If you are reading this and are considering buying one of these bad boys, do it. I took a chance with them and got it today. It installs in literally 5 to 10 minutes and I'm legitimately amazed. For a couple hundred bucks, this is hands down the best purchase I've made for my Rhodes yet. The noise and hiss is practically gone. The filter and the mid knob are really great for shaping the sound quickly and are super usable in practical situations, and the tremolo is absolutely stunning. Would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to breathe new life into their Rhodes. Good job guys! 👍
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! Making the RetroFlyer was hard work but seeing comments like this makes it more than worth it. We really appreciate you taking the chance and we're so happy and you like it. If you ever post a track or anything feel free to shoot us a link, we love to hear what people do with these things. All the best, Team Avion
Just fitted mine into a battered old Rhodes and the thing sounds amazing. I always expect reality to be 70-80% of the promises made in demo videos but this thing is spot on. So silent I forget it’s on when I’m not playing it, no more buzzing from the amp being cranked for the passive circuit. Amazing dynamic response across the keys. The tremolo is just a huge cherry on top. Only problem now is.... I feel like I need to refurb the whole road battered beast to make the look match the sound! Top marks to Avion, and great communication when posed a question or two. Cheers
Our deepest appreciations Lord Biscuit! Comments like these make all the hard work well worth it. We're so grateful you gave our company and new product a chance. Our biggest goal is to help people elevate their sound and get the most out of their instruments. We hope it serves you well for decades to come. :)
Beautiful sounds! 💖🎵🎶 Glad to see some more Rhodes options. Folks, this is a fantastic deal considering how much discrete parts and the enclosure costs!! If I were any of you, I would buy one sooner than later because Avion is seriously giving you a tremendous deal, and I would expect these to steadily go up in price towards their real value. I do DIY and know that R&D, PCBs, dual concentric potentiometers (with a switch!), knobs, LDRs (probably), custom faceplates, power supply, etc... equates to serious investment of cash. 💵💰 It all adds up. Even stereo 1/4" jacks get pricey.
Thanks so much for this very kind comment! Indeed there were many thousands of dollars sunk in before the first RetroFlyer was ever sold. The knobs were oddly enough the biggest single investment as no one made knobs for those dual pots. So we had to have custom molds and a BIG batch made (in the USA). We may raise the price a small amount this year but Morgen is really committed to keeping them super affordable. Being involved with such a cool community of people and players makes all the work more than worthwhile!
Oh that's awesome Paul! So glad you're digging it and we can't wait to hear the music you make using the RetroFlyer! ...seriously tag us!
3 года назад+1
I just order mine to Spain, very excited to try it out soon! I asked the service team of @avionstudios with a lot of newbie questions and they answered very clear and quickly. ! great job
My dude! We have already gone and done such a thing and it's such a cool adaptation. Here's a link! www.avionstudios.com/rhodes/retroslider Let us know if you have any questions, always happy to help.
Thanks for the info. I am thinking of purchasing for my Stage Mark 2. So does it only have ONE jack-output (of which you connect a stereo lead to run to your amp/mixer)?
Hey monsterjazzlicks, sorry for the slow reply, we were traveling the past few days - getting a bunch of keyboards. Anyway, yes there is one output jack. But you can use the RetroFlyer in either mono or stereo. The main reason we kept it to a single jack was so that it would fit the most variations of Rhodes name rails without alteration to the instrument. Some people have split the output to dual mono and drilled another hole into the rail. But it's perhaps simpler to use a stereo cable and then split the signal if necessary. I hope that helps! We're always available via email (avioncontact@gmail.com) if you have any other questions.
I got a question for you. How are you supposed to get the stereo vibe from 2 speakers when it only has one output? Let's say I'd use the Roland JazzChorus with has 2 inputs for stereo, but this pre amp only has on line out?
