Questions about the numbers on my suitcase?

[alexdecker]

Hi all

On my newly purchased suitcase 73, it is date marked on the backside of the harp. It says Mar 1 1970, so I am guessing this is one of the earliest Mk1 models. On the upperside of the harp it says 160. Does anyone know what that number means?

Couple of other differences compared to my '72 stage model. The tonebars are a grey raw metal color, and not the golden color of my stage model.

Can anyone tell me when they Raymac tines were substituted? This has Torrington tines, but wondering if it was born with Raymac tines?

The Marcel curve makes for a very nice action. Completely different than the heavy action of my stage model!

Does anyone know anything else about a 1970 suitcase built in March?

- Alex

[Ben Bove]

Not sure about the 160 number, it might be a quality control number - but no dating was stamped by Turbo Jet (TBJ number) or by Fender on the harp top on that vintage.  Most don't find the under side date so good find there.

Correct that the gold plating wouldn't be on your model, that came shortly after 1970.  There has been much opinion back and forth on the transition points of the Raymacs and Torrington designation, the problem is there isn't enough definitive information to peg the name of the vendor at which year as there aren't any physical records, but your 1970 will have tines of an early design, most closely sounding like a silver top rhodes with the updated hammer tips.  The likelihood they've all been replaced is nearly 0, though I'm sure you'll have a couple broken tines that were replaced here and there.  Your tines should have the larger tuning springs, and a visual inspection should show if any newer-style tines were used to replace broken originals.

[Student Rhodes]

Could the 160 be the 16th week of 70?

[alexdecker]

Thanks for the replies guys!

It is true that many of the tines, if not all of them feature larger springs then I expected. Didn't know there was a tine design in-between raymac and torrington!

The 160 number – I wondered if it was keyboard number 160 produced in 1970, but that can't be right, because they churned those things out like crazy in 1970, so number 160 would be way before March 1, right?

I would like a bit of advice regarding the replacement of things though. The amp is out (one of the power amps is fried), and I am debatting with myself if I should buy replacement power amps from VV, or just get the old ones fixed. Some of the beauty from these old instruments for me is keeping them vintage, but then again, I don't want to use the old power amps if I can't keep them in good shape and with good components. When I turned to power amps in to a repairman, he said he could fix them, and he was sure he had "some useful parts" lying around, making me think he might be doing a "whatever I got lying around" repair. And that would be sad I think. These old pianos deserve better. What do you guys think about new parts vs. repairing the old?

Bjammerz: Do you know if the is any audible difference between the Torrington tines and the other tines with larger springs (the non raymac tines)?

– Alex

[Ben Bove]

Sorry I want to clarify - there isn't a vendor between Raymac and Torrington.  It's unclear in what year Torrington took over tines for Rhodes.  As well, it's unclear if these vendors made changes to design WHILE they were the vendor.  So, Torrington may have been manufacturing the tines used in a 1970 piano, but their tine design had evolved so the tines they made say in 1971 are slightly different than those they were manufacturing in 1975.  Your piano would have an "earlier" type of Fender Rhodes sound.

For the amp module repair, you can repair what you have or get the VV replacements.  The power amp modules have less to do with the coloration of the sound it self as the preamp does, so it's up to you.