2009

Table Of Contents
Parameter nameController number
Phaser parameters: Color knob23
Phaser parameters: Stereophase knob24
Tremolo parameters: Rate knob25
Tremolo parameters: Intensity knob26
Tremolo parameters: Stereophase knob27
Chorus parameters: Intensity knob28
Electric Piano Models Emulated by the EVP88
These sections provide some background information about the instruments emulated
by the EVP88.
Rhodes
Wurlitzer Piano
Hohner Electra Piano
Rhodes
Harold Rhodes (born 1910) constructed what is arguably the most commonly known and
widely used electric piano. Designed in 1946—as a piano surrogate for practice, education,
and army entertainment—the Rhodes piano was successfully marketed by guitar
manufacturer Fender from 1956. The Fender Rhodes has become one of the most popular
musical instruments in jazz, especially electric jazz. After CBS took over production of the
Rhodes in 1965, its popularity in pop and rock music grew. Despite further changes in
ownership through the years, the instrument remains ingrained in the mind of the public
as the “Fender Rhodes.” There are also a number of Rhodes synthesizers, which were
developed by the now-defunct synthesizer manufacturer ARP. Japanese synthesizer and
music technology manufacturer Roland owned the Rhodes name for a while and released
several digital pianos under the Rhodes moniker. From 1997 until his death in December
2000, Harold Rhodes again owned the name.
The Rhodes piano bases its method of sound generation on metal reeds—which function
much like a tuning fork. These reeds are hit through a hammer action that works in a
similar fashion to that of a grand piano. The asymmetrical tuning fork consists of a thin
tine and a massive tone bar, which are bolted together. Due to construction considerations,
some of the tone bars are rotated by 90 degrees. The piano is kept in tune by the mass
of a spring, which can be moved along the tine. The tine oscillates in front of an electric
pickup, similar to that of an electric guitar. This oscillation functions along inductive
principles, with permanent magnets placed around the tine that have a damping effect
on its movement and thereby affect the sound.
213Chapter 9 EVP88