Excellent question! The RetroFlyer swaps the existing TS (mono) jack for a TRS (stereo) jack. So to get stereo you simply need to use a TRS cable. We sell a nice right angle version (keeps it out the way) but you can find suitable ones at any music shop etc.. For some people they have mixers or interfaces with stereo inputs, but in your case you just need an adapter to split the stereo into dual mono. We also carry those. There are few custom cables around that do this without an adapter as well. I hope that helps and let us know if you have any other questions. Best - Greg
@@avionstudios6463 Of course, that makes great sense. Anyway thanks for clarifying, since I'm about to get hands on a 1973 Fender Rhodes stage, and I want to have that great sound that a pre amp provides. So I found this pre amp and really like what you've done the the tremolo compared to other pre amps on the market. So now that I know how the output works, I'm not in doubt about which pre amp to buy:)
@@avionstudios6463 Oh man, that's so nice of you:) Unfortunately the deal has been delayed cause og the cover-19 situation but hopefully not for too long...
Hey Steve, absolutely! The output will be a bit higher so you'll need to adjust your gain settings on the pedals. And typically keep the RetroFlyer volume in the first half of the rotation to accommodate the smaller headroom of most pedals. I hope that helps and let us know if you have any other questions, we're always happy to help. All the best, Team Avion
This has the mid EQ/boost - but loses the bass boost on the original MkI - is this an issue for anyone? I normally set my bass boost to 4 (or 11 o clock).
Good question. So on the passive controls, the "boost" is somewhat misleading. Those knobs really only attenuate either the volume or the low bass. It's not a terrible idea to attenuate the bass as the raw signal from the harp can be very bass heavy and particularly when these were first in production most guitar amps could not handle it well. So really you're only lessening the amount of bass to varying to degrees with that control. That said, the passive controls still degrade the harp signal a fair bit and most people would say you're better off just going off the harp directly and EQing from there. And really if you want a VERY bass heavy signal you're probably best off using a secondary EQ on the RetroFlyer as well. So either from a mixer, plugin or pedal. The bass notes you do get from the RetroFlyer however will be MUCH cleaner and more dynamic. And I think you'll find certainly as much bass as on a reasonably "boosted" signal from a passive model. You can also open up the bass register to some degree using the variable on-board high-pass filter. I would say for most people playing solo, going to 20hz on the HPF is plenty of bass for any live situation. But again, it's not just the amount of bass, it's the tonal and dynamic quality that really sets the RetroFlyer apart. I'd definitely recommend checking some other videos of the RetroFlyer (they can be found on our site listing) so you can hear some of the other sounds people are making with the RetroFlyer. As a final note, often if you want a really big sound, scooping the mids and raising the volume is a great way to do it as it gives the perception of a heightened or "hyped" bass and treble. Any other questions just let us know. avioncontact@gmail.com Cheers, Greg
Hey there, really intrigued by this product. I'm playing a Mark I Stage 73 into two SF Twin Reverbs currently, but would love to have this proper rhodes preamp before the amps so I wouldn't have to crank my amps so loud to get a useable level all the time. You think its ok to run this thing before the two Twins??? I guess I would need some kind of a TRS to 2 TS splitter to split my signal to the amps as well. I'm just using a Boss tuner right now to split the signal, but the true stereo is what i wannnnt.
Hey Tae, I think we got back to you on Reverb but for anyone else wondering. YES, this is a great use for the RetroFlyer. It will improve the overall gain structure AND the signal coming into the amp. I (Greg here) personally use 2 Deluxe Reverbs and I think two twins would sound awesome. As for cord, there's tons of ways but I recommend going in with a right angle stereo, splitting out from that can be done in lots of ways. Cheers!
@@avionstudios6463 WOW. I pulled the trigger on the RetroFlyer and had my first practice with it last night. My signal was so clean and strong that I actually had to upgrade the speakers in one of my Twin Reverbs because it couldn't handle it. Somewhere on the Avion Studios site the RetroFlyer was described as "taking a blanket off of your Rhodes", and that is absolutely correct. I finally feel like I have the tone I've wanted in my head. I instantly started hearing and writing new licks because the complexity of my tone was so expressive. The guys in my band made me turn down, which has never happened before. Everyone was blown away by the sound and how crystal clear it was. Our band is pretty much centered around the Rhodes and its like it solidified the sound in the room, smoothed everything out. Ok, I could keep going, this is 100% honest review I am just @#$%ing pumped about the RetroFlyer, NICE WORK!!!
