A New Chapter for Rhodes

[CyberGene]

If it was a purely acoustic instrument such as a piano where you can’t cheat and how it sounds is how it sounds, then the high price would be warranted. But it’s a Rhodes after all, a wonderful keyboard instrument indeed, but it’s about electronics, amps, effects and speakers to make it sounding like a Rhodes. In an era where every stage piano, workstation and VST can offer you the full variety of the Rhodes history, I find it ridiculous to pay as much as they ask for, except for prestige. Each to their own. 

[The Real MC]

On 7/9/2021 at 7:39 PM, MikeT156 said:

Who can afford Vintage Vibe Pianos?

 

 

I could afford one but 1) I already have a Rhodes I love 2) I've given up gigging one because they won't cut through a band with crunchy guitars.

[The Real MC]

On 8/21/2021 at 3:02 AM, funkphingerz88 said:

Hey folks. Hope you"re all well. Great to be here as always and glad to see everyone is super excited about the new piano!!

 

I see that you have a demo room with Fender amps.

For a real treat, try a 1960s Selmer "croc-skin" Zodiac Twin Thirty.  Those old Selmer amps are more prevalent in the UK than in the US.  Make sure it has the original Celestion alnico speakers.  Bridge the two channels (like old Marshalls), then on the Selectortone buttons try the mid-high frequency settings, vary the balance between the two channels.  With the right preamp setting, you can get great tone shaping with moderate tube overdrive, just with playing dynamics.

 

It's a vintage amp known with guitar players - why should guitar players have all the fun?

 

I was very lucky to find one cheap here in the states, and it's my favorite amp to record with Rhodes pianos.  At the time I didn't own a Fender Twin Reverb, but "I got this Selmer amp which is sort of a Fender Twin"...

[The Real MC]

1 hour ago, CyberGene said:

If it was a purely acoustic instrument such as a piano where you can’t cheat and how it sounds is how it sounds, then the high price would be warranted. But it’s a Rhodes after all, a wonderful keyboard instrument indeed, but it’s about electronics, amps, effects and speakers to make it sounding like a Rhodes. In an era where every stage piano, workstation and VST can offer you the full variety of the Rhodes history, I find it ridiculous to pay as much as they ask for, except for prestige. Each to their own. 

 

You're forgetting the pickups.  The older pickups could saturate with hard playing, which imparted a pleasant punch on the sound.  I hear that in the Mk8, but have yet to hear it in digital simulations.

I sold my Rhodes in 1982 after too much frustration and lived with digital simulations between 1989 and 2007.  Good enough for gigging, but always felt it was missing something.  Then I tried one in a store and forgot how good it sounded.  But I sure hated the soggy action.  By 2010 I landed a great Rhodes - my "keeper".  It stays in the studio for recording and I gig the simulation.

[stoken6]

6 hours ago, RichieP_MechE said:

The youtube algorithm fed it to me, it's magic I tell ya

Facebook's algorithm actually fed me the invitation to the launch event at Ronnie Scott's. I couldn't go sadly, but would have loved to attend...

 

Cheers, Mike.

[Doerfler]

 

[Morrissey]

This is first video I've seen of the Mk8 in the wild.  I'm a little underwhelmed by the tone.  I mean, it sounds like a Rhodes but not a "head turning" Rhodes.  I'm far from writing off the Mk 8... lots of variables in live recording, and it has sounded better to me in some of the videos from the factory.  But this video didn't catch my ear.          

[CyberGene]

I think the sound in that video is typical for a Rhodes that has no effects applied to it, so that you can hear all these small squeaks and dings that scream "I'm a real Rhodes". OK, that's good but very few actual great Rhodes players from the past used that virgin sound and instead applied effects to beef the sound up and make it meatier. And then you realize in the process you just lose all the peculiarities and would be good with any good Rhodes emulation. So, once again, this is a prestige thing. But I doubt there's any other advantage to spend so much for this, unless money is not an issue of course.

[Docbop]

It sound doesn't sound like a Rhodes, yes it's Rhodes-ISH, but not a classic Rhodes sound.    I agree with Dave Ferris the attack is a big issue.   

[Doerfler]

tough crowd 

[MescaL]

I went to the launch event in London, Ronnie Scott's is an incredible venue. Very much appreciated the free beer on the way in hah! Sound in the room was incredible. When played on its own I recall it have a crisp bell attack whilst retaining that well rounded thick/creamy sound. I wasn't sure whether the Mk 8 was being run through the Fender Twin Reverb or DI. Dan demonstrated the versatility of the preamp section, and it was pretty amazing what you could achieve just with the preamp creating phaser-ish affects and layering synth like effects with the wave shapes. The distortion sounded sick too and would suit me playing in heavier Rock bands. I remember there being quite a lot of control over the bell/attack using the EQ which could have been a personal choice/factor in the attack in this video of Bill playing, it looks like the high is way up. I'm younger so haven't toured extensively with Rhodes but have been playing predominantly Wurly/Rhodes samples for 15 years in bands and played/recorded with 5 or 6 different Rhodes before. Personally, I thought it was one of the best Rhodes I had heard. A few lucky cats even got to have a play around on it at the end! It was amazing hearing the passion Dan had for the instrument and everything that went into it. I definitely recommend hearing one in the flesh.

