Rhodes Mark V

Plugin and play

Just a plain, clear and very dynamically expressive Rhodes sound

Since the MkV has a longer hammer throw than oldes rhodes models, it has a wider dynamic range in sound.

The longer hammer throw puts a bigger strain on hammers and hammer combs, so the plastic parts more often breaks in a MkV than older models.

Factory shut down in 1984

Very rare ( 2.000 units were produced in total, no more, no less )and also the most enjoyable Rhodes to play, since the keyboard has more of a piano-feel.

The Rhodes Mark V has to be the greatest Rhodes ever made. It is somewhat lighter and the stand is more like a workbench-much easier to set up then the four legs and those clunky braces that were on the Stage 73's. The Mark V has a hard plastic outer shell in stead of the wood case - no tolex to tear off!!!!.

The action is somewhat stiff, but being mostly a piano player, it's not to hard to adjust to. 73 keys, 73 note polyphony. That simple.

The Rhodes is in a class by itself. it has been well used in jazz & rock. The Mark V is especially clear and defined in the upper octaves unlike some older suitcase or Mark II models. Only tone @ volume. I use a rackmount Speakeasy Vintage Tube Preamp(stereo)for vibrato and various other effects occasionaly

it is built like a tank. I used to use basic my other Rhodes Stage 73 it in the day, but now I use a Kurzweil K2VX. My doctor would have a cow if I tried to pick it up these days. The Mark V is slighty lighter.

Almost anyone can do spot/basic repairs and adjustments. For more serious work there are plenty of folks out there that will do major work. Just look on the web.

If My Mark V were stolen, I could prolly not find another. They only made ~ 4000 of these. I choose this piano because I couldn't wipe the drool off my face. I also had never seen one before. I own 3 Rhodes, all older and this is certainly the nicest, most rich and clear sounding one. I have sold my old suitcase.

Two knobs, volume and tone... That's it and that's that. It's a Rhodes... What can I say?

Full 73 note polyphony. Built in lightweight plastic material so this one could be lifted by one person but two is still recommmended. This is the VERY LAST model the Rhodes company made before they shut down in 1985. Mine was made in 1984 and it's regarded as the KING of Rhodes... Oh yes... Read on! Btw: Three prototypes were made with MIDI. Chick Corea has one of them... And the Mark V is said to be the ONLY Rhodes Herbie Hancock use...

It's a Rhodes made PERFECT. Gone is the sluggish action that made the old MK I's and II's a struggle to play. Here you have lightning fast action and almost pianolike feel. A new design in the key/damper action makes the piano sing like no other Rhodes before it. In the low frequency area where you normally would find some undefined "muddy" basslike tone you'll find a strong, powerful and defined bass, and the bell-like tones in the top will make your eyes wet. Because of the new keyaction design this piano has the mellow, well-known Rhodes tone with a Suitcase warmth, and when played with an attitude it barks like no other Rhodes. It's quite simply the most expressive Rhodes ever made... How i LOVE it...

Oh yes... Reliable as any other Rhodes. Well, it CAN be somewhat harder on the tines because of the new keyaction-design but I haven't managed to break any tines yet after one year of use.

Well, since Rhodes don't exist anymore I guess enuff's said? But it's not that bad... You can find spareparts on Ebay and musicstores still and this Rhodes uses the same tines as the MK I's (after 1975) and MK II's.

This is quite simply the BEST Rhodes ever built in my opinion. It's more than 25 years of work and experiments with the Rhodes sound ending up in this wonderful piece of instrument. Harold Rhodes (inventor) regarded the Mark V as the best thing he ever came up with. BUT, there are only made about 5000 of them in the whole world, so don't expect to find one every now and then. I've seen a couple on Ebay and they will be VERY expensive (1500$++) but they are worth it.

If this one would be stolen I'd cry my eyeballs out for the rest of my life. I've tried every Rhodes from MK I (Stage and Suitcase) MK II (Stage and Suitcase) and allthough the Suitcase IS a VERY good Rhodes, I would STILL prefer the Mark V.

If you find one, buy it ASAP! It will make you one of the happiest Rhodesplayers EVER!