@@taejun9017 This is so amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell us. You have no idea how happy this sort of thing makes us. We're honored you tried out the RetroFlyer and even more honored that you're "@#$%ing pumped" about it. Send us a link or tag sometime, we'd love to hear your band in action. All the best, Team Avion
Generally speaking yes! You'll be able to greatly improve the gain staging which is probably the primary area for noise with Rhodes. So basically you'll be running a hotter signal with a better signal to noise ratio from the RetroFlyer and the high/low in/out impedance will also help out what you're running it in to. Tonal quality/clarity will also be improved. All that said, if it's really noisy it could have some grounding issues as well. Or, being a Mk II, may have pickup issues as well. We actually have a 1980 board in this week that was really noisy until we swapped a few pickups that were overly high resistance. So not dead, but impeding the harp signal/ground. They were essentially squeezing/shorting the ground path - making it quite noisy. So while the RetroFlyer is not a cure all, it will be a big improvement across the board. And if you need help diagnosing issues just shoot us an email/call, we're happy to help. :)
Hi Avion Studios, I've just ordered today the Retroflyer plus 3 TRS cables from your website. I have been looking for a good pream for my Rhodes MII and after some research I figured that most good preamps for mics are expensive. Just couple days ago I saw the video posted by J3PO showing his Retroflyer in action and I have to say I was amazed by the sound that Retroflyer provides. Therefore I pulled the trigger and ordered it. Also the price is another reason for me when it comes to the final decision. I live in Taiwan so please provide an adaptor of 110V. Does it come with user manual for installation and usage? BTW I am thinking about posting videos in my channel making before-after sound comparison once I receive the Retroflyer, so hope to receive it soon !!
Great, thanks for the order and your kind comment. The RetroFlyer comes with a universal power supply as well as a manual which details installation and operation. As for the sound quality and price. Again very kind. We work hard to put out products that are both well designed and constructed as well as affordable. In regards to shipping, if you want your order quickly (which almost everyone does) I'd highly recommend shooting us an email and upgrading from first class to either priority or UPS. Any other questions just let us know and we hope you absolutely love your RetroFlyer! 🔥🎹
I’m very interested in buying one of these but most if not all of the videos that I’ve seen sound distorted. Is that common on these units? I noticed that it distorts mostly while they’re playing bass notes.
Hey Bobby, thanks for the question. So there is some distortion on the J3PO video, but that's caused by him overdriving the secondary gain stage after the RetroFlyer. In terms of the RetroFlyer itself distorting it's very very hard to do and basically wouldn't happen in anything like normal use. The RetroFlyer is a pretty low-gain preamp all things considered and that's simply because it's so import to have loads of headroom when it comes to the Rhodes - which is a VERY dynamic instrument. Also if the RetroFlyer were to distort it would not sound pretty, like an overdriven amp, it would just sound like the signal was breaking up. That's just the nature of IC based circuits like this. So pretty much any distortion you hear will be a result of secondary gain and/or processing. Or even the speakers at the end of the chain. One way to address this is by adjusting the onboard high pass filter which will reduce the bass frequencies. Another important method is watching the gain staging carefully knowing there is a lot of energy in the bass end of Rhodes so it requires decent headroom throughout. Or in terms of studio...or even live for that matter, a frontside compressor/limiter can also help a great deal in taming the large spikes in amplitude. Lastly would be regulation on the Rhodes itself. The bass end can buzz or distort quite easily when unregulated or due to aged parts. So providing the RetroFlyer with the best signal possible will absolutely help. In fact many people tell us the RetroFlyer is great help in regulating their boards as it reveals spots with issues much easier due to the increased clarity. So I hope that helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions. :) - All the best, Greg @ Avion
Heyo, excellent question - it's really simple. We have a custom DC power cable made that sneaks between the cheek block and the case. Most people just swing it around the side and hang it on the handle so it stays out of the way. It's not the most elegant but it is very simple and reliable. Other people have done a whole assortment of custom installs with IEC jacks in the back and so on. But the general benefit with this simple system is it requires no modification to the Rhodes and installs in less 15 minutes. Hope that helps. Let us know if you have any other questions. Best, Greg - Team Avion
I'm trying to get into the Rhodes world. I'm looking to getting a 1973 Rhodes stage piano mark 1. Your retroflyer sounds amazing and I plan to buy it after I buy the Rhodes. Would the Rhodes model I'm getting be a fir with the retro flyer. And also, how would a Rhodes sound through a fender blues jr. Or what do you suggest?
