Asking prices for Rhodes out of control?

Ben Bove · May 22, 2009, 02:57:49 PM

Just seeing if anyone noticed it's getting a little out of hand price-wise for what everyone is asking for Rhodes.

Not that I'm complaining, great everyone values them! but are they actually selling at these prices?

I just sold a suitcase 88 I had for like $1200 or so in good shape and I know the market value, and it was immediately relisted on CList for $2000. Not annoyed so much that he might make money on me, but I think it's just a little much to ask in general. I recently saw an ad asking $1800 for a suitcase 73 and the quote was "I see these things sell for $1200 in poor beat-up shape".

I think it's becoming the Hammond-price syndrome and hope that the prices stay stable enough that people can afford to buy them.

MikeMalone · May 22, 2009, 03:50:34 PM

I noticed that too....and yet my 79 Stage that I just sold on Ebay went for $700...despite the fact that it's in mint mechanical condition and full of new parts!

jus · May 22, 2009, 04:06:13 PM

I've noticed a similar trend around here too. A "nice" suitcase (meaning working, but not 100% cosmetically) go for $1500+ and a stage in the same condition for at least a grand. I bought my suitcase not even two years ago for $600, and while it wasn't in showroom condition, it works just fine.

On the other hand there is a Jetsons model on craiglist now for 600 or so. I wish I had the extra cash to pick it up.

As far as the hammond prices go, those have also been out of control around here lately. I've seen m100s go anywhere from $600-2000 that's not a typo, two THOUSAND dollars. M3s for around the same price. I've seen a few H100s going for around 1500 bucks. There's also plenty of the transistor models going anywhere from 250-500.

I feel like good deals(or should I say fair deals) are much harder to come by now. Maybe it's the poor economy that's making people try to screw each other on these prices, I don't know, but in the few years I've been looking at vintage keyboard stuff I've seen them skyrocket.

michaeltristan · May 23, 2009, 12:33:19 AM

I honestly blame the internet. Throw out a CRAZY price, and reel 'em in....

or

Its the Japanese. They have been buying hordes of vintage gear, and storing them in climate controlled warehouses next to all the million dollar artworks they have been stockpiling for the past two decades. Row upon row of Rhodes, Wurlies and B3's. We're talking BIG MONEY, we're talking about Sony kinda big money. Drive the price sky high, then SLOWLY feed 'em back to the American market without disrupting the inflated price.

ahrho · May 23, 2009, 12:38:36 PM

Uk prices although high seem to have been stable for a while now, but Ebay throws in a random element now and again, as i guess all auctions do. Hard to see them going down much though.

pretzellogic · May 24, 2009, 08:57:13 PM

Another example of major price variability: I just managed to get a Mark I Stage 73 in quite good condition with all parts (legs, pedal) and everything working well for $500. This was on Craigslist in the Detroit area. But there's a wide range in what people are asking. Just on Craigslist here I saw two other Mark I's, one for $800 and the other for $1100. I think the guy I bought it from was moving and wanted to get rid of it fast, but in any case I counted myself fortunate.

suitcase'81 · May 25, 2009, 06:14:26 AM

You think your paying top dollar for Rhodes piano's.
try finding one in The Netherlands.
the cheapest Stage i can find right now is 1000 Euro's (that's about $1400)

When I got my MK2 Suitcase (from Germany) I paid 2500 Euro's
(thats's $3500)
And that's not even counting the 1000KM (620Miles) I had to drive to get it.

pianotuner steveo · May 25, 2009, 04:18:19 PM

I can't even get $100 for my Hammond L- I don't understand!

Ben Bove · May 26, 2009, 11:55:07 AM

Lol did I read that post correctly above about the Japanese conspiracy plot to stockpile vintage Rhodes??

Hey it may be true who am I to say

Maybe they didn't dump those Mark 3s into the sea and they're planning to resell!

Rob A · May 26, 2009, 08:08:12 PM

Stage seventy three on CL here yesterday went for 250. No I didn't buy it, I was out of town.

bru · May 26, 2009, 10:01:21 PM

Nashville gets some zingers sometimes.
MK1 Stage 73 went for 250 a month ago, in great condition.
But I saw an MK2 suitcase go for 2500 recently. What's the deal?
I think around here, there is so much vintage gear available and stored in the basements of music city's old musician types. Some people think that they have the biggest gold mine of their lives, while others figure it's just some old clunker nowadays.

pianotuner steveo · May 27, 2009, 09:39:59 AM

Sounds like the seller of the Mk 1 stage didnt know the true value.Should have been 2-3 times that easily. Suitcases with working amps are worth a bit more, but the value will still vary based on condition. $2500 is not unreasonable anymore,but again,depending on condition.

