JWhllr Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Alright. Seeking advice here. There's a Rhodes for sale in my local area. I'm very much umming and aahing over it. It's big, heavy and would be nigh impossible to gig with. Needs some work adjusting dampers, fixing a few keys and replacing a tine. Life stage wise, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be living in this city and it'd be hard to take with me. On the other hand, it should hold value for resale (probably gain value if I restore it a bit) or I could leave it with family if I move... I'm personally a fan of the wood finish case, that was done by a previous owner. These don't come up often in Australia, even less often in Tasmania. Perhaps my only chance to own a Rhodes? On paper, it seems like a foolish investment. But, it's a Rhodes... A real one. Here's a pic. Seller is asking $2600AU (~$2000US). Might be able to get him down to $2400... Would you snap it up? Viscount Legend, Leslie 142, Nord Stage 3 HA88, Rhodes MK1 1977, Moog Sub 37, Dave Smith Rev2, Juno 106, DX7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resolution 88 Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Hey there! Well, it's good news that it's local, so that you've been able to try it. It's been cannibalised at least a bit - either the faceplate is from another piano, or it's either a stage with satellite system or suitcase that's lost its pre-amp, which is a shame. I think it really depends on all the other life factors (and budget) which you've mentioned - along with how the action feels. I imagine that rarity in Australia pushes up the price but for that piano, it seems over-priced to me. It's getting to the point where you could probably find a mint suitcase over in the US, buy it, ship it to Australia, pay the duty *and* still only have paid the same... Those preamps are expensive and they are a big part of the sound so, assuming you decide to buy, I'd make a point about that and perhaps shoot for considerably lower than $2400 first. Do you have a history of Rhodes selling prices (and conditions) in your area, just to get a feel for how reasonable this is? Also - gigging with a Rhodes is emminently manageable, with a suitable car and a trolley. It all depends whether it's worth it for you! Good luck deciding! Tom Rhodes funk Resolution 88 Reso 88 on iTunes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWhllr Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 The cut-outs on the faceplate are apparently on all the stage mk1s, just hidden under the faceplate usually. This one had developed some noisy pots in the tone controls, so the preamp got ripped out and it's now just totally passive. Been looking up pre's, the vintage vibe stereo vibe would be a $600 undertaking. I'd need to order in a few other bits as well to make her sing... Viscount Legend, Leslie 142, Nord Stage 3 HA88, Rhodes MK1 1977, Moog Sub 37, Dave Smith Rev2, Juno 106, DX7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BbAltered Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Tough call. Here in the USA, used Mark I Rhodes 88 typically sell for less than $1500 - more only if it has been rehabbed. (The owner might ask for more, but find to actually sell it, they have to accept less.) I have one that I got as a gift from a friend: I am going to spend some money to fix up. I have no plans to gig with it; it will mostly stay in my studio and be something that I occasionally play and knowledgeable keyboard players might comment on. So for me, I'm doing it for the love of the instrument. J.S. Bach Well Tempered Klavier The collected works of Scott Joplin Ray Charles Genius plus Soul Charlie Parker Omnibook Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life Weather Report Mr. Gone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Alright. Seeking advice here. There's a Rhodes for sale in my local area. I'm very much umming and aahing over it. It's big, heavy and would be nigh impossible to gig with. Needs some work adjusting dampers, fixing a few keys and replacing a tine. Life stage wise, I'm not sure how much longer I'll be living in this city and it'd be hard to take with me. On the other hand, it should hold value for resale (probably gain value if I restore it a bit) or I could leave it with family if I move... If you are not planning to gig with it, and buying it to restore and resell, and you don't know how much longer you'll be living where you are, and you worry about the size and weight & taking it with you... For what purposes are you considering it? Because they don't come up often in Australia doesn't mean that it's the right purchase for YOU. As this would be your first Rhodes, I understand your enthusiasm. I've owned two Rhodes. But for me, buying a Rhodes today... I'd pass. "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...
