside of Philadelphia).

So my recommendation is to definitly look at schools for cheap/free pianos/organs!