Stephen Fortner Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Saturday night at around 11PM and where was I? Setting up the new Rhodes Mark 7 73 that Joe Brandstetter drove up here on his way from L.A. to San Francisco. It's got a stereo speaker platform under it and is set up in our soundroom. I've been keeping up with the threads on this forum about the new Rhodes, Joe B, and the enthusiasts and detractors of both. Now, having gotten my first real dose of extended hands-on time with this beast, I really think that you haven't played it until you've played it. So come play it. If you're in the San Francisco Bay area, and would like to try it out, give your opinion, and possibly have that opinion quoted on a video on our site and/or in the print review we're writing, drop me a private message or email us at keyboard@musicplayer.com. I'm gonna try and set up two or three "play dates" where people can come in and spend some time with it. The first step is to get an idea of how many people want to show up, how many can, and how compact a handful of dates I can nail things down to to keep it all manageable. There may be some sort of nominal screening and sign-up process to address our parent company's minimal but legitimate security concerns, but other than that, I'm picturing a mellow community hang. Stephen Fortner Principal, Fortner Media Former Editor in Chief, Keyboard Magazine Digital Piano Consultant, Piano Buyer Magazine Industry affiliations: Antares, Arturia, Giles Communications, MS Media, Polyverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangefunk Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Sounds great Stephen... as I'm in Norway I doubt I will make it... but the basic premise is a real first for a music magazine I think! Just shows how important the Rhodes was/is.. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I'd suggest you mail it to Europe for a while, but at that weight I can't afford the postage! Yamaha: P515, CP88, Genos 1, HX1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 There may be some sort of nominal screening and sign-up process to address our parent company's minimal but legitimate security concerns... Ooooof. I was on the phone with Delta. Then I read that line. I knew there'd be a catch. "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogut Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I really think that you haven't played it until you've played it. Thats it? Thats all your gonna give us? -Greg Motif XS8, MOXF8, Hammond XK1c, Vent Rhodes Mark II 88 suitcase, Yamaha P255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fortner Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 Gas, Given your "Grand Poobah of Posting" status, you're pre-cleared in my book. It's just that if I get 200 people who want to do this, I'm going to have to come up with some kind of system. Stephen Fortner Principal, Fortner Media Former Editor in Chief, Keyboard Magazine Digital Piano Consultant, Piano Buyer Magazine Industry affiliations: Antares, Arturia, Giles Communications, MS Media, Polyverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fortner Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 Mogut, Heck no, that's not all we're gonna give you. We're working on a review, more vids, and like I said, I'd be interested in members of the Keyboard community playing it and telling us what they think. Stephen Fortner Principal, Fortner Media Former Editor in Chief, Keyboard Magazine Digital Piano Consultant, Piano Buyer Magazine Industry affiliations: Antares, Arturia, Giles Communications, MS Media, Polyverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Bring it down to L.A. and you'll have plenty of people who want to play it. Except Leblanc who already got to use one on national television.... Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Loving Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I wish I could get to SF to play it. "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pierce Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Well, I've emailed Stephen already, but I'm in. Most definitely. Can't wait. --Dave Make my funk the P-funk. I wants to get funked up. My Funk/Jam originals project: http://www.thefunkery.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Steve, what a gracious offer ... and what a groundbreaking thing to do. Being on the left behind coast, I am not going to make it (although I am so-o tempted by the prospect of a keyboard corner hang). I'll enjoy it vicariously through you guys. So um, who's going? Looking forward to your review ... Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Yeah, I emailed Stephen too. What an incredibly cool thing to offer. I've also offered to SF to bring my Acme Low B-1s to this shindig to let guys hear them if they haven't had the chance yet. Who knows, maybe KB Mag would consider doing a review of the units at some future date - their call. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Gas, Given your "Grand Poobah of Posting" status, you're pre-cleared in my book. Thank you, Stephen. "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mogut Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Makes me wonder how long into the future it will be before I actually put my fingers on the rhodes7 being that im from the midwest and probably will never buy this. I would definitely never buy this blind... seems like they expect customers to do so Someone ought to have this thing down the road, somewhere, somehow... prolly be a few years before one crosses my path -Greg Motif XS8, MOXF8, Hammond XK1c, Vent Rhodes Mark II 88 suitcase, Yamaha P255 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhodaway10 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I PM'd Stephen as well. I'd be great to meet Tim and Dave as well! www.brianho.net http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brianho www.youtube.com/brianhojazz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 There may be some sort of nominal screening and sign-up process to address our parent company's minimal but legitimate security concerns, but other than that, I'm picturing a mellow community hang. A Rhodes proficiency exam? Prepare the following: - "Palladium" and "A Remark You Made" (extra credit if you bring your own Bi-Phase) - "Spain", include 2 choruses of Chick's solo - "Minute By Minute" - Demonstrate your ability to comp in the style of Richard Tee - Victor Feldman's solo on "Black Cow" - Any 3 songs from the Stevie Wonder catalog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Horne Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Let's see if I understand this. The CEO of the new Rhodes hand delivered a ... new Rhodes to Keyboard Magazine. I'm guessing that new Rhodes was given a first rate going over by Joe Brandstetter's techs. Wouldn't it have really been more accurate to have someone anonymously purchase a Rhodes from a music store and use that specific keyboard? Isn't that how it's normally done ... or not? I mention that because the only review I've seen online was one where the purchaser supposedly bought and received one delivered through a mail delivery service ... and he was not a happy camper. If Consumer Reports were reviewing an LCD TV made by Sony or Philips, they would have bought one anonymously ... and that's how they do it, right? Considering the amount of tweaking possible in an electrical mechanical keyboard (actually mostly mechanical in this case), the final review from Keyboard Magazine could leave something to be desired. It would seem the deck is already stacked. Does Keyboard Magazine have an adversarial role in this or is this another ... amazing video review? No guitarists were harmed during the making of this message. In general, harmonic complexity is inversely proportional to the ratio between chording and non-chording instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorgatron Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Wouldn't it have really been more accurate to have someone anonymously purchase a Rhodes from a music store and use that specific keyboard? If Consumer Reports were reviewing an LCD TV made by Sony or Philips they would have to be in a store to do that. BTW my brother bought a Philips TV and it's been nothing but a nightmare. If you'd like a rank amateur to try out this Rhodes I'd be happy to volunteer my services I'm in San Jose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Pierce Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 There may be some sort of nominal screening and sign-up process to address our parent company's minimal but legitimate security concerns, but other than that, I'm picturing a mellow community hang. A Rhodes proficiency exam? Prepare the following: - "Palladium" and "A Remark You Made" (extra credit if you bring your own Bi-Phase) - "Spain", include 2 choruses of Chick's solo - "Minute By Minute" - Demonstrate your ability to comp in the style of Richard Tee - Victor Feldman's solo on "Black Cow" - Any 3 songs from the Stevie Wonder catalog Ummmm, I could probably play Mary Had A Little Lamb. In C. With my right hand only. Does that count? --Dave Make my funk the P-funk. I wants to get funked up. My Funk/Jam originals project: http://www.thefunkery.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fortner Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 The inimitable Dave Horne wrote: The CEO of the new Rhodes hand delivered a ... new Rhodes to Keyboard Magazine. I'm guessing that new Rhodes was given a first rate going over by Joe Brandstetter's techs. Wouldn't it have really been more accurate to have someone anonymously purchase a Rhodes from a music store and use that specific keyboard? Isn't that how it's normally done ... or not? I mention that because the only review I've seen online was one where the purchaser supposedly bought and received one delivered through a mail delivery service ... and he was not a happy camper. Dave, first let me address how it's normally done. Manufacturers send us stuff, in the box, usually via FedEx Ground or UPS, so a product like a keyboard workstation pretty much gets the same bumpy ride it would get if it were shipped to a music store. In the case of the Rhodes, Joe was making a personal trip up here, so he grabbed one from the factory and it rode from Long Beach to San Francisco in the back of a Honda CRV. It doesn't seem any more or less tweaked than any other new Rhodes I've looked at. It's natural enough, though, for any manufacturer to be concerned that their new baby make a good impression on reviewers. I also know that since this is a real instrument with lots of moving parts, the company is