bennyray Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 I have owned a Rhodes back in 1979. As much i liked the sound of the Rhodes back then and now. Seems to me then the Rhodes was nice but i don't think many people would think it would be so valuable now. Like the Wurly it is hard to replicate. Tough decision to make unless you have money to burn i just don't it would be worth it from a money standpoint. If you want to fix up the RHODES as a hobby and you really want it. Go for it. But for me i think it is a little pricey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resolution 88 Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 The cut-outs on the faceplate are apparently on all the stage mk1s, just hidden under the faceplate usually. Ah yes, I'd forgotten they drilled all the holes in every faceplate, just so they could be used for stages and suitcases. It's still a shame that the preamp was ripped out though... I would say from the price of this piano and from the tone of your initial post (plus the responses), this might not be the right Rhodes or the right time for you... but I hope you get hold of a nice Rhodes at some point! Rhodes funk Resolution 88 Reso 88 on iTunes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Grumpy previous Rhodes owner here.. If the action is good, it CAN be fixed up to be a good instrument. If the action is bad, it will always be bad no matter how much you try to fix it up. Been there, done that. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Grumpy previous Rhodes owner here.. If the action is good, it CAN be fixed up to be a good instrument. If the action is bad, it will always be bad no matter how much you try to fix it up. Been there, done that. Previously grumpy Rhodes owner concurs. I own a good one now, but not before three others all which had bad action. People seem to hang onto the ones with good action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmymio Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 What year was this made? Also, I don't know what all the fuss is about a pre-amp. IIRC, on the stage pianos, it is just a volume pot and a tone knob, which merely cuts the highs. You would not be sacrificing much by taking your signal from the RCA jack which comes right off of the harp. This is not to say that the VV pre might not be a good investment but it certainly would not be a necessity. Also, I have a preference for the 73 key models. The 88s are more difficult to adjust and the highest and lowest sections rarely sound good anyway. What conditions are the dampers? hammers? also check to make sure nobody has bent the pickups in an attempt to modify the piano. With the caveat that I know about the market down under, unless the instrument was stellar, I would not pay that much for it. 1935 Mason & Hamlin Model A Korg Kronos 2 73 Nord Electro 6D 61 Yam S90ES Rhodes Stage 73 (1972) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doerfler Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 The 88s are more difficult to adjust and the highest and lowest sections rarely sound good anyway. Agreed, and I own a MK II 88. Had to spend quite a bit of money to finally get everything correct, could not have done it myself. I really enjoy playing mine, nothing like the real thing for sure, but man, that's alot of money for a keyboard that needs work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazzjazz Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 That's way over-priced - it looks like a real problem. Worth about $1000 if you ask me. Sure it's rare in Tassie, but in Sydney you can a GOOD one for $2000. www.dazzjazz.com PhD in Jazz Organ Improvisation. BMus (Hons) Jazz Piano. my YouTube is Jazz Organ Bites 1961 A100.Leslie 45 & 122. MAG P-2 Organ. Kawai K300J. Yamaha CP4. Moog Matriarch. KIWI-8P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 Grumpy previous Rhodes owner here.. If the action is good, it CAN be fixed up to be a good instrument. If the action is bad, it will always be bad no matter how much you try to fix it up. Been there, done that. Previously grumpy Rhodes owner concurs. I own a good one now, but not before three others all which had bad action. People seem to hang onto the ones with good action. I had a good one with great action and it made me grumpy anyway Go figure. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWhllr Posted September 6, 2016 Author Share Posted September 6, 2016 Cheers for all the replies guys. Great thing about living in Australia is you post here, go to sleep and then there's plenty to read in the morning... Looks like I'll be passing on it, though I might offer $1500 or so. Probably not worth my time at the moment. Was also checking it out on behalf of a music instrument shop I work at that is keen to get some vintage boards as reference pieces, they might decide it's worth the investment. For myself, I would be getting it to fix up and sit in the studio, maybe use it for the occasional special gig. $1500 is going to seem like a horrendous lowball to this guy, but I might be able to show how it's going to need work to be usable and it's not worth what he thinks it's worth. It's a drummer selling it who plays a bit of keys, to him it seems to be "OMG super special rare vintage sought after keyboard worth $$$$$". Will be hard to convince him otherwise without sounding like I'm trying to rip him off. Action was definitely playable and I enjoyed it. Haven't played any others to compare to though. Year remains a bit of a mystery... Couldn't see the usual numerical stamp. Maybe didn't look hard enough. Seller said '77, but that