Just purchased Stage Piano - need assistance from the Forum

[scotts72]

Hello Group,

I am super-excited, just bought a Rhodes Stage Piano - 1978 i believe from a Live auction....but I am a real novice when it comes to electronics, etc.

I did not test it beforehand, but the auctioneer said they tested all keys and it worked fine.

It did not come with an amp so I bought one yesterday, plugged it in but cannot get any sound.  I am hoping it is something simple that I am missing and not a fundamental issue with the keyboard I just bought!  I am trusting the guys I bought it from but am now skeptical.

See some pictures I have attached - am I doing something wrong?

Also, are the lights supposed to light up at all when I plug it into the amp?  (they are not).  I know the amp is the power source so not sure!

Any help or guidance is appreciated... I want to start playing with my new toy!

Thanks in advance!

-Scott

[mvanmanen]

Could you take the lid off and take some pictures of the inside? I am sure someone with more experience will chime in but the additional controls featured to the right of the Bass Boost / Volume knob are for an aftermarket effects unit / preamp which will rely on a battery or some other power source. I imagine your answer will be found when you take the plastic lid off

[scotts72]

thanks very much... see attached for more pictures... I can of course send more.

Really appreciate the assistance !

[mvanmanen]

I cannot see really well what is going on with the wiring of all of the knobs. I imagine for people to be of assistance you are going to have to unscrew the harp and take some more detailed pictures of the wiring...unless someone on the forum recognizes this effect/preamp unit from the posted pictures. If you are anxious to just get playing. You could plug an RCA cable directly into the harp and tap the signal while you are figuring out the electronics.

[scotts72]

Thanks...I'll send more detailed pictures later.

But for RCA cable... I have to get one with RCA on one side and plug into the amp on the other side?  (sorry for novice question!)

Also - the guys that sold me it saying they just plugged it into an amp and it was fine are BSing me I assume...?

thanks again, appreciate it.

[scotts72]

also... what is the outlet under the "ia" under the words "Stage Piano" ?

[Cormac Long]

We'll need to see a detailed picture of the wiring behind the piano rail to tell exactly what each socket is doing.

For the RCA cable, it's best to get a 1/4" (3.5mm) Jack to RCA male adaptor so you can run a normal amp cable to the harp and adapt it there to the RCA female. That will isolate the harp from the custom wiring entirely and likely get you up and running a lot faster.

[mvanmanen]

It is possible one of the input jacks bypasses the electronics and you can simply plug and play from the front, and certainly you can plug and play directly off of the RCA jack once you have the correct cord as Cormac described. The reason for plugging into the RCA jack is that this is probably the fastest way to verify everything before the electronics in the signal pathway is functioning appropriately (and honestly may ultimately get you the best sound as all of these electronics may suck tone).

I think there must be a battery or power cord to supply the custom electronics...but having never seen these custom electronics I have no idea how they work.

It looks like a really interesting Fender Rhodes. Congratulations on the purchase. I am sure you will get it playing soon

[mvanmanen]

also... what is the outlet under the "ia" under the words "Stage Piano" ?

I bet you this is the jack for a power cord...like you would find on a guitar pedal. Perhaps it is one of those mini power supply jacks like you find on some older MXR pedals, tube screamers, etc.

[shmuelyosef]

You really need to start your debugging with a solid cable connected directly to the harp, and worry much later on about powering and using the aftermarket electronics

Just spend the $6 and get some cables like THESE ONES and plug directly into the RCA jack on the harp assembly (i.e. disconnect the grey wire)