very concerned about how it's handled during shipping to dealers and direct buyers. As to the idea that it'd be better to anonymously buy units - in any product category - and review them a point of view more analogous to the real customer experience, I agree entirely. There are also two publications I know of that are able to do this: Consumer Reports and Cook's Illustrated (the magazine arm of the "America's Test Kitchen" TV show). Both are about WAY more mainstream topics than keyboard playing and music production, and hence enjoy the economy of scale that allows them to operate this way. I believe they're also both non-profit entities, so they get a tax break. If I could figure out the financial model that'd let us go buy a dozen synths and see how they perform after being dropped down the stairs, I'd be all over it. What we do do at KB, and all the MPN mags, is take the stuff out to bars and studios, record with it, gig with it, and handle it the same way a customer would. That is to say, we *don't* drop it down stairs, set it on fire, or do other "Top Gear" stunts (though, again, that'd be fun as heck if we had the budget), but it gets plenty of use. So if it's not in a condition that reflects the real world real musicians gig and shop in when we take the plastic off, it sure is by the time we're sitting down to write the review. Now on the subject of Cook's Illustrated, it's most certainly the magazine I wish we could make about keyboards every month. That said, as a fellow editor and Vermonter, I do wish Chris Kimball would tone down the Garrison Keillor wannabe vibe and write editorials that are more about, uh ... food. But I digress... Stephen Fortner Principal, Fortner Media Former Editor in Chief, Keyboard Magazine Digital Piano Consultant, Piano Buyer Magazine Industry affiliations: Antares, Arturia, Giles Communications, MS Media, Polyverse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorgatron Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 PM sent,just in case you need a ham-fisted 300 lb. gorilla to round out the group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Too bad I don't live on the left coast, I was a rhodes player and keyboard mag subscriber during the 70s/80s. Guess I'll have to look for one in a local store... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frogmonkey Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Cook's is awesome. Boil your potatoes whole for mashed potatoes, seriously. I wish I could try that Rhodes. One's not likely to turn up in Vermont... I'll have to go find one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sven Golly Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 or do other "Top Gear" stunts (though, again, that'd be fun as heck if we had the budget) Sorry, just had to single this out, and apologies for the OT, but this is absolutely my FAVOURITE show at the moment, even though I'm watching 5- and 6-year-old reruns on "BBC Canada" up here. Absolutely brilliant and more entertaining that 90% of what passes for television programming in North America. But then, I've always been a fan of British humour. I think we should respond to Dave's posts with a Top Gear-ism, like "Some say that his heart ticks like a watch, and that hes confused by stairs... all we know is, he's called Dave Horne!" Okay, now back to your regularly scheduled program. I'm off to bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkKeysStuff Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Damn it all, I'm gonna be in the Bay Area too late to get in on this (assuming it's happening before October). However, I would like to add the following requirement to the Proficiency Exam: "Mercy Mercy Mercy" played the right way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pale Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 There may be some sort of nominal screening and sign-up process to address our parent company's minimal but legitimate security concerns, but other than that, I'm picturing a mellow community hang. A Rhodes proficiency exam? Prepare the following: - "Palladium" and "A Remark You Made" (extra credit if you bring your own Bi-Phase) - "Spain", include 2 choruses of Chick's solo - "Minute By Minute" - Demonstrate your ability to comp in the style of Richard Tee - Victor Feldman's solo on "Black Cow" - Any 3 songs from the Stevie Wonder catalog Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend. Maybe it's because I live on the other side of the big pond. I envy you guys, I truly do. I'm a big rhodes fan. Make a nice test run for all of us who won't be able to be there. I would like to add a bit of Joe Sample to the proficiency exam. Something like this: Custom handmade clocks: www.etsy.com/shop/ClockLight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorgatron Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 this fell off the 1st page pretty fast. lack of interest,or just geographically impossible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 A little of both, methinks. I'm in the group of people that owned them in the past, was never thrilled with them, and am indifferent to a new one (leaving aside the antics of the owner). And there probably are not more than a handful of KCers in Frisco. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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