Please, help me with "double strikes" issues on Rh

[Dan-K]

Hi, guys!!!

First of all I'd like to say it's great to be here. Amazing board with lots of info about Rhodes. Very cool! And I think you, great people, could help me a little, 'cause I have a problem with my friend's piano.

It's a 73 Stage model Fender Rhodes from '72. About a month ago "double strikes" appeared. The hammers in lower register touch the tines two times and the second strike mutes the tine completely. What's the reason of it and what should I do to fix it? Thanks!

[pianotuner steveo]

Did someone work on the piano just prior to this starting? It sounds like the escapement changed suddenly-which could be from raising the harp for tuning, then losing shims that may have been there.

It also could be shallow dip but I can't think of a reason for that to happen suddenly ...

It's most likely the escapement is too low

[Ben Bove]

As Steveo suggests, possible escapement issue - try sticking a very thin piece of material underneath the harp on the left side (have to unscrew the 2 big phillips screws.)  Try very thin, then slightly larger.  Notes may ring out though and dampers would have to be bent up slightly to stop notes correctly.

Other issue could be harp is out of alignment, and left side might have to be slid up or towards you.  More unlikely though