Rhodes MK-80

Easy to use. I use it only as a controller at the moment. The Emagic Rhodes program (Suitcase EVP88, I think) sounds better than the presets, though I thought the rhodes was one of the best sounding digi-electric when I bought it. Sounded good through a valve amp.

I use it as a controller. It fulfills all my needs as such. It weighs a ton, but I don't gig as a keyboard player (I play guitar) and use it at home for composition and recording. I understand its midi capabilities are limited, but then so are my needs.

The rhodes sound is the best. The piano sounds are dated, wonky, horrible. The onboard effects (phase, tremolo, chorus) are OK. Nothing great. It does have good action, great expressiveness and suits my playing style.

Mine is used, but has held up well over the months I've had it. I don't move it, so I can't see the old beast going down soon. It had a small velocity problem I picked up in the store that was easily fixed by the technician...dust of course. It could do with a good clean, its full of dust inside, but I don't have the knowhow to do it.

Haven't dealt with the company, haven't had to. Its not under warranty

I don't know. It was purchased as a controller, but I wanted something with afew presets just in case. It ended up being the most value for money ('specially with the case.) New weigteds were hundreds more, the Oberheimer controller I was considering didn't have presets. THe $1800 (new) Yamaha had lots of bad presets I wouldn't use and didn't like the action. I liked the old rhodes beast for its action. I don't think I'd get something as old again though. Aussies always pay more than Poms, Euros or Americans for their gear, thanks to low volume and shipping costs.

I bought one of these machines yesterday, after onsidering the comments above. Manual is terrible, like other Roland manuals of this vintage, full of technical ramblings. ut the machine is very easy to use and the presets are usable with a little simple tweaking.

The remarks about the limited polyphony above were my main concern. I wondered if notes were going to start cutting out and sounding bad if I played runs with the sustain pedal on, but I haven't noticed any problems so far. I haven't been able to confirm what the polyphony is. MIDI implementation seems comprehensive, and includes the control sliders etc.

I was mainly interested in the piano sound. It inevitably sounds a little 'electricy' for a machine of this age - I notice this more with classical-type playing - and I may try plugging it into another unit eventually. But for rock jamming it's perfectly usable, and better than I'd expected. The action is great, and I find it a pleasure to play.

I haven't had it long enough to say...

Definitely worth having if you can find a cheap one. (I just paid #180 for this in 2004. At the time of writing there's one on Ebay in the USA for about #270.) I'm pretty fond of it, and I'll probably continue to use it as my main controller keyboard until it packs up.

The presets are not very exciting but it was easy to tweak this to get just about any kind of Rhodes sound I've ever wanted. The "accoustic" piano sounds are dated but very useful in a mix with a band. Again many ways tweakable. 4 Assignable slders made experimenting with outboard gear pretty easy.

polyphony is behind the times 16 notes? Keyboard action is very good but taller than a Yamaha grand (longer keystroke.) Once you adjust to it, you can play hot boogie woogie on any accoustic.
Effects are the greatest. stereo tremolo, Phase shifter and 2 stage chorus make this the ultimate for 70's music. Play the Clavinet and fire your bass player. It DOMINATES! I used the EP as a left hand bass with a quiet storm type r'n'b band to good effect. Very nice in the deepest register.
No expansion
MIDI controlling is the strength that has kept me from getting rid of this heavy assed box. It's a love/hate thing.
No on-board SEQ

As I said before, it was easy to tweak this to get just about any kind of Rhodes sound I've ever wanted. The "accoustic" piano sounds are dated but very useful in a mix with a band. Again many ways tweakable. Effects are the greatest. stereo tremolo, Phase shifter and 2 stage chorus make this the ultimate for 70's music.

I had problems over the years with velocity acting up. One or two notes suddenly became much louder than they should be. Replacing the strips of calamare that lurk under the keys was expensive and a year later it happened again. I am going to try one more time, then chuck it if I don't get satisfaction. Evrything else has been perfect in spite of five years of every night gigging followed by intermittent bouts of long damp dusty storage. Very hard conditions.

no contact

Not again, but I'd miss it. Well worth the money, nothing else came close back in 1990. I love the rhodes sounds. My stage 73 NEVER sounded that bright, or funky or lush or anything. I Hate the weight and the velocity problem I had. I love the action. It makes your fingers mach a little, but it is always expressive and consistent.
I wanted 88 weighted for a thousand bucks and I got it.
It's now 2004, and I only use it occaisionally. (I don't gig anymore.)

Since I bought my MK80 in 1989 I have never really had to use the manuel (which I still have) Editing is easy.

Keyboard Action was the reason I bought the MK80. I have not as yet found any better even though the contacts are pretty shot in the mid range it still feels great. Warning dont let anyone who has another piano keyboard bash away as they will inevitably break the contacts!

I love the Clavinet sound and have never heard a better vibe sound yet. Standard Rhodes presets are excellent. I had a Stage 73 and the sound is comparable to that.