[Doerfler]

5 hours ago, Dave Ferris said:

No apologies, I like what I like.

 

When I hear "that sound" like in the video, it brings back very bad memories.

 Everyone has their likes and dislikes, you have earned the right to not like the sound. 

[Reezekeys]

I would hesitate to judge based on a youtube video. And as has been mentioned, apparently the preamp does a pretty wide range of tone shaping, so maybe we're listening more to Bill's preferences than what we should take as "the" sound of the new Rhodes.

 

Even though I will probably never own this, I wish them the best and look forward to experiencing one in the flesh. My fingers are crossed for another UK trip this year, and that it includes Ronnie's. Might this one be left there to be the "house" EP? There's tons of Rhodes in AWB's music! (HINT!!) 😄

[Morrissey]

I want the Mk8 to succeed.  Elaborating on my observation: I believe this is the first video clip of the Mk8 in a live band setting.  And Rhodes itself sent out the video to its e-mail subscribers as something to check out.  I believe the Mk8 can sound fantastic, so it is a missed opportunity that -- so far -- reactions to the video are nowhere near "that's the best Rhodes I've ever heard"... which is a reasonable expectation given the premium pricing.

[Reezekeys]

Can you really say any one Rhodes' sound is "best"? There's a lot of variation and different tastes. Just as an example from the virtual world, I bought the Orange Tree Famous E rhodes but hardly ever use it - I prefer the Scarbee. They're both great imo, just in different ways. And my mind might change too - but right now Scarbee's sound is more in line with my style of playing. Can we maybe wait for a few more videos before pronouncing this new Rhodes a failure? 🙂

 

Tough room indeed!

[Morrissey]

16 minutes ago, Reezekeys said:

Can you really say any one Rhodes' sound is "best"? There's a lot of variation and different tastes. Just as an example from the virtual world, I bought the Orange Tree Famous E rhodes but hardly ever use it - I prefer the Scarbee. They're both great imo, just in different ways. And my mind might change too - but right now Scarbee's sound is more in line with my style of playing. Can we maybe wait for a few more videos before pronouncing this new Rhodes a failure? 🙂

 

Tough room indeed!

 

I've attempted in my comments to be clear I'm remaining open minded... optimistic even... about the sonic potential for the Mk8.  My negative comments pertain to the marketing.  I admit I'm still bitter because they got me all lathered up with their very long pre-release teaser marketing campaign, and then crushed my spirits with the out-of-reach pricing.

 

I wasn't claiming there is a single "best" Rhodes sound.  I was attempting to exemplify the type of enthusiastic reaction that is lacking from this "tough crowd"   

[Docbop]

For me by calling themselves Rhodes that means you better sound like a classic early Rhodes first,  any new sound are fringe benefits.    Like Vintage Vibe by not being called Rhodes they get a lot more leeway to have their own sound.  

[Reezekeys]

4 hours ago, Morrissey said:

I've attempted in my comments to be clear I'm remaining open minded... optimistic even... about the sonic potential for the Mk8.  My negative comments pertain to the marketing.  I admit I'm still bitter because they got me all lathered up with their very long pre-release teaser marketing campaign, and then crushed my spirits with the out-of-reach pricing.

 

I wasn't claiming there is a single "best" Rhodes sound.  I was attempting to exemplify the type of enthusiastic reaction that is lacking from this "tough crowd"   

 

I understand. My comment wasn't really aimed at you specifically though it probably seems that way. I just think that a real Rhodes, i.e. an actual electromechanical instrument, has to be experienced in a "real " setting, i.e., in person, played by the evaluator through their preferred amplification, tone controls at their ideal settings according to the player. Listening to the recording is the same as listening to a sampled rhodes in terms of the sonics alone. We're not getting the experience of playing this instrument.

 

I never followed any of the hype, and since I will probably never be in the market to buy any Rhodes, there was nothing to personally disappoint me regarding the price, though of course it came in higher than many thought it would. C'est la vie. I have no inside knowledge of course, but it does seem like these are good people that cared about producing an instrument that's a cut above what was done before. It's possible they've already decided their target market are the big rental companies and studios, and that's enough for them. As for the rest of us mere mortals... there are certainly many very good virtual Rhodes and decent-feeling controllers to choose from, for which I'm thankful for. No complaints from me – but I'll still look forward to checking one of these Mk 8s out!