That's great to hear Jesus! There are a lot of good amp options for the Rhodes. Many people like a Roland JC-120 or vintage tube Fenders. But really many many amps can work great. Or even PA speakers or monitors. I hope that helps a bit. Feel free to email us anytime for more in depth help/advice.
@@JesusMartinez-me1je It should sound quite good. The thing about guitar amps is they won't be as full-range as a PA or keyboard amps. But that's not always a bad thing! The Rhodes shines in the mid range and can sometimes be overly bass heavy or piercing when fully extended. Often we prefer a nice tube guitar amp for quick good sound and sitting well in the mix with an ensemble. Either way, if you have a blues jr it's a great starting point and you can always try out other options as you go. 👍🎹
@@avionstudios6463 I'm excited! lol I hope I can find a good deal here in LA for a Rhodes. One more question can I get a stereo image from the Rhodes to protools with the retroflyer?
@@JesusMartinez-me1je Oh super easy to get a good stereo signal into a recording interface. The RetroFlyer gives a great line level signal on the higher side of the volume rotation. ALSO, we have Mark I in Ventura that we were about to ship here. So if you're interested in that send us an email for some details! 😀👍
You can. Some people have done it. We added an open ground tab on the PCB for people that do that - so you can ground whatever enclosure you use. We don't currently offer an enclosure for it but we may at some point. Besides not having the benefit of the controls being on the rail the only real issue is shielding. Installed on the rail the whole harp acts as shielding for the circuit whereas if you place it outside it should have additional shielding. That said, some people who live in relatively interference free homes/studios have simply sat it on top of the Rhodes and signal to noise is still quite usable. So environment is a factor, but really it should have a proper enclosure outside of the rail. Any other questions just let us know. :) - G
@@louierubio Well to be honest Louie it will probably be awhile - more likely we'll come out with more retrofit models before an enclosed version. So it could be a year or more. The benefits of the rail mount are a big factor in the design and installation is completely reversible, so you're always safe to go back. Although to be fair maybe 1% of users actually do swap back. Also, if you haven't seen it, check J3PO's demo. It's banging. ruclips.net/video/hctiuM0jlhE/видео.html
Absolutely! The Retroflyer will fit any Rhodes with a 2" hole spacing on the rail. But it's especially great for retrofitting in passive Mark I & II models. Feel free to shoot us an email if you have any other questions. avioncontact@gmail.com
@@filippobuccianelli4606 Hey Filippo, excellent question! The power supply is actually up on the Rhodes in this video. Just to the right of the dry erase board. Power introduction was certainly the trickiest thing because of the limited holes on a standard passive rail. We supply a thin a cable that can be tucked in between the rail or cheek block and the enclosure. We actually make the cable in house because we couldn't find one that was thin and long enough to suit our needs. It actually works really well. The cable has a female DC plug which connects to any standard 24V male DC plug. We include a power supply as shown which uses an IEC from the AC side so anyone in the world can use the RetroFlyer without much difficulty. We supply some different kinds of AC plugs but all you need is a the correct AC IEC cable for your country. We also include a DC jack that can be mounted on the lid or rail or enclosure if you choose. The cable we include is long enough to reach the handle on the side of the case and tuck in there for solid stage use. And then can easily be disconnected and set inside the case for transport. There are two major advantages to this method. 1) cost! We wanted the RetroFlyer to be as affordable as possible without sacrificing audio quality. Using a cheek block would have increased the overall cost by around 20-25%! 2) Installation is super quick! Most people can install our Retroflyer in less than 10 minutes (although we don't want anyone to rush!) I hope that helps. We'll have an installation video coming out soon that shows everything in detail. But the RetroFlyer also comes with a manual with complete instructions. You can always contact us through our site if you have any other questions. We're always here to help. Cheers!
