2009

The Rhodes output signal is—like an electric guitar—rather weak, and needs significant
pre-amplification. The Rhodes sound is not harmonically rich. This is why so many
performers used a treble boost or an overdrive effect when playing the Rhodes piano.
As mentioned earlier, the Rhodes sounds best when played through tube amplifiers.
The Rhodes piano was also made available as a suitcase piano (with pre-amplifier and
two-channel combo amplifier) and as a stage piano, without amplifier. Both of these
73-key “portable” versions have a vinyl-covered wooden frame and a plastic top. In 1973,
an 88-key model was introduced. Smaller Celeste and bass versions were less popular.
The MkII (in 1978) had a flat top instead of a rounded one. This allowed keyboardists to
place extra keyboards on top of the Rhodes. The Mark V, introduced in 1984, even sported
a MIDI output!
The mid-1980s saw a decrease in Rhodes production, as most keyboard players invested
in the more flexible (and much lighter) digital synthesizers that became available around
this time. These keyboards could easily emulate the sound of older pianos, like the Rhodes,
and also offered a range of great new piano sounds.
The characteristic sound of each Rhodes piano depends more on the adjustment and
maintenance of the individual instrument than on the model. Early models had hammers
covered with felt, resulting in a smoother sound than the newer models, which had
neoprene-covered hammers. The suitcase piano featured a pre-amplifier that could create
a sound with a very dominant mid-range. Appropriate pre-amplification and equalization
can, however, deliver an identical tone from almost any stage piano. The stage piano has
no power cord-just like an electric guitar.
Because the MkII does not have the treble range resonance clamps of earlier models, it
has less sustain in the treble range. The most significant sonic differences are dependent
on the proximity of the tine to the pickup. When the tine is moved closer to the pickup,
the bell characteristic becomes more prominent. In the 1980s, many Rhodes pianos were
adjusted to have more “bell.”
Rhodes Models:
• Suitcase MkI
• Suitcase V2
• Bright Suitcase
• Stage Piano MkI
• Stage Piano MkII
• Bright Stage MkII
• Hard Stage MkII
• MarkIV
• Metal Piano
214 Chapter 9 EVP88