1976 and 1977 stage.. any differences?

[lobit]

a friend of mines 1976 stage piano seems to sound quite a bit different that my newly purchased 1977 stage. im guessing this would come down to setup, but wanted to see if there were any parts that differ between the 2?

when i say different i mean a bit louder, bassier at max bass, and more tine bell sound and harmonics.  basically fatter and buzzier/bellier  (which i prefer) instead of tight and focused.

i took a good look at both inside, and they look identical, except the 76 seems to have its harp mounted deeper in on the left side than the right. is this a 'trick'? also looks like the tines on the 76 are slightly angled downward toward the hammers, starting a little higher than the 77.

[Ben Bove]

Well the parts shouldn't vary too much between the 76 and 77.  The only thing that comes to mind is I don't know when they did the hammertip switch from the old cube-style neoprene to the angled tips, that might affect the attack sound.

Other than that, it would definitely be a set up issue.  Probably, your 77 is a straight factory set up.  Usually the sound you're looking for takes sliding the pickups a bit closer overall, and adjusting more overtone into the tone of the sound.

Experimenting with one octave maybe in the mid register only (so you can match the surrounding notes in case you need to return it back), I would start playing with and adjusting pickups.  try sliding them a good distance closer without contacting the tines, and see if you get some more presence / fatter sound like you're looking for.

To put more overtone into the sound, adjust the 2nd screw (farthest from you) on the tonebar.  screw in until you hear it "kick up the octave," then backpedal from there.  Try to get an even 1/2 overtone, 1/2 fundamental, then bring in just a little more fundamental pitch if you can hear it.  It might sound initially different, but try setting up a few notes like this and possibly get some great results.

Good luck!

[Rob A]

My 76 has angled profile tips FWIW.

+1 for manipulating the pickup distance, I think that will get you where you want to go.

[modorange]

I was told by a local Piano Tuner/tech/Jazz pianist that there is also an optimal position of the tine end relative to the tip of the pickups too, like at 3 oclock or something, I forgot where he said it was, but he said back in the 70s when all the performing players were playing Rhodes pianos, that's where they put the tines. Straight in front of the pickup would create phasing problems or something like that..

[Michael]

For what it's worth, I believe it's the tines.  I have a 77' suitcase that has the "bell" like tone, (which I love) and a 76' stage that simply can't can't be voiced to do the same.  I've spent countless hours trying.  It can't be done.  No pro can voice it alike imo.

[paulb]

I have a '76 stage and a '77 suitcase.  They are identical on the inside (angled tips), except the cut of the wood keys.  As I remember, the '76 is more of a one piece profile and the '77 has an added (two piece) part at the balance rail bushing.  Other than the key profiles, I don't notice any difference on the interior.  They were both flat bare wood pedestals with the white felt on the hammers cams, (my favorite action personally), but I did a mod on the suitcase 20 years ago, and still regret it a bit!   Paul

[lobit]

i had a chance to do some further investigating having both the 76 and 77 in the same room hooked up to the same amp. even went as far as swapping the harps to see if i could hear a difference in the tines or pickups.

interestingly, i narrowed the difference down to the worn out hammers on the 76!. the rubber must be more dried out causing a bit more of a percussive effect, also the fact that they have grooves in the rubber might affect it a bit. maybe increasing the surface area of the strike.

anyway, its all in the hammer tips. not the pickups, tines, or anything else.

[paulb]

I agree as for sound that both pianos can be set up pretty much the same.  I too have played both harps through the same amp, mainly the stage piano through the suitcase via the RCA cable to preamp and the 5-pin to power amp.  What I find most pleasing is the sound of the suitcase.  I think there is something more "Rhodes like" form me in the preamp and power amp of the suitcase piano.  Might be subconscious, but I prefer the sound of my suitcase to that of my stage through various external amps.