It would! The only difference with those 54s is that the holes are father to the left, so the cabling is little tighter and most people skip the faceplate as it hangs over a little without a trim. Other than that installation is the same. Let us know if you have any other questions. 👍🎹
@@tuckryanmusic Ah, I thought you had the round hole version. For the slider version you need to modify the rail. What a few people have done when doing that is place the holes in such a way that your can then use the faceplate to cover the slider slots. So it can still look clean despite a bit of surgery. Using the faceplate as a template is the easiest way to do this. I hope that helps. Any other questions just let us know, happy to help!
If you are reading this and are considering buying one of these bad boys, do it. I took a chance with them and got it today. It installs in literally 5 to 10 minutes and I'm legitimately amazed. For a couple hundred bucks, this is hands down the best purchase I've made for my Rhodes yet. The noise and hiss is practically gone. The filter and the mid knob are really great for shaping the sound quickly and are super usable in practical situations, and the tremolo is absolutely stunning. Would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to breathe new life into their Rhodes. Good job guys! 👍
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this! Making the RetroFlyer was hard work but seeing comments like this makes it more than worth it. We really appreciate you taking the chance and we're so happy and you like it. If you ever post a track or anything feel free to shoot us a link, we love to hear what people do with these things. All the best, Team Avion
Just fitted mine into a battered old Rhodes and the thing sounds amazing. I always expect reality to be 70-80% of the promises made in demo videos but this thing is spot on. So silent I forget it’s on when I’m not playing it, no more buzzing from the amp being cranked for the passive circuit. Amazing dynamic response across the keys. The tremolo is just a huge cherry on top.
Only problem now is.... I feel like I need to refurb the whole road battered beast to make the look match the sound!
Top marks to Avion, and great communication when posed a question or two.
Cheers
Our deepest appreciations Lord Biscuit! Comments like these make all the hard work well worth it. We're so grateful you gave our company and new product a chance. Our biggest goal is to help people elevate their sound and get the most out of their instruments. We hope it serves you well for decades to come. :)
Beautiful sounds! 💖🎵🎶 Glad to see some more Rhodes options. Folks, this is a fantastic deal considering how much discrete parts and the enclosure costs!! If I were any of you, I would buy one sooner than later because Avion is seriously giving you a tremendous deal, and I would expect these to steadily go up in price towards their real value. I do DIY and know that R&D, PCBs, dual concentric potentiometers (with a switch!), knobs, LDRs (probably), custom faceplates, power supply, etc... equates to serious investment of cash. 💵💰 It all adds up. Even stereo 1/4" jacks get pricey.
Thanks so much for this very kind comment! Indeed there were many thousands of dollars sunk in before the first RetroFlyer was ever sold. The knobs were oddly enough the biggest single investment as no one made knobs for those dual pots. So we had to have custom molds and a BIG batch made (in the USA). We may raise the price a small amount this year but Morgen is really committed to keeping them super affordable. Being involved with such a cool community of people and players makes all the work more than worthwhile!
Best device I have ever bought for my Mk 2. And a great after-sales service from Greg and the guys . . .
Oh that's awesome Paul! So glad you're digging it and we can't wait to hear the music you make using the RetroFlyer! ...seriously tag us!
I just order mine to Spain, very excited to try it out soon! I asked the service team of @avionstudios with a lot of newbie questions and they answered very clear and quickly. ! great job
@ Are you going to fit it yourself?
