News:

Shipping now! "Classic Keys" book, a celebration of vintage keyboards  More...

Main Menu

Sustain issue

Started by jbastow, October 01, 2014, 07:16:21 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

jbastow

Hi all - first post here. I'm currently in the process of refurbing my 73 Mk1 from '79 and have a question re: playing with sustain pedal.

When the sustain pedal is depressed and the tines are free to vibrate, if the same note is struck again before it has returned to its original position completely, often i will experience very different results in sound, ranging from a dead thunk sound to a bell-like tone to more of a normal tone.

(Audio examples here)

Without sustain: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wxaswqvj4jozf6t/rhodes%20no%20sustain.wav?dl=0

With sustain: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2btysnsd1ogq6a1/rhodes%20sustain.wav?dl=0

I realise this is somewhat of a design problem with the rhodes action but i was wondering if there was any way around this, or at least some way to improve the symptoms?

I have tried adjusting the strike line but this did not affect the issue, and same thing with escapement. I have previously replaced hammer tips (and dampers) as they were very worn out but again this had little effect. I installed a back check mod on a few of the keys but as far as i could tell this made no difference either.

It's also not just a problem when the same note is played immediately after, but when a tine is struck again even when it has almost returned to a fully static position after being hit. Can anyone offer any advice?

pianotuner steveo

The tension on the bridle straps/damper arms may be off causing the hammer to not fully return...

That is one possibility.


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

You are correct that it is an inherent design problem with trying to strike a moving object.  If the tine is in fully extended swing and is falling back down as the hammer attempts to strike it again, the hammer will actually conflict with the tine swing and dampen the note (the force of the recoil of the tine swing and the force of the hammer strike are physically moving against each other).  The hammer strike would have to be in phase with the projection of the tine's swing in order to replicate a similar initial strike.  The probability on that is pretty low, but you will hear in your recording when you have some in-phase strikes.

It doesn't happen when not sustained, because the damper felt is returning the tine to rest position, where stopping the tine swing provides the hammer with a clean strike every time.

There is no solution to that as it's part of the physics of it all.  I dont' hear any double striking or action-related issues.
Any Rhodes does this unfortunately, or fortunately :).  It's a unique property unavailable on any sample.
Retro Rentals & Restorations
Vintage Music Gear

http://www.retrorentals.net
310-926-5799
info@retrorentals.net

FB: https://www.facebook.com/retrorentals.net/
IG: @RetroRentalsNet