Re: More Fender Rhodes...

Derek Tarr (dtprod@connectnet.com)
Sat, 22 Mar 1997 18:04:33 -0800


Andreas Arnstrom wrote:
>
> Hi again.
>
> It was fun to see how my "quesses" and "rumours" about the Fender Rhodes
> activated people out there.
> Saying that Frank Zappa was *one* of the first people to record with the
> Rhodes, was just a little trick of mine, to see how people react. ;)
> It certainly made people react. Great! :)
> Now I have most of the answers.
>
> People were also correcting my quess about the manufacture date of the
> "Mark I" and "Mark II" models. Most of you thought that I meant the Rhodes
> generally, but I did actually mean the *stage piano* (Mark I & II)...and
> in that case I wasn't too much wrong.
> But anyway...it was nice to hear about the history. It was very
> interesting. If you find more articles please e-mail them to me.
>
> Now to a new question:
> What's the diffrence between the old Rhodes models (from 50's and 60's)
> compared to the "new" ones (from the 70's)?
> Do they sound diffrent?
> I saw on picture from the "Incognito" record "positivity" that they used
> an "older" model of Rhodes.
> Are the older ones more rare and expensive?

I'll throw some answers on this one. The older rhodes had several
differences. They started out with a hammer mechanism that was similar
to a piano, with a cloth/felt type hammer (I think wood core), then later
they started experimenting with different types of plastic/rubber tips
mounted on plastic hammers. Also several different arrangements with the
actual key I think. Then the amp changed as far as how it was mounted,
the electronics inside, and the type of cord used. Somewhere in the
progression the keys and guide pins that they pivot on were switched to
plastic (not my favorite modification because the keys feel kinda
sloppy). Also, the face (logo) plate changed a bit, and there were a few
different plastic lids- curved, flat, and there was some kind of "sparkle
top" thing that is supposed to be really cool, but I've never seen one.
I only refer to the suitcase models as that is what I like best.

As far as value and rarity, I rarely see the older style, but the value
is always relative, since the people that don't appreciate or know their
worth will just sell them for $50 because they "take up too much space in
the garage". Then again, they often buy Kenny G and Michael Bolton
records.

-- 
DEREK TARR PRODUCTIONS
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