Rhodes rookie, suitcase vs stage question

[pcmancini]

Hi all and thanks in advance for any help you provide.

I am a long-time Hammond player looking to get and get into a Rhodes.  My questions at this point is pretty simple.

What are the differences between the stage and suitcase models, vis-a-vie taking a suitcase and not using the amp with it?

If I buy a suitcase model can I go back and forth and what other parts (besides an external amp) are needed?

Is this an "easy" mod?

Regards,
Paul

[Rob A]

There's nothing that a stage can do that a suitcase cannot do.

The mechanical bits are the same, but the suitcase has an additional preamp and amplifier that go with it.

If you take a suitcase to the gig without it's top, it is like having a stage piano, other than you won't have the passive tone control and volume knob a stage piano has. And you'll need a stand and a sustain pedal (which the pedal can be ridiculously costly these days).