seems too late in the timeline to still have Fender badges. That seems to suggest pre '74 and the hybrid wood/plastic hammers scream pre '76 at least from the research I've done. Cube tip hammers rather than tapered also suggest pre '76. Viscount Legend, Leslie 142, Nord Stage 3 HA88, Rhodes MK1 1977, Moog Sub 37, Dave Smith Rev2, Juno 106, DX7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElmerJFudd Posted September 6, 2016 Share Posted September 6, 2016 You've got to play it. Mine is a MkI 88 as well and it plays awful. It really needs the bump mod (from my research on the topic) but it does sound good. One of these years when I have that kind of time (maybe when I retire) I'll get around to getting it to play well. For now, it's setup next to my baby grand. I do walk over to it on occasion and fire up the Fender tube head I run it through. Love the sound, always disappointed by the action. Feels like mush. In that respect it makes me feel like getting a good controller and picking up Spectrasonic's Keyscape and be done with that dream. I haven't the scratch and can't justify having the work on the MkI done by VintageVibe. Similarly, a Vintage Vibe Piano starting at $3899 and tricking out to $10k is out of my class. I also wonder from time to time if I'd be happy with the Zarenbourg? But it's pricey as well at $4300 and that's a lot of scratch for a digital we never hear about. I don't know of anyone on the forum that's bought one and bragged about how much they love it. Or the CP1 at $5k. I played it at NAMM 2010 and thought it felt great and the sound was good too. But we don't chat on this one much here as well. Is it because it's too expensive? Or because it's not that great? Yamaha CP88, Casio PX-560 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Mine is a MkI 88 as well and it plays awful. It really needs the bump mod (from my research on the topic) but it does sound good. One of these years when I have that kind of time (maybe when I retire) I'll get around to getting it to play well. Don't get your hopes up too much. I had a Stage 88 (the one that made me grumpy.) I did the pedestal mod, moved the felts from the hammers to the keys, etc. It helped a bit but in the end the action still sucked. Edit: I will say that every Rhodes I ever played with a decent action (all 3 of them) was a Suitcase 73. YMMV. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWhllr Posted September 7, 2016 Author Share Posted September 7, 2016 Sent the guy an incredibly polite offer for $1500, explaining the issues with it and hopefully accurately gauging the worth of the instrument. If he accepts, it's a project I have the time for at the moment and it'd be good to get some experience tinkering with a Rhodes and making it nice. If he doesn't, I might get an amusing' get stuffed mate' message that could be worth sharing... Cheers for the guidance all. Love this place. Viscount Legend, Leslie 142, Nord Stage 3 HA88, Rhodes MK1 1977, Moog Sub 37, Dave Smith Rev2, Juno 106, DX7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmymio Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Edit: I will say that every Rhodes I ever played with a decent action (all 3 of them) was a Suitcase 73. YMMV. This is probably just a coincidence. The guts of a suitcase and a stage are identical. The only difference is that the bottom of the suitcase piano's box is a little less beefy since it is intended to sit on the foundation of the speaker box. 1935 Mason & Hamlin Model A Korg Kronos 2 73 Nord Electro 6D 61 Yam S90ES Rhodes Stage 73 (1972) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABECK Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 I never thought extra keys was worth the additional weight for an 88. $2k sounds high, but like the "Vintage Synth" market, I find prices on the Electro Mechanical instruments (Rhodes, Wurli, Clav) to be prohibitively high. I just can't play that game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie_Chicago Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Man , I could probably sell you my suitcase 73 early 80's and get it shipped to tassie for about the same price , and my stuff is good to go An 88 is more hassle than a 73 , but if it's studio only , dosnt matter. I would hold out , you would be better off finding something on the mainland and driving it back. "Ive been playing Hammond since long before anybody paid me to play one, I didn't do it to be cool, I didnt do it to make a statement......I just liked it " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 I never thought extra keys was worth the additional weight for an 88. Many years ago I played an 88 at a school. I owned my own 73 at the time. Being trained on piano, the higher keys on the 88 were handy for glissandos. The lower keys weren't much to write home about. If you're a "Rhodes player", the 73 will suffice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 I might get an amusing' get stuffed mate' message that could be worth sharing... His loss... how many people from down under are into Rhodes pianos? Cheers for the guidance all. Love this place. Happy to help... cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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