@@monsterjazzlicks sure, I checked it up, and it's not rocket science ;-), why?
@ OK, I was just going to offer you a video or something just to try and help you out. But as you don't need it there is no point.
Wow this thing is a great piece of engineering, I need this in my Fender. Thank you guys!
Aw thanks Ralph! Let us know if you have any questions. 👍🎹🔥
Thanks for the video and a great product - just placed my order
This is really cool. Do you have any plans to make something like this available for the Rhodes 54?
My dude! We have already gone and done such a thing and it's such a cool adaptation. Here's a link! www.avionstudios.com/rhodes/retroslider
Let us know if you have any questions, always happy to help.
Thanks for the info. I am thinking of purchasing for my Stage Mark 2. So does it only have ONE jack-output (of which you connect a stereo lead to run to your amp/mixer)?
Hey monsterjazzlicks, sorry for the slow reply, we were traveling the past few days - getting a bunch of keyboards. Anyway, yes there is one output jack. But you can use the RetroFlyer in either mono or stereo. The main reason we kept it to a single jack was so that it would fit the most variations of Rhodes name rails without alteration to the instrument. Some people have split the output to dual mono and drilled another hole into the rail. But it's perhaps simpler to use a stereo cable and then split the signal if necessary. I hope that helps! We're always available via email (avioncontact@gmail.com) if you have any other questions.
Have subbed ;-)
I got a question for you. How are you supposed to get the stereo vibe from 2 speakers when it only has one output? Let's say I'd use the Roland JazzChorus with has 2 inputs for stereo, but this pre amp only has on line out?
Excellent question! The RetroFlyer swaps the existing TS (mono) jack for a TRS (stereo) jack. So to get stereo you simply need to use a TRS cable. We sell a nice right angle version (keeps it out the way) but you can find suitable ones at any music shop etc.. For some people they have mixers or interfaces with stereo inputs, but in your case you just need an adapter to split the stereo into dual mono. We also carry those. There are few custom cables around that do this without an adapter as well. I hope that helps and let us know if you have any other questions. Best - Greg
@@avionstudios6463 Of course, that makes great sense. Anyway thanks for clarifying, since I'm about to get hands on a 1973 Fender Rhodes stage, and I want to have that great sound that a pre amp provides. So I found this pre amp and really like what you've done the the tremolo compared to other pre amps on the market. So now that I know how the output works, I'm not in doubt about which pre amp to buy:)
@@djLouisLoop Oh great! And congrats on the new board. Drop a note in the order and I'll put in an adapter for you for free. Appreciate the question!
@@avionstudios6463 Oh man, that's so nice of you:) Unfortunately the deal has been delayed cause og the cover-19 situation but hopefully not for too long...
@@djLouisLoop Anytime mate, offer valid forever, just remind us!
Hi guys! Is it possible to plug other pedal effect (phaser, chorus..) to the stereo output??? Cheers from 🇫🇷🤘🏽
Hey Steve, absolutely! The output will be a bit higher so you'll need to adjust your gain settings on the pedals. And typically keep the RetroFlyer volume in the first half of the rotation to accommodate the smaller headroom of most pedals. I hope that helps and let us know if you have any other questions, we're always happy to help.
All the best, Team Avion
This has the mid EQ/boost - but loses the bass boost on the original MkI - is this an issue for anyone? I normally set my bass boost to 4 (or 11 o clock).
