New Member, Rhodes Hammertip Strike Question

[Alex Mac' Arthur]

Hi everyone,
I'm a brazillian pianist, thankfull to be here in this forum.
I have a Rhodes Mk2 Seventy Three, made in May/1980, works perfectly fine, completly regulated, voicing and escapement and comestic is great, but I've always felt bad the hit from the keys 44 'till 73, witch always sounded to me very hardness strike in relation to the other keys (01 'till 43 wich sound perfectly and smooth).

Could it be a hammertip problem? Could the hammertips (that are original) have been spoiled, gone dry and hard too much? (Sorry for the bad english)

Here is a video of the problem showing:
http://youtu.be/rT4StJnkS-w

Thanks Very Much!

[voltergeist]

The density (hardness) of the hammer tips varies across the keyboard.  Most of the tips are neoprene rubber, but the high register tips have a wood core wrapped in plastic.  The high register tips are much harder than the others, and more of the impact is transmitted back to the key, which is why the strike feels harder on those notes.  That's normal. 

Years of playing will wear through the plastic wrap on the high register tips, so you may want to inspect the wood core tips and make sure the wood isn't showing through in the strike area of the tip.  If the wood isn't showing through, I don't think you have a problem.  The piano sounds good.

[Alex Mac' Arthur]

Thanks Voltergeist!
But the problem is that I've inpected the last hammertips, wicth were to be Woodcore, and they were not, but rubber, but a very hard (like stone) rubber.

The only bad feel on this is Rhodes, it's because the keys 01 until 43 are sounding very good, and with good action response and sound, but starting from the 44 key till 73 the playing are not sounding evenly. I will record a video now, touching key by key, to show this difference. I guess it will help.

P.S. Yesterday, i've tryed one thing that was said about Old Hammertips, it is to to cut with a knife a slice from the bottom of the hammertip, maybe so giving new life to the rubber, or a better spot for the tine when it hit. (sorry the english again folks)

[voltergeist]

Can you post of photo of your high register hammer tips? 

I wonder if someone changed out the high tips at some point. 

[Alex Mac' Arthur]

Here is a video showing better my problem:
http://youtu.be/rT4StJnkS-w

[Alex Mac' Arthur]

Photos from the tips

[voltergeist]

Yeah, looks like someone got creative with the hammer tips.  And, you're right, the high register doesn't sound good.

I would cut out those incorrect rubber tips and install a set of wood core tips from Vintage Vibe.  I forget how many wood core tips are typically used.  Maybe another member can jump in with the quantity of wood tips needed.  Or, email Vintage Vibe. 

[Alex Mac' Arthur]

Update: Old hammertips from the high register area, changed for new VV Hammertips.
IT SOUNDS GREAT FINALLY! Even the action has now got balanced with the others

[voltergeist]

Glad to hear it!