[Doerfler]

Nick Batts doing his thing 

 

 

[Morrissey]

"People that have balked at the price at the beginning... they're not balking at the price now because, like, 'Oh, right. That's a quality instrument.  That's why it costs so much.'... We won't compromise on quality.  We're making the absolute best Rhodes piano ever built."

[analogika]

On 3/3/2022 at 5:40 PM, Docbop said:

For me by calling themselves Rhodes that means you better sound like a classic early Rhodes first,  any new sound are fringe benefits.    Like Vintage Vibe by not being called Rhodes they get a lot more leeway to have their own sound.  

Early Rhodes? 

I dunno. I had a 76 that played like shit but sounded *wonderful* (destroyed in a fire). I have a 78 that I don't really like that much. Never clicked. My favourite so far is a friend's 1973 suitcase. 

People seem to really like the Dyno (which I really don't care for) — why wouldn't it be legitimate to sound like any of those classic Rhodes, rather than just the very early ones? 

[Mills Dude]

8 hours ago, Dave Ferris said:

I like the raw, basic sound in that video Dave just posted. The non-effect parts of it are reminiscent of the Herbie Red Clay sound.  It probably plays better then any Rhodes in history having that Kluge keyboard and action. I'm even more impressed watching this video. I'd love one !

I'm with you.  That video was wow!   As much as I've listened to and lusted after VVs, I always come away with the idea that it sounds great, but it's not quite a Rhodes.  The posted demo video with Jamie, it just sounded right -- Rhodes++.  While I never owned one, in the 80s I had regular access to 2 different Stage 88s , not sure of the vintage but both Mark 1.  They sounded good but the action on both were spongy and sluggish.

 

I've always connected to the Rhodes sound, especially that Herbie sound, no dyno for me.  Yeah, the plugins sound great but they're not quite there for just sitting, creating and woodshedding ideas.  I'm interested to see the next model with the effects panel.  If they really nail the phaser (hoping for at least both smallstone and mxr type sounds), I don't know if I can resist.   I'd never take it out of the house, it'd by my forever Rhodes.  Potential job change coming soon with hopefully a significant bump.  Hopefully I'll be ready for the next rev.  

[ProfD]

Brotha @zephonic was able to lay hands on the Rhodes and didn't appear to be overwhelmed by it. 

 

I thought about taking a last minute flight to NAMM specifically for the Rhodes.

 

If anybody else has played the new Rhodes, let me know if it's worth taking a trip to Leeds UK.😁 

 

Of course, there's nothing like hands on but still...a $2k trip is slightly less than a quarter of the price of buying the d8mn thing.🤣😎

[Docbop]

Justin Lee Schultz is a hell of a pianist and guitarist.  His family recently moved to L.A. and he and his dad keep popping up at clubs and jams all over town sometime with is drummer sister.    Justin is only 15 so that's why dad has to escort him to clubs.    I've been on a couple of Justin's chats and the palette of things he listens to is really wide. 

[ElmerJFudd]

 

[zephonic]

On 6/6/2022 at 8:43 AM, ProfD said:

Brotha @zephonic was able to lay hands on the Rhodes and didn't appear to be overwhelmed by it. 

 

 

Let me qualify that. I played it at NAMM, but with cans and it didn't blow me away. It sounds and plays like a Rhodes. The main difference is that it feels new, whereas any original Rhodes will have 250K+ miles on it.

 

 

[ElmerJFudd]

Fellow named Jean K. from Paris, France has won the Mk8 giveaway.   Congrats, Jean. 😕

[ElmerJFudd]

75 AE, she’s a looker, I must say.

 

 

 

https://rhodesmusic.com/the-limited-edition-mk8-75ae-piano/?dm_i=72BK%2C98TE%2CXT60N%2C13XPE%2C1

 

 

[Al Coda]

22 minutes ago, ElmerJFudd said:

75 AE, she’s a looker, I must say.

 

Yes,- a status symbol !

 

☺️

 

A.C.

[Doerfler]

Email I received said there is only going to be 75 of them made, and 35 are already spoken for.

Here is the link to get yourself priority access to purchase one.

 

https://rhodesmusic.com/the-limited-edition-mk8-75ae-piano/?dm_i=72BK%2C98TE%2CEB6F2%2C13XPE%2C1

 

 

"Priced at $13,495 (plus local sales tax and delivery), Rhodes will take on MK8/75AE orders on a strictly first-come, first-served basis. A 50% deposit on the full payment is required to secure your piano, with the balance cleared when your piano is complete. 

It is advised to order promptly to avoid disappointment. Existing Rhodes MK8 customers have been offered the opportunity to upgrade to MK8/75AE specification.

The current delivery estimate is six per month beginning January 2023."