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'77 Suitcase Headphone output issues???

Started by Jonbailey85, December 25, 2012, 03:35:35 PM

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Jonbailey85

Hey guys, I just got my first Rhodes.  The Rhodes itself is fantastic, same with the cabinet.  However every time I put a set of headphones into the headphone out jack, its mono.  Only showing up in my left ear.  I work for guitar center and have tried NUMEROUS jacks and adapters to go to stereo, but nothing seems to work.

Any Ideas?

Also when I press the sustain pedal, every key except for one sustains.  The E-1 key is still hitting staccato with the sustain pressed down.

Tips? Advise?

Thanks!
-Jonathan

pianotuner steveo

#1
When stereo headphones only have audio in the left ear, that usually means that the jack is a 2 conductor, mono jack.  If it is a stereo jack, then the + wire for the right channel is possibly  disconnected, but I doubt this is the case.

The only way to solve this (if it is meant to be a mono jack) , is to replace it with a stereo jack, and run the one + wire to both + terminals on the jack. This will then send signal to both sides, (ear cups) but it will still be mono.

Also, if this is a jack that cuts the speakers off when headphones are plugged in, you need that type of jack, which is a bit more complicated to connect.


1960 Wurlitzer model 700 EP
1968 Gibson G101 Combo organ
1975 Rhodes Piano Bass
1979 Wurlitzer 206A EP
2009 73A Rhodes Mark 7
2009 Korg SV-1 73
2017 Yamaha P255
2020 Kawai CA99
....and a few guitars...

mvanmanen

Have you tried putting small mixer "in between?" If it has a little preamp that would also give you some gain for the headphones, and allow you to connect another keyboard to your headphones?
Wurlitzer 200a
Wurlitzer 145
Fender Rhodes (1966, 1971, 1975)
Hohner Clavinet Pianet Duo
Hohner Clavinet D6s and C
Hohner Pianet T
Hohner Pianet N and Combo Pianet
Hammond B3

Abraham

#3
I have a 76' suitcase, I guess yours from 77' might be a peterson as well. Then I can say the phone out is stereo for sure. There might be many reasons for a single channel not working, from the jack socket itself to the amp/preamp, then first make SURE both channels work properly while jack is disconnected. Also check the preamp-to-amp cable. There are several different situations for a dead channel and this is a whole different story.

The phone out jack is not a standard jack but a double disconnection one, meaning whenever you plug your headphones, amp gain is reduced. Check the connections there but I dont think it's the socket, as they usually fail while jack is unplugged, not re-connecting the main amp to default. There might be just dirt not allowing proper connection.

Chances are someone replaced the original socket with a single-disconnection one which are commonly available, I can't upload pics right now but Im sure someone will came up with one

UPDATE: have a look at this, http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=7210.msg36591#msg36591
196x Hammond L100
1976 Rhodes MKI '73 Suitcase
1976 Wurlitzer 200-A EP
1981 Casio VL-Tone (Yeah!)
199x Kawai CX-21D Upright
20xx Clavia Nord Electro 2

Jonbailey85

Thank you for all of the input.  I really had no idea where even to begin. 

Thanks!

pianotuner steveo

#5
Is your amp a 2 channel (stereo) amp as suitcases from that era should be, or did someone alter it?
If it is stereo, do both channels work through the speakers?

As far as the 1 note not sustaining goes, look at the bridle strap ( green cloth strap between the hammer and damper). It may be broken or disconnected on the damper end.



1960 Wurlitzer model 700 EP
1968 Gibson G101 Combo organ
1975 Rhodes Piano Bass
1979 Wurlitzer 206A EP
2009 73A Rhodes Mark 7
2009 Korg SV-1 73
2017 Yamaha P255
2020 Kawai CA99
....and a few guitars...

Ben Bove

Is your suitcase piano a silver-grill piano with the 3 knobs on the preamp, or a black grill with the EQ sliders?  77 was a transition year so could be either.

The Rhodes piano has 2 separate channels and is a stereo amplifier, so it's very possible one of your channels is not functioning and the piano is only running on half the amp.  Often it sounds like nothing is wrong when playing the suitcase piano without headphones.  There's a big enough sound coming from one channel in the cabinet, so you might not notice a channel is not working.  When you plug in a set of headphones, there's a very clear separation of audio in the ears.

To test this, turn your vibrato on the slowest speed, and the highest intensity, so it runs the slowest and has the most dramatic separation.  Do you hear the vibrato being on-off, or do you hear distinctive left to right with fully continuous sound?  In most cases, when I hear sound only in one side of the headphones on a suitcase, it's because a channel is blown.  And channels blowing are most common on the silver grill, 3-knob suitcases.  You can also put your head up to the cabinet and see if both left and right speakers are sounding.

See if your vibrato sounds on-off and if so we can go from there.

For lowest E check Steveo's suggestion, and as well check to see if the felt damper is actually getting pushed down as far as its neighbors.  You should be able to see this if you look inside as you're pushing the pedal down.  Either the damper arm is bent and it's too low to get engaged by the damper bar, or the felt is too high up and the tine is colliding with it.  My guess being the lowest note, someone tried bending the arm and didn't do it the right way.  So the damper bar isn't pushing it down far enough
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