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what do rhodes keys feel like??!

Started by mimicthis, May 15, 2005, 10:50:15 PM

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mimicthis

im looking into getting a rhodes for my graduation present. i was wondering how the keys felt... do they feel like real piano keys? or do they feel like keyboad keys? im guessing its a pretty simple question but i havent been able to play one. i just know the sound drives me crazy.
thanks for the help

Greg

starnetmusic

They all feel different. The rhodes MKI plays pretty heavy, while the MKII is light. And of course every rhodes feels different and can be adjusted ... It's difficult to compare with piano action (and not all piano's have the same touch).

Some people prefer the heavy MKI play. I myself prefer a light touch ...

mimicthis

thanks. im looking into the mk I   so how heavy we talking here? my main concern is that they dont feel like cheap 80 dollar keyboard keys. (the ones that no matter how light or hard you hit them they sound the same)

starnetmusic

Quote from: "mimicthis"thanks. im looking into the mk I   so how heavy we talking here? my main concern is that they dont feel like cheap 80 dollar keyboard keys. (the ones that no matter how light or hard you hit them they sound the same)

I can assure you, non of them feel cheap. But I read that some don't like the way a rhodes MKII plays like. They call it "plastic". It sure feels lighter, but it's still possible to put some good dept into your play ...

mimicthis

rad man. thanks for all the help.

mimicthis

yet another question. did the suitcase cabs have their own power amps? from the pictures i notice it goes right from the mkI into the cab. being a bass player im use to an instrument going through a pre amp/poweramp then to cab. also is there any web sites on building a version of those amps?

Mark II

A suitcase Piano has its preamp in the piano section (left hand) with tremolo built in. A 4 or 5 pin cable connects the piano section to the main amplifier in the speaker cabinet. There is a power supply and a main power amp (80W or 100W) built in. Sometimes the electrical parts of a suitcase speaker cab (power amp and power supply) are posted on ebay.com. That would be one solution to built a speaker cab on your own.
I hope this helps.
best and good luck
Mark II
Rhodes Stage 73 Mark II 1980 / modified Peterson Suitcase Preamp

hrees

A couple of corrections: the early mark II (to about 1981) and late mark I (from about 1978) are effectively the same piano, with different cosmetics. The plastic key rhodes were introduced around 1981 and have a slightly different feel to the wood key pianos. Mark I pianos from about 1972 to 1975 have heavy actions.

Other than that it is hard to generalise. The actions have a huge range of adjustment and any model can be made to have a light action though the later models are lightest and easiest to work on.

However a rhodes will never feel like a piano: the balance is just not same and the downweight is always much less than a piano even on the early rhodes. The feel is unique, and once you have adapted your playing style a well set up rhodes will play as effortlessly as a well set up acoustic piano.

toman

One thing that made a big difference on my 76 MkI was doing the pedestal felt mod. Before, the action was slow and rough, now it's smooth and much faster. Feels much more like a piano, although there is still a considerable difference. It's a good feel though, and it certainly doesn't feel cheap or anything.

steven_lont

I own a 1978 MKI rhodes. I've also played MKII and early MKI's from about 1972. I think the early MKI's play much to heavy, and they are not direct. MKII's are supplied with plastic keys, and this is not pleasant when you are used to play accoustic piano.

I just love the action of the 1977/78 rhodes piano's. It plays very fast and quite light, but much more comfortable than an accoustic piano. It's the nicest sort of keyboard you've ever played, I swear!!
Rhodes Mark I Stage 73 - 1978

Yamaha Motif 7, Korg Triton Extreme 61, Korg CX-3, Hammond Porta-B (L-100P) with Leslie 122; Pentium 3,2 ghz, 512 MB Ram, M-Audio Audiophile Firewire.