Newbie. Unknown Mod on new* piano.

[JFettig]

Hey guys,

I just got my first rhodes yesterday, a 1969 seventy-three suitcase. It has a strange Mod on it, that seems to do nothing, but maybe its broken. I want some thoughts..

on the right side of the name rail, there is a 1/4" jack, and a volume knob (or something knob). it has a metal box behind it (like the box the pre-amp is in), and coming out of that is an XLR, which connects to another XLR, which then wires into the pickups a little before middle C.

When the switch is turned on, the keyboard doesn't sound except for maybe the top 10 notes, and bottom 10 notes. I've tried plugging things in and out of the jack, with no response. Here are some pictures to better show whats going on.

Sorry I have the harp off of the body in these photos, but you get the idea..
Thanks for the help,

Jeff

[sean]

Looks like a "split mod" like http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=4730.

Pop open the box and look for broken connections.  
Maybe it is an active circuit, and it is time to replace the 40-year old 9V battery
(or maybe it steals DC power from the Rhodes preamp DC feed).

Curious that the piano still partially works when the switch is flipped.
Look around for a short to ground on the pickup rail at the location
between "working notes" and "dead notes."


I LOVE this 1969 Rhodes!  Very cool.  
You should feel very lucky to have it.  
I will let Steve tell you how ugly the re-felting job would be on the hammers.  
Maybe you should leave well enough alone.

[pianotuner steveo]

You would need to consult a local tuner about replacing the hammers...

[Tim Hodges]

I just wanted to say, what a great piano anyway! I would love to take on a project like that. Good luck with the hammers

T