Bidding on "Suitcase 54" on Ebay

[pianorocker]

Hey guys,

So I'm going to go for this rhodes 54 (mistitled suitcase) that's in baltimore which is really close to my location.  If anyone else is interested please contact me so that we don't bid against eachother.  I've been looking for the 54 ever since I lost my 73...so I hope this is it!

Thanks

[Ben Bove]

best of luck!

[sean]

Oh crud.  It is 36 miles from my house.

I would love to own it, however...  I got too many Rhodes in the house right now.

Since I sold my pride and joy 1973 stage 73 to a friend, I only have four more Rhodes pianos left.  

Oh... five days to think about it... five days.

[pianorocker]

Oh crud.  It is 36 miles from my house.

I would love to own it, however...  I got too many Rhodes in the house right now.

Since I sold my pride and joy 1973 stage 73 to a friend, I only have four more Rhodes pianos left.  

Oh... five days to think about it... five days.

Haha, yeah I traded my 1972 Stage 73 for a Yamaha cp-60m.  Love it, but I really want a rhodes to play out with.  I mean, I'm going to bid on it.  So I just want to make sure we're not bidding against eachother because that's ridiculous.  So, let me know.

[pianorocker]

sean, are you bidding?  I don't want to bid against you, but this would be great for my college dorm.  

also, bjammerz what do you think would be a good price?  when I bought my pristine, all original, babied 73 key mark one back 2 years ago I paid 750.  I don't have nearly that much now, and this is hardly in that condition, I just was wondering if you had any advice.

Thanks,
Caleb

[Ben Bove]

Well 54s are all over the board being that they're an odd-bunch.  You know, the "Ford Edsel" lovers.

I've seen them go from $400-$1000.  $400 from the guy that wanted an 88, $1000 from the guy saying "this is the perfect light-weight gigging Rhodes!"

So I'd be happy around the $600-$800 range.

[pianorocker]

Thanks for the response!  Yeah, I remember old topics saying how they are more rare and limited, but the only real benefit is weight/size and weight is really not that great of an improvement.  I just want something more manageable and easy to handle.  I really miss my pristine 73 Mark I stage, but I want a player and this one looks like a good option maybe.

Don't you need a preamp or something with the 54's as well?  I'm new to there whole arena because when I bought my 73 and researched and all of that I always looked at the 54's as just something to complete a collection.

Thanks,
Caleb

[Ben Bove]

It's the same with a 54 as with any stage piano.  You can run it direct into a keyboard / guitar amp if you'd like, sound levels are fine.

It's recommended if you've got the money to invest in a preamp though for better sound options.

[pianorocker]

okay, thanks.  and do all 54's have plastic keys/hammers?  any other important things?

thanks

[Ben Bove]

actually no.  Half and half - almost all pianos from 1980 have wood keys.  Just make sure to check as it's getting closer to to the end of the year, say "5080" for example, it could have been finished into 1981.  They started using plastic keys on pianos finished a few months into 1981.

[sean]

Hey Caleb,

No I can't bid enough to win this one.  I won't get in your way.  I don't think a bid under $800 can win it.  And it might fetch a lot more than that.

Those are  wood keys with red felt bushings in the photos of the 54 on ebay.
The damper felts look just fine.  It has the pedal, and probably the legs too.

I think you have a heck of a lot of courage to put a Rhodes 54 in a college dorm.

Sean

[pianorocker]

Hi Sean,

I hope it doesn't go up to 800...but I haven't seen a 54 on ebay lately so I don't really know their market value.  If it goes that high, I won't be getting this one either.  I figure it looks to be in fine working condition, but hardly the kind of condition collector's or people looking for a pretty rhodes are looking for.

I have a really secure loft-style room and am trying to get some gigging done with my roommates.  Any reason why you think it's going to go that high???  I really would like it, so I hope it doesn't.

Thanks,
Caleb

[matt.musicman]

5 minutes left!

Up to $520!


Go Caleb! Bid my son! BiiiD!

[pianorocker]

I'm out.  I had 500 ready, but didn't even get a chance to throw that out there.  I guess the search continues.  That was so close to me too...darn.   :roll: It also looked to be more of a player than a collector's piece, but that and the pick up only didn't seem to regulate the price at all.

[pianorocker]

It went for 635.  I don't have that on a student musician budget...

[matt.musicman]

Bummer dude. I wish you the best of luck in your search. I've been looking for a 54 for a looong time. If you find two at the same time  :roll:  Give me a shout!

[pianorocker]

Have you had the experience of them being expensive or just hard to find.  I can't even find many on craigslist...which is saying something compared to most things I look for on there.

[geyster]

If I'm not mistaken I think 54's are more common (although still pretty rare!) in Europe !
From what I understood they were produced more for the export market...but I could be wrong, if someone could enlighten us ?

Anyway I've bought mine in London for £1000, and believe it or not it was still a bargained price for me, I live in France which must be the country where Rhodes pianos sell at the highest prices in the world ! (1800€ is a common price for an average condition piano!)

So for $635 man I could have bought 3 54's at that price! :lol: