Rhodes 88 preamp

[The_Cause]

Hey All;

I just picked up a *mint* '74 Rhodes 88   It sounds great, and was really taken care of (no rust, wear, etc.).

One question - it's got the Super Sattelite preamp, but I don't have the speakers. I use the 'Accessory 2' (1/4") output to plug into my amp.

If I plug into Access 1 (1/4"), I get no sound.

It's also got a 5-pin DIN connector. In order to get the vibrato sound, do I need a DIN to 1/4" stereo connector?

Thanks!

[John Brevik]

Congratulations. That's a great year IMHO.

The preamp requires power, which comes from the satellite speaker amp in the stock configuration. Vintage Vibe makes a unit that supplies power to the preamp and has stereo outs. I think if you so a search on the forum, you'll see that people like this unit pretty well. I have one from CAE, which is a little cheaper, but it's unregulated and kinda noisy. If I had it to do again I'd spring for the VV.

Regards,

John

[Ben Bove]

Yes the reason no sound in one of the access jacks - it's an effects loop, so one jack sends the signal out, one jack received signal.  So you won't get any sound out of the receive-signal jack.

[sean]

It should be that you get sound out of the top jack labelled Accessory 1, because 1 is the "send" and Accessory 2 is supposed to be the "return."

No biggie; your piano has these jacks flipped around.  Sometime between 1974 and yesterday, somebody was fiddling with your preamp, and either flipped the wires, or flipped the jacks around.

Cool.  Show us photos!


How can you tell it was a Super Satellite system and not just a plain old suitcase model?  Is there any mention of the Super Satellite silk screened on the control panel on the namerail (around the knobs and jacks)?

Does it say Super Satellite on the serial number decal on the harp?

Or is the harp and guts from 1974 with a preamp added later?

A 1974 preamp should have had the four-pin connector, and concentric knobs (and may not have had the accessory jacks until 1975?).

If the model info is blank on the harp decal, the dead giveaway might be the underside of the piano.  Does it have four leg flanges?  

If you have the later preamp with five-pin connector with sliders and knobs, then the preamp was added later in the piano's career.

[The_Cause]

Hey all - thanks for the info

I assumed it was a super sattelite because the guy who sold it had the matching speakers and it kind of looked like it on the SS site.

There's actually no 'super satt.' on the namerail, nor on the inside. It does have 4 legs flanges and a 5-pin connector with vibrato/eq controls.

It's stamped '2274' on the pickup rail, and the hammers are wood/plastic.

Here's some pics!

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz329/The_Cause2010/Rhodes88/IMGP4900.jpg

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz329/The_Cause2010/Rhodes88/IMGP4899.jpg

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz329/The_Cause2010/Rhodes88/Rhodes88d.jpg

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz329/The_Cause2010/Rhodes88/Rhodes88a.jpg

http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz329/The_Cause2010/Rhodes88/Rhodes88c.jpg

It should be that you get sound out of the top jack labelled Accessory 1, because 1 is the "send" and Accessory 2 is supposed to be the "return."

No biggie; your piano has these jacks flipped around.  Sometime between 1974 and yesterday, somebody was fiddling with your preamp, and either flipped the wires, or flipped the jacks around.

Cool.  Show us photos!


How can you tell it was a Super Satellite system and not just a plain old suitcase model?  Is there any mention of the Super Satellite silk screened on the control panel on the namerail (around the knobs and jacks)?

Does it say Super Satellite on the serial number decal on the harp?

Or is the harp and guts from 1974 with a preamp added later?

A 1974 preamp should have had the four-pin connector, and concentric knobs (and may not have had the accessory jacks until 1975?).

If the model info is blank on the harp decal, the dead giveaway might be the underside of the piano.  Does it have four leg flanges?  

If you have the later preamp with five-pin connector with sliders and knobs, then the preamp was added later in the piano's career.

   :lol:

[sean]

That is the four-pin connector.
Compare it to http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-89-fender-rhodes-suitcase-piano-4-pin-socket.aspx
Center hole is not a pin.




Five pin connector would look like this: http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-87-rhodes-piano-suitcase-5-pin-cable.aspx
When installed in preamp, the five-pin connector looks like


sean

[John Brevik]

I don't believe that the Super Satellite pianos from that era had any special designation; I've got a '73 73 SS, and it just says "Stage" on the serial badge, and as far as I know there is no other special marking anywhere.

I've seen a number of SS examples from '73-'75. I imagine they're not all that scarce.

John

[The_Cause]

Hey All - It's definitely a 5-pin connector (excluding the centre hole). Also, now that I look closer it says 'Stage 88' on the inside label.

I found this '74 pic posted by Bjammerz, its identical to this one:

http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=5234.msg25963#msg25963

[Tim Hodges]

Hey All - It's definitely a 5-pin connector (excluding the centre hole). Also, now that I look closer it says 'Stage 88' on the inside label.

I found this '74 pic posted by Bjammerz, its identical to this one:

http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=5234.msg25963#msg259637

Hi The_Cause

I can definitely tell you it's a 4 pin din :-) I can see it on the picture

Here's your image with all the pins labelled.



As mentioned before only the later MK1 preamp and the subsequent MKII preamps used 5 pin dins. All Super Satellites were equipped with 4 pin connectors the difference between the two means that it isn't possible to use a Peterson preamp with a 5 pin connector without some serious alterations to the components on the PCB.

T

[The_Cause]

Aha!  :lol:

Thanks T - I wasn't considering the 'clip' in my count of the pins - so what do you think? 4 pin = Super Sattelite?

[sean]

Well, this preamp is the same preamp that was sold with the Suitcase pianos in the mid seventies.

http://www.fenderrhodes.org/ch11/fig11-8.jpg

The Super Satellite System was available as an add-on kit that included a pair of speakers (master and slave), a long cable, and a replacement namerail with the preamp installed.

http://www.fenderrhodes.com/models/amp.php

You can buy a power supply that is sold for the "4-pin Suitcase" with a four-pin cable (and finally see if your preamp works).  However, if the guy you bought it from still has the Satellite Speakers, you can confirm that the preamp works, and bonk him on the head and steal his speakers.   Err, uh, I mean kindly ask if he will sell them too.

Power supplies combined with a pair of 1/4" output jacks are available, for instance:

http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-553-fender-rhodes-piano-suitcase-cheek-block-power-supply.aspx

http://www.ep-service.nl/joomla/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=178&category_id=51&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-528-rhodes-4-pin-5-pin-power-supply.aspx



sean

[The_Cause]

Haha actually he did have the speakers when I tried the piano out at his house - it was sick (that is to say, it sounded great). I didn't have the cash (or space) for the whole deal though. Thanks Sean I'll probably look at the VV power supply as they're good guys over there.

S

Well, this preamp is the same preamp that was sold with the Suitcase pianos in the mid seventies.

http://www.fenderrhodes.org/ch11/fig11-8.jpg

The Super Satellite System was available as an add-on kit that included a pair of speakers (master and slave), a long cable, and a replacement namerail with the preamp installed.

http://www.fenderrhodes.com/models/amp.php

You can buy a power supply that is sold for the "4-pin Suitcase" with a four-pin cable (and finally see if your preamp works).  However, if the guy you bought it from still has the Satellite Speakers, you can confirm that the preamp works, and bonk him on the head and steal his speakers.   Err, uh, I mean kindly ask if he will sell them too.

Power supplies combined with a pair of 1/4" output jacks are available, for instance:

http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-553-fender-rhodes-piano-suitcase-cheek-block-power-supply.aspx

http://www.ep-service.nl/joomla/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=178&category_id=51&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-528-rhodes-4-pin-5-pin-power-supply.aspx



sean

[The_Cause]

On a lighter note, there's a 'Kilroy was Here' doodle on the the underside of the tonebar rail...

[Tim Hodges]

Aha!  :lol:

Thanks T - I wasn't considering the 'clip' in my count of the pins - so what do you think? 4 pin = Super Sattelite?

No problem :-) and as Sean said yep it's a super satellite pre-amp (they're exactly the same as an 80w Peterson Pre-amp) it wouldn't make financial sense for CBS to make a customised amp for this package, so they just lifted it off and put it with the speakers.

http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f243/tjh392/?action=view&current=img006.jpg

You're piano looks great so well done on that purchase!

T