suitcase amp

[Mark S 1]

Hello Everyone,

I just picked up a '76 Rhodes Stage for my studio. It is in good condition, but I am planning a full restore. I'd also prefer a suitcase, and as I have built several replica Fender amps from parts (including my own custom cabinet work), I thought I might as well just build my own amp cabinet (vs tying to find one to restore or buying a suitcase and selling the stage). So here are my questions:

1. What amp would you recommend for a suitcase cabinet? The FR7054 was solid state I believe, though I haven't found any schematics. Would a tube amp be preferable? This is going to sit in my studio and not move, so I'm only concerned with great sound. Though stuffing the equivalent of two twin reverbs in a cab sure is going to make one heavy beast!

2. If I was to go with the FR7054, anyone have schematics? An old amp they want to sell? BTW the old tube Fender amp schematics are all over the web - as are new manufacture parts - making quite simple to build a complete vintage spec Fender tube amp. I can't find anything on the FR7054's though.

3. Obviously I'll need a new sustain pedal. I haven't seen any suitcase pedal mechanisms for sale, nor have I seen any photos so I could create one. Any suggestions for a good solution here?

And for some eye candy - here is a shot of the most recent reproduction Fender amp I built - sitting in my studio. I'm considering building the suitcase cabinet to match.

Cheers,

Mark S

[Student Rhodes]

Perhaps you might want to consider getting a Peterson pre-amp installed in your rail, then buy a readily available power supply from Vintage Vibe or Ken Rich etc.  Then you can run that stage into any amp you want, and still have the real advantage of the Suitcase, which is the stereo vibrato.
Ray

[Mark S 1]

Hi Ray,

Given this is a studio instrument, flexibility is the key and I think you are on the right track. However, I'm thinking to take it one step further. If I leave the passive setup in the rail, I can then take the output and run it through any box I want (including stereo tremolo units, stereo echo units, various preamp,  rack mount stuff, etc), and then onto any amp I want.  The Peterson pre is nice, but it doesn't give me anything I don't already have other than being nicely contained in the rail.

FYI - here is a cool stereo tremolo unit that would work with a stage, will work as a preamp to provide boost, and costs less than the rail pres I've seen (esp if you have to buy a power supply). http://www.fulltone.com/products/supa-trem2 (street about $230 or so). Obviously it is not as integrated a solution, which may be good or bad depending on your requirements.

So I'm thinking stock stage output, and a suitcase style base that integrates the sustain pedal and servers as a speaker cab, but no built in amp. That would let me run through any amp I want, and give me a nice enclosure that can handle the bass of the Rhodes better than your typical guitar amp (plus I just like the look of the cabinet better than the legs). It would also allow me to split the Rhodes signal and take a DI to the board, which I could then re-amp later if I didn't like the sound but wanted to keep the take.

Now I just need to decide what wood to use.    The Vibrolux is clear pine and the mixer desk is mahogany and birch. Any of those could work, but I'm wondering how a case made of maple with a green tint stain might look? Lots of options. Oh well, first order is to get the internals in top notch.

Cheers,
Mark