Key Pin replacement problems

[eivindrs]

Just bough a Rhodes mark II 81' that needs a loving hand. One problem is broken key pins on the front rail. Ive been searching for replacement key pins, and the only ones ive found are in sets of 9 and 13. It seems that they are in sets of 12 on my piano. My question is how do i replace the broken key pins if i cant find the part i need? Or have i just misunderstood something?

I would really appreciate some helping awnsers. This is my first Rhodes, and I'm trying to restore it myself.

[pianotuner steveo]

Are these plastic keys or regular keys?

[eivindrs]

Plastic keys and key pins.

[pianotuner steveo]

I had a feeling. I have zero experience with those. I will defer your question to others.

[Ben Bove]

Take a look on reverb, I believe there are a couple sections for sale.

You may be able to find the broken pins inside the piano, or broken off inside the bottom of the key itself.  You can position the broken pin to match up with the way it broke off from the channel, and superglue it in.  Otherwise, you can drill a hole and insert a replacement pin of some kind that is of the same height and width (i.e. from a cabinet shelf, etc.)

[eivindrs]

Thank you! Ill try that!

[sean]

On the 73-key plastic-key Rhodes, I thought the front rail sections are five sections of 12 and one 13.  I don't feel like unscrewing the rail and lifting all the keys to check for sure.  Maybe I am thinking about the balance rail, not the front rail.

I wonder if the 9-key sections would be for a 54-key Rhodes.

In any case, call Vintage Vibe and see if they have the sections that you need.  Their shopify website isn't always perfect, but they are good folks and will dig to find what you need.

Sean

[Ben Bove]

for the plastic key pin sections, on this 88 I recently worked on, they just cut a section for the remainder of bass notes.

[sean]

So you could purchase a long section of pins, and then simply cut it to fit.  Carefully measure to cut it, and then more carefully locate the screw holes when you screw it down to the wooden case of the piano.

Right, Ben?

Sean

[Ben Bove]

A few months late - but yes