The Rhodes, Not Fakin'

[Student Rhodes]

Man, I was loving the Rhodes tonight. The sound.  The feel... 
Got behind the 88 Stage plugged into a very overlooked Fender tube combo from the '80s. Together they gave up a tough blend of sparkle and snarl. This particular piano has such great bounce to it.  Whether I punch it, or use a light touch it pushes back just enough. 

Let it be said: The chilly, thin-walled garage was feeling the power of my rock -- which, when it's there, is most awesome.

Now, I've played and heard quite a few Rhodes sounds on digital keys, and have often been surprised at how good some are.  But five minutes after playing them, I'm bored.  The whole experience of playing Rhodes samples on a controller doesn't give anything like the vibe of getting your fingers all over a real Rhodes.  That Rhodes "thang" inspires me to play in a way the many Fauxds pianos can't. 

It's been said to death, but there really is nothing like the real thing. And yet, I've found no two are alike.  Every single Rhodes I've gotten me hands on turned out to be a completely individual creature.  Some were amazing.  Some were not. But given ample time under my hands, even the "not great" one never failed to offer up something nasty or sweet that only a Rhodes can.  They're like women, which is precisely why you need to have as many as you can before you die. 

Anyway, I love the posts.  Thought I'd dispense with all the Rhodes nerd minutia about where to find this, or how to fix that, and offer up one that just gushes about effing cool these things are.

Then I read it and it sounded stupid. Good thing I hit delete and didn't post it.
Phew!  Bullet dodged...

Aw, crap.

By the way "Render Fauxds" piano is copyrighted by me, but feel free to use it.

[Pierre]

I agree, the Rhodes is a great instrument. Only last night I was enjoying the keys until my neighbor came knocking on my door wondering what the racket was ;-)

It's true that no two Rhodes sound alike. I own two, and while the 73 has a nice feeling and "attack", the 88 seems to have faded away over the years. I'm currently restoring the 88 with new hammers, dampers, etc.. in place, and waiting for the tonebars to come back from being replated. Part of the fun will be to voice the Rhodes, I've been tinkering with this on the 73 and the range of different sound quality is huge!

I too had been playing the different Rhodes soundfonts on my Korg, but when I got the real thing I wondered why I didn't get it earlier

[Ben Bove]

They're like women, which is precisely why you need to have as many as you can before you die. 

I just about fell out of my chair!

It's funny though, because I think if all Rhodes were alike and they didn't make improvements or changes to parts, and a Rhodes was a Rhodes "they're all the same," the curiosity about getting "into" them I think would be lost a bit.  Many of us might actually have room in a garage to park a car.

[Student Rhodes]

It's funny though, because I think if all Rhodes were alike and they didn't make improvements or changes to parts, and a Rhodes was a Rhodes "they're all the same," the curiosity about getting "into" them I think would be lost a bit.  Many of us might actually have room in a garage to park a car.

You may be right, Ben.  But I'm sure you've heard pianos with the same components sound and feel very differently after years of specific wear based on previous owners style.  I know it's that way with guitars.  Some have the magic, and one that my have come off the line at the same time will play and sound quite different.

[The Real MC]

They're like women, which is precisely why you need to have as many as you can before you die.

Well I guess I prefer blondes then

[Student Rhodes]

I get what you're saying, but I like my blondes to have bigger "knobs" if you know what I mean.  Or at least some.
Ray

[Ben Bove]

Well I guess I prefer blondes then

I might read that as a preference for the older variety, with a silver head of hair.