Good question. So on the passive controls, the "boost" is somewhat misleading. Those knobs really only attenuate either the volume or the low bass. It's not a terrible idea to attenuate the bass as the raw signal from the harp can be very bass heavy and particularly when these were first in production most guitar amps could not handle it well. So really you're only lessening the amount of bass to varying to degrees with that control. That said, the passive controls still degrade the harp signal a fair bit and most people would say you're better off just going off the harp directly and EQing from there. And really if you want a VERY bass heavy signal you're probably best off using a secondary EQ on the RetroFlyer as well. So either from a mixer, plugin or pedal. The bass notes you do get from the RetroFlyer however will be MUCH cleaner and more dynamic. And I think you'll find certainly as much bass as on a reasonably "boosted" signal from a passive model. You can also open up the bass register to some degree using the variable on-board high-pass filter. I would say for most people playing solo, going to 20hz on the HPF is plenty of bass for any live situation. But again, it's not just the amount of bass, it's the tonal and dynamic quality that really sets the RetroFlyer apart. I'd definitely recommend checking some other videos of the RetroFlyer (they can be found on our site listing) so you can hear some of the other sounds people are making with the RetroFlyer. As a final note, often if you want a really big sound, scooping the mids and raising the volume is a great way to do it as it gives the perception of a heightened or "hyped" bass and treble. Any other questions just let us know. avioncontact@gmail.com Cheers, Greg
@@avionstudios6463 Thanks for the very detailed and quick response! I just purchased it and am looking forward to installing it!
@@MIDERA Happy to help! We hope you absolutely love the RetroFlyer. Any questions along the way, just let us know. :)
@@avionstudios6463 I did just send you guys an email! Thank you for the extremely quick replies.
Hey there, really intrigued by this product. I'm playing a Mark I Stage 73 into two SF Twin Reverbs currently, but would love to have this proper rhodes preamp before the amps so I wouldn't have to crank my amps so loud to get a useable level all the time. You think its ok to run this thing before the two Twins??? I guess I would need some kind of a TRS to 2 TS splitter to split my signal to the amps as well. I'm just using a Boss tuner right now to split the signal, but the true stereo is what i wannnnt.
Hey Tae, I think we got back to you on Reverb but for anyone else wondering. YES, this is a great use for the RetroFlyer. It will improve the overall gain structure AND the signal coming into the amp. I (Greg here) personally use 2 Deluxe Reverbs and I think two twins would sound awesome.
As for cord, there's tons of ways but I recommend going in with a right angle stereo, splitting out from that can be done in lots of ways. Cheers!
@@avionstudios6463 WOW. I pulled the trigger on the RetroFlyer and had my first practice with it last night. My signal was so clean and strong that I actually had to upgrade the speakers in one of my Twin Reverbs because it couldn't handle it. Somewhere on the Avion Studios site the RetroFlyer was described as "taking a blanket off of your Rhodes", and that is absolutely correct. I finally feel like I have the tone I've wanted in my head. I instantly started hearing and writing new licks because the complexity of my tone was so expressive. The guys in my band made me turn down, which has never happened before. Everyone was blown away by the sound and how crystal clear it was. Our band is pretty much centered around the Rhodes and its like it solidified the sound in the room, smoothed everything out. Ok, I could keep going, this is 100% honest review I am just @#$%ing pumped about the RetroFlyer, NICE WORK!!!
@@taejun9017 This is so amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell us. You have no idea how happy this sort of thing makes us. We're honored you tried out the RetroFlyer and even more honored that you're "@#$%ing pumped" about it. Send us a link or tag sometime, we'd love to hear your band in action. All the best, Team Avion
I have Fender Rhodes mk ii that is quite noisy and the midrange sounds a bit muddy.
Would this preamp be a big help for those issues?
Thanks!
Generally speaking yes! You'll be able to greatly improve the gain staging which is probably the primary area for noise with Rhodes. So basically you'll be running a hotter signal with a better signal to noise ratio from the RetroFlyer and the high/low in/out impedance will also help out what you're running it in to. Tonal quality/clarity will also be improved.
All that said, if it's really noisy it could have some grounding issues as well. Or, being a Mk II, may have pickup issues as well. We actually have a 1980 board in this week that was really noisy until we swapped a few pickups that were overly high resistance. So not dead, but impeding the harp signal/ground. They were essentially squeezing/shorting the ground path - making it quite noisy. So while the RetroFlyer is not a cure all, it will be a big improvement across the board. And if you need help diagnosing issues just shoot us an email/call, we're happy to help. :)
Hi Avion Studios, I've just