Product: Rhodes Mark I Stage 88
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
01/26/2004
at
08:18pm
by
steve runyon
Email: harmonycentral<at>workrobot dot com
Ease of Use
:
8
Here's an edit of the section you already have:
The Rhodes Electric Piano is pretty easy to use. To work, it just needs to be plugged into an amplifier. It requires no power source. The keys on it have similar action to that of a real piano except a little stiffer. The Rhodes is portable and comes with a lid that makes the instrument into a case. It comes with four chrome-plated legs that screw into receptacles in the bottom of the case, two braces for the read legs, and a knob that screws into the bottom to hold the braces in place. With the legs in the ligd and the lid on the case, it weighs a bit over 100 lbs, so you will need help or a hand truck to move it. The only reason I stopped traveling with mine was the weight.
Features
:
6
The action of the Rhodes is electromechanical, which means that all 88 keys could be played at once. If the Rhodes is well adjusted ("set up") it is very playable and expressive. Some Rhodes have a much better action and feel than others.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
9
Rhodes works well for Jazz, R&B, and Rock. In fact, one or more of the primary sounds on most electronic keyboards today are always a Rhodes imitation. The real Rhodes sounds better because it is electromechanical which gives is a larger dynamic range and a fuller sound.
Reliability
:
10
Very dependable, and a backup is never needed.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
7
Rhodes sounds best through a tube amp. I played mine through a Fender Super Twin, a Mesa Boogie 15", and various Peavey transistor amps, all to good effect. Would sound great through a Hartke bass amp too I think.
Product: Rhodes Mark I Stage 88
Price Paid: US $300 used
Submitted
06/28/1999
at
07:49pm
by
Jared Bell
Email: ClavinetB3<at>aol dot com
Ease of Use
:
8
The Rhodes Electric Piano is pretty easy to use. To work, it just needs to be plugged into an amplifier. It requires no power source. The keys on it have similar action to that of a real piano except a little stiffer. The Rhodes is portable and comes in a case, but it does weigh about 200 lbs.
Features
:
7
The Rhodes is a mechanical instrument. When you press a key, it hits a hammer against a tone bar which is then amplified by a pickup and the sound is sent to an external amplifier. This gives the Rhodes full polyphony. The Rhodes comes with legs (although mine are missing), and a sustain peddle. There are 88 wooden weighted keys, and they have a very interesting feel to them. The Rhodes also has a volume control, and a bass control.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
10
The sound of the Rhodes EP is great. It has a wonderful vintage sound that has been used by Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, The Greyboy Allstars (Robert Walter), and countless others. In my opinion, no other EP comes close to the Rhodes (except for the Wurlitzer Electric Piano). The Rhodes works great for jazz, funk and rock. It is also very popular in the background of many rap bands. Since the Rhodes works by hammer tips hitting metal, it can be very expressive.
Reliability
:
9
For a vintage instrument, the Rhodes is pretty reliable. It has a strong case, and the instrument is well built. I can always rely on the Rhodes to come through for me on gigs. The only problem I've had with the Rhodes is bad key action on a couple of the keys, but they are really easy to fix.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I'm not sure if the Rhodes corporation is still in business, but I have found quite a few places that can tune and repair the Rhodes.
Overall Rating
:
10
The Rhodes is great. In my opinion, no keyboard can replace it. It is awesome...
