Question about the Marcel pedestial curve

[alexdecker]

Ok, so I have heard a lot about that Marcel curve, but doesn't actually know how it looks like. Just took apart my '72 Fender Rhodes, and all my keys look like this picture.

So it isn't just flat, obviously my keys have a slope. But that is not the Marcel curve, is it?

Asking, as I'm contemplating putting in a Miracle Mod, but just need to know what I am dealing with here...

– Alex

[timpotent]

I'm not too sure about that Marcel curve either.
I always thought that de keys of my own Rhodes had the Marcel curve as you can see in my pic.

[sean]

None of those photos show the marcel curve.

The keys from Alex's 72 piano could certainly benefit from the miracle mod.


Read all nine yards of Ben's Epic thread:  http://ep-forum.com/smf/index.php?topic=4666.0

The marcel curve is alleged to appear on 1970 and 1971 pianos.  Anyone have a photo? Ray?

Sean

[pianotuner steveo]

I believe the original Rhodes manual has at least one picture of the Marcel curve pedestal.

[sean]

It is a tiny part of this drawing:




And these drawings: 




A photo would be better.

[Max Brink]

I don't have a picture handy but the curve is obvious enough when you come across it. It will look just like the '72 pictured above but with a radius to the platform instead of it being straight.

I have seen these on pianos as early as 1968.

[Student Rhodes]

The marcel curve is alleged to appear on 1970 and 1971 pianos.  Anyone have a photo? Ray?

This seems to have the Marcel Curve.  It's not very dramatic, but it's there.
This is from a Student Model that has felt cube hammer tips.  I'll have to double check the harp at my storage space, but I believe it's a '69, though it's possible it's from early 1970.  I've done some mixing and matching.
Ray

[Student Rhodes]

I'm not too sure about that Marcel curve either.
I always thought that de keys of my own Rhodes had the Marcel curve as you can see in my pic.

These keys are from after '78 or so, when Rhodes went back to putting the felt on the pedestal, rather than on the back of the cam.  I put a set of '78 keys like these with a '76 harp in a piano for a friend, and the action was VERY nice.

[Ben Bove]

Yeah that one Ray posted is a marcel curve.  It's minor but very visible.  This one isn't zoomed enough but you can see the ruler comparison as a straight edge.

[Student Rhodes]

The marcel curve is alleged to appear on 1970 and 1971 pianos.

I checked a different '69 Suitcase Model that I'm going to be tearing into, and it too had the Marcel curve on the pedestal, as well as what I assume are factory weights, as found on earlier sparkly models.

[alexdecker]

Great, that clarified it for me! Thank you all for your help! My '72 now have the miracle mod installed

[Ben Bove]

Hey Ray, I just picked up a late 69 with the marcel curve.  No weights though.  I really didn't think marcel curve was that early... but its there to confirm yours too.

[Student Rhodes]

Hey Ben,
Do you know what week of 69 your is from?
Mine is from something like the 38th week of 69.  I've never seen a model past '69 that came with stock weights.  Mostly just mid-sixties Sparkletops and Student models.  I'd imagine your's is later the week 38?
Ray

[Ben Bove]

I think it's late 30s or 40s week of '69 yes.  The front case lip was also 1 3/4" not 2", which is interesting as you noted.  The namerail logo is "R" not "INC" and appears to be worn consistent with age and probably original.  the harp cover has one straight cut all the way across the front which I hadn't seen before (no cut outs for the preamp area or logo, just straight across).

[shmuelyosef]

The one in the middle is the Marcel...