Has survived stint on Ship (7days a week number) Never let me down but dont let others play it- it kind of gets use to you. If I bought a second hand one I would refelt first.

Great company- no problems

Piano sounds a little dated but as a studio mid controller, its great. Would not want to part with it its so nice to play. Would buy another if I could. In summary, the closest thing I've ever experienced to a digital instument that feels great!

The presets do not really compare well to the real thing or indeed against Emagic's EVP88 which I now use but have a certain charm of their own. They can be tweaked to sound pretty good using EQ and FX. On board editing is easy and intuitive - I have no manual.

This keyboard's action is the best thing about it, I love it so much I struggle to less important gigs with it where a 5 octave Casio would probably suffice. The Phase, Chorus and Tremolo FX are great too and the EQ very effective. Personally I find the 4 MIDI sliders and foot control as well as P Bend and Mod indispensable for virtual Wah pedal and control of tape delay fx.

The velocity curve is adjustable and allows the feel to be adjusted to personal taste. There is no aftertouch but this is no big deal for me - I use it mainly for classic piano /EP/organ sounds rather than synth.

I have used it a lot live and in the studio and never had a problem, my only slight concern is that some of the buttons may be getting dirty or worn - one or two do not always respond without a little coaxing.

Never had any reason to contact Customer Support.

I would miss it if it were stolen as it has been great. I would consider getting another if only because when I was looking for a controller keyboard, anything else with this actiion and the amount of controllers I need is triple the price. I think they are a good buy as long as you can handle the weight factor.

I use my MK80 only as a controller. Very seldom use any internal sounds. I only edit patches for transmitting "program changes" to my rack (I love my EMU Proformance for piano samples and several Korgs for strings, horns, organs etc). Editing is tedious using the scroll buttons, but can be done. Love to find a software patch editor/librarian....and suggestions???

Like others, I bought it for the action. Sounds can always be updated (like my external EMU) but nothing compares to a good acoustic-feeling action.

Again, I very seldom ever use any internal sounds. The classic rhodes is not bad but I can get what I need externally.
I play 50s & 60s rock and roll so again the action was paramount.
I'm very happy with the full range of expression via key velocity.

The MK80 is the "heart" of my setup and I depend on it completely. Has seen many, many miles on the road (in a flight case of course) and has never failed me yet.

I've only needed customer service once a few years back. Started hearing that "wood-on-wood" sound when several keys started to "bottom-out". I took it to Roland (about 2 hrs away) and had them re-felt the keyboard. They were helpful and quick and I've never had another problem since.

Yes I agree with others that it's a heavy brute, but for me it's worth it. If lost/stolen I'd def. try to find another (I've had this one for a lot of year...seems forever). Love the action / hate the weight. Haven't found another model that compares, but then again I haven't needed to look yet. Still happy!

I have to admit, this is my first stage piano, so i do not have something to compare it with, but the first time i heard this piano i fell in love with it. The preset sounds are a bit shallow, but thanks to the equaliser funktions I'm playing a steinway now. Besides the sound of a soundway you also have the 88 keys, weighted like a real steinway. Makes it pretty exhausting to play rapid solo's, but feels great and realistic. Only problem: VERY HEAVY, like 30 kg, 40 including flight case. so you better call your roady..

You have 8 presets. 4 rhodes sounds, 2 classical piano's and a clavi and vibra and, as i said, an equaliser. You can choose to add a tremolo, phaser or chorus to your sound, witch you can change with the equaliserdrawbars. Each preset can be changed and stored in 8 different ways, so you can store 64 diffrent sounds. Only thing is that you will have to read the manual before you entirely understand all these things (still working on it)

no doubt that this rhodes has the best fender rhodes simulation i've ever heard. The presets aren't that good, but you can manipulate the sound with the equaliser. The same applies for the other presets. The sensitivity of the keys is very high. Not the same as the new stagepiano's they are selling now, but you have to remember the age of this girl, and the sound remains unique.

The only problem i have with this unit, is the first owner. I bought it second hand with to keys not working. So i opened it up, removed every singel key and saw one big dirty mess. Apperantly this person had entire parties on top of his rhodes, according to the dirt i found. After cleaning up the contacts, these keys worked again.
Never had a problem after that.

If this thing was lost or stolen i would be very very sad. And my roady very very happy.

Presets are not very usable, but editing is quite simple.
MK-80 is quite big and heavy (30 kg).

I bought my Rhodes/Roland MK-80 1990 because of the good keyboard action. And I have tried few other newer digital pianos, but I think MK-80 has still the best action.

Piano is quite ok after editing presets. But still it doesn't come close the new digital pianos.
Rhodes sounds are better than newer clones and there are 4 different kinds of sounds (you can store 8 variations of each sound). After editing those I got very usable Rhodes sounds for every purpose.
Clavi/Vibraphone are ok too.

I have had my piano for 12 years and I haven't got any problems so far. And lately I have done lot of gigs with it (without transitcase :-(

Keyboard action is great. And MK-80 has been very reliable. If it were stolen I would miss it.