I just won some parts on Ebay for a different keyboard-they are worth over $60. I won them for $4 and shipping is FREE.

Some people just don't realize what they have.

billulsund · May 27, 2009, 06:04:30 PM

Things are not too bad here in Seattle. The most expensive on on CL is a stage 88 for $1000, but there is also a very clean looking stage 73 for $600, and a couple other stage and suitcase pianos in between that range. The prices are a bit higher than I have seen in the past or paid (I got at suitcase 73 for $400 and a suitcase 88 for $300). Hammonds here are still priced pretty low, although I did recently see an M100 for $500, but most of the M and L models I have seen lately go for $100 - $200. Of course you still cant find a B3, C3, A100 or any other comparable model for less than $3000.

jus · May 27, 2009, 06:47:04 PM

I've actually found that as far as hammonds go the B3/C3/A100 prices are a lot more reasonable than the spinet models. There's also been a few CVs for around $750 which is pretty good to me(although the CVs don't interest me that much).

Ben Bove · May 27, 2009, 07:33:15 PM

Worst part about those pre "3" organs, whether it be Bv B2 etc is that they have ratchet-style drawbars, not continuous contact drawbars. Meaning that when you pull them out while playing, the sound actually cuts out as it's changing volume. It's also physically a drag as they're tougher to push in.

Not much of a problem if you're a set and forget style player though.

pianotuner steveo · May 28, 2009, 09:36:54 AM

Does anyone know what L111's are worth? -not scratched up-works pretty well..circa 1965/66 I have no room for it and my sister wants it out of her house.There just doesnt seem to be a market for it around here.
I think it has a minor problem with the reverb unit,but it's spring so it should be easy to fix... I gotta find a new home for it!

Ben Bove · May 28, 2009, 11:42:16 AM

As an example

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/msg/1192680380.html

pianotuner steveo · May 28, 2009, 09:19:46 PM

well that Hammond is a LOT fancier than what I have...

jus · May 28, 2009, 10:36:16 PM

Your hammond is actually preferred over ones like that. Generally speaking, the more "stuff"(for lack of a better term) it has the worse it is. And by stuff I mean things like the tape recorder, built in leslie, or lots of other sounds.

Ben Bove · May 29, 2009, 12:38:59 AM

Yeah it's a Collonnade model, and I think it was $5000 new, and they're worth about a grand tops. not 15

pianotuner steveo · May 29, 2009, 08:26:00 AM

So why can't I even get $100 for mine?

garagebandking41 · May 29, 2009, 10:19:17 AM

My friend bought one in a salvation army for 45 dollars. Not sure if that's a deal, I always thought the L-1xx's were cheap. But then again, I know nothing about organs.

jus · May 29, 2009, 10:32:53 AM

That must just be your area, around here an L wouldn't last long at $100. Just keep at it, I'm sure you'll find someone.

pianotuner steveo · May 29, 2009, 02:06:11 PM

Someone told me that this model was used by Procul Harum-is that true?

It sure can sound the same except no Leslie, but then again,I guess most Hammonds do sound about the same without effects...

John Brevik · May 29, 2009, 06:06:49 PM

Quote from: "pianotuner steveo"Someone told me that this model was used by Procul Harum-is that true?

It sure can sound the same except no Leslie, but then again,I guess most Hammonds do sound about the same without effects...

Procol Harum used an M-100 series, which is similar to the L except in the vibrato -- the M100 uses a mechanical scanner like the B3. I believe that L's were used by ELP and Kansas.

Sadly, these old spinets aren't worth much, and $100 seems about right for an L-100. To me, the king of the spinets is the M3, and those might fetch $250 or so on the coasts.

Alan Lenhoff · May 31, 2009, 04:44:26 PM

Quote from: "bjammerz"Worst part about those pre "3" organs, whether it be Bv B2 etc is that they have ratchet-style drawbars, not continuous contact drawbars. Meaning that when you pull them out while playing, the sound actually cuts out as it's changing volume. It's also physically a drag as they're tougher to push in.

Not much of a problem if you're a set and forget style player though.

Slight correction: Hammond had a habit of making production changes on the fly as parts ran out. My 1954 B2 (produced probably 6 months before the B-3 started production) came from the factory with smooth drawbars. Late production C2s came the same way.

Mine's pretty much perfect and was retrofitted with a Trek II percussion unit. when I got it I bought it about 4 years ago on ebay, and when I back out the price of the two Leslies that came with it, I figured I paid about $500 for the organ. Not bad for an organ that is, more lor less, a B-3.

Ben Bove · June 01, 2009, 11:36:39 AM

Thanks for noting!

kiwizz · July 23, 2009, 06:57:08 AM

Couple months back I was in Tokyo and saw a Stage 73 in fair condition in a music store with tag of around 2,000$! Must be hard to find there as well! It's also something you don't see often here in Thailand.

I've noticed a drop in prices in the last couple of months on eBay though. Tempting to get another one!

FanOfTheFunk · July 30, 2009, 07:47:49 PM

some of the late model B2's have the smooth drawbars. i think post 1954. not sure about the C2's though.

mockam · August 03, 2009, 04:54:35 PM

I'm thinking about buying a 1978 Rhodes suitcase that is in prime condition- hardly any wear on the hammer tips, no loose or questionable hardware, fully functioning amp and preamp, and little damage to the fabric. I've played it and the action is great, tone seems perfect. Essentially this thing has sat in a church since it was bought and appears to be in stellar condition.
The price is $1000- buying it local so I don't need to deal with shipping.

My question is: Is this a good price for such a keyboard? It only has 73 keys, and I fantasized about waiting for an 88 key suitcase, but the number of keys is not really a big deal to me, given the good shape it's in. However since it is my first purchase of a Rhodes I'm not sure if this is a deal or not. Any advice?

Also I don't know if anyone has any thoughts on the 88 key suitcase models- I've heard that they are significantly harder to haul to gigs (more space and heavier than the 73), that the higher and lower range keys are weird sounding, and that the pre-amp isn't set up as well as those of later suitcase models. Are these valid considerations? What would some added benefits be that the 73 key suitcase can't offer?

Thanks

suitcase'81 · August 03, 2009, 05:01:22 PM

sounds like a deal to me,
but i'm in Europe and prices seem to vary a lot depending on your location.

Ben Bove · August 03, 2009, 05:38:11 PM

It sounds like a good deal if it's in as stellar shape as it sounds. Suitcases run a good buck, and they're often a 7/10 or 8/10. So if you've got a real nice one, it would be great. You can almost always sell the piano what you buy it for, so if you end up hating it... you can be sure to reclaim most if not all the $1000 when you sell.

The 88, it's a personal preference. A majority of players do not really use the high register at all, and low register is sometimes questionable. It is heavier, and bigger obviously. In most cases, a 73 is actually your best bet over an 88 unless you want to have the option just incase.

pianotuner steveo · August 04, 2009, 07:16:30 AM

I personally would snap this one up if I were you. I never had any use for an 88 for the reasons Bjammerz stated. It sounds like this may be a great deal. The weight of an 88 alone is enough for me to stay away,plus the tone of the lowest and highest notes is not great.

mockam · August 04, 2009, 01:03:18 PM

Ok thanks! I think I'm going to go for it.

I did have just one other question, this one regarding tuning. I have heard from two people that the keyboard needs to be re-tuned fairly often- according to them sometimes even after just one night of heavy playing-however after looking up info about it and actually checking out the tuning mechanism myself it seems like this shouldn't be an issue. Is it likely that the people I talked to had some issue with their respective keyboards that caused them to slip out of tune often, or is tuning a real problem for Rhodes players?

Rob A · August 04, 2009, 05:26:01 PM

Tuning is a real problem for Wurlitzer players. It's a minor issue at worst for Rhodes players.

The procedure is simple enough, and I wouldn't agree that you will tune it frequently.

pianotuner steveo · August 04, 2009, 10:39:49 PM

I agree-tuning is not a frequent issue with Rhodes-if tines slip out of tune, the springs may be loose.Pretty rare,I'd say. Rhodes are very easy to tune.Wurlitzers are a nightmare to tune,their only real drawback.

suitcase'81 · August 05, 2009, 04:59:05 AM

i've been gigging my rhodes for about a year now,
I've only tuned it ONCE...

mockam · August 05, 2009, 08:26:34 PM

All right thanks for the input. I believe I will soon be joining the ranks of Rhodes owners!

darryl77 · August 16, 2009, 10:22:47 PM

There's no doubt that Rhodes prices are steadily increasing. I live in Canada and am always pricing these things out. Currently a complete Rhodes (Stage 73 MK1) in good condition in Toronto will go for around $1000-1400 CAD. In less than ideal condition, they go for around $800 (usually missing legs and a sustain pedal). Smaller cities around Toronto can have them as low as $500-$600. You just have to hunt around a bit.

Sometimes you can find a real bargain too. Last week I picked up a Mint Mark V Stage 73 for $2300 CAD ($2080 USD).....but its missing the stand. Anyone know where to find one?

:roll:

Rhythmicons · September 22, 2009, 04:51:37 PM

I don't know if this has been mentioned but a few years ago I saw a "Brand New" Fender Rhodes that the Buy it Now price was 20,000 on ebay. Still in the box original factory sealing and everything. Can you imagine a Brand New Vintage Piano?

It was found in the stockroom of a Music Store that went out of Business. Now if you ask me "losing" an in the box Rhodes in the stock room is testament to why the store went out of business.

I don't know if this thread is ancient but I found it trying to look up prices for the Mark 7.

Ben Bove · September 22, 2009, 05:20:01 PM

Well I think the new Mark VII has killed Vintage Vibe's new out of the box Mark V.

I think it could have sold for maybe at least $6k if there weren't new models coming out.

Don't know pricing check their site maybe.

Fred · September 23, 2009, 09:02:47 AM

That's Speakeasy's Mark V...

Ben Bove · September 23, 2009, 11:33:34 AM

Oh stand corrected! I get them confused sometimes haha.

Guesty1988 · September 23, 2009, 05:07:28 PM

I get the feeling that here in the UK prices are being pushed up by shops charging above the odds. A few years ago my Mk1 73 set me back about £450 I think, all mechanics working well and only needing a bit of tweaking. Now there's a shop called Music Ground flogging a mk2 stage 73 for £1799 on ebay. The same shop has a suitcase for £1899. Silly money really.

Chris Carroll · September 24, 2009, 05:10:51 PM

QuoteOh stand corrected! I get them confused sometimes haha.

Oh man ,that hurts.

Ben Bove · September 25, 2009, 12:19:16 PM

Not regularly confused, just who has this part or that thing.

We know you very well

james · September 25, 2009, 07:18:29 PM

I thought it was pretty ironic that they finally pulled the thing out of the box, as you may have seen if you check Ebay daily like some of us do. :shock: BTW, I'm compiling all of my price lists into one big page for anybody who's curious...the Mark V originally listed at $1095!!!

http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=5694

Looking for Rhodes No5. · September 28, 2009, 06:12:22 AM

My first one was in about

1995. Mk2 73, bought for £50, sold for something below £200 after I sorted it.

1997 Stage 88. Paid £150, sorted it out, can't remember what I got for it. Probably about £300

Most recent one was a suitcase 73 (mk1) sliders. Paid £500 and it was sorted out and perfect. Sold it for £800 a couple of years ago.

I've got £1200 for a Mk1 Suitcase 88 now. That would have to be pretty good for that. Romance aside, they are a very good 1 trick pony.

I've had hammonds, clavinets and a minimoog. Clavinets have gone silly, Minimoogs always were (what a waste of money that was! ) Hammonds are not too bad, you can pick up an Ahorriblehundred or an RT3 on the cheap. Leslie cabs are getting a bit silly, even the non-6 pin ones.

There are a few good Rhodes which come up cheap in the states, but again, they usually say no to shipping. We shall see.

Chris Carroll · September 28, 2009, 08:28:06 AM

The problem with pulling it out of the box is, that it is no longer "New In Box" and it might as well be any MK5 now you see on Ebay. Major mistake by him, I was very suprised to see that myself.

Once you open the box your done, it's just like saving the box. That may help with the sale price but it does not mean N.I.B.

All the ebay fee's it's cost to list that piano for the last 2 years, all the money invested into the piano when purchased. Man I would have unloaded that piano long ago. There is an old commomly coined business term. Turn and Earn.

As in Realestate the buyer sets the price not the seller.

News:

Asking prices for Rhodes out of control?