Zawinuls Rhodes-Setup: Stage? Suitcase? Twin-Reverb?

[Nitrofunk]

Hi!
Does anybody know which Rhodes and which Amplification Joe Zawinul used on his early and mid-70s Weather-Report-Albums? He has a very hard, tube-like Sound, so I guess he plays his Stage (Suitcase) over a Twin-Reverb? Am I right?
Also - is there a way to simulate his Phasing-Sound without having to buy the ultra-expensive Mutron? I have a Boss Se-70 Multi-Fx device, which has a nice 8-Step-Phaser. Close, but not quite the same...
Peter

[Wampumpeag]

As for the phasers, one of the best sounding analog phasers in my opinion is EHX Small Stone. For me it has a very warm analog 70s sound, i have read it has special circuit and differs from other phasers in tone. And that theres a model of Maestro phaser that sounds close to Small Stone.

[Nitrofunk]

Well, I've had the Smallstone as well as the Phase 90. But they sound different than Zawinuls Phaser, which has a lot more "whirl" to it. But I still wonder how Joe did get this hard, aggressive Rhodes-Tone? Did he use a Suitcase-model?

[modorange]

There's a somewhat-obscured view of Zawinul's setup on the excellent DVD Live at Montreux. I loaned my copy out but will be getting it back soon but I only remember I think he was playing an 88 key, looked like a Stage top. Sitting on top of the Rhodes were 2 ARP 2600 keyboards and to his right what appears to be an Oberheim 4 voice. It sounded like he may have been playing the Rhodes into a Wah pedal. I don't remember if any views of the floor or even below keyboard level were offered on this. I like the EH pedals but my personal favorite is the MXR phase 100.

[keysandslots]

Yup, that was an Oberheim 4-voice, one of my all-time favourite synths.  I only played one once, it was amazing, wish I had bought it at the time.  I think Zawinul must've had his Rhodes voiced to have the tines really close to the pickups because when he hammered the thing you could hear it bite.  He did use a wah on a few songs.

I saw Weather Report live once, at "Con Hall", part of the University of Toronto.  Jaco was completely wasted.  You could easily see the pissed-off looks the other band members kept giving him.

As for the phase shifter, I don't think you're going to get anywhere close with a Smallstone or a Phase 90.  I'm happy with the sound of the Maxon PH-350 I bought recently, best phaser I've heard since my Mutron died.

Randy

[Spookyman]

I allways thought that the Rhodes sound of Zawinul (Weather Report...) was played with a 1972 Suitecase (88 keys), with quite a barky sound. Later, Alan Howard was preparing the Rhodes 88 of Mr. Zawinul...

In therm of Phaser, Zawinul was a user of Mutron Biphase  

In my ears, one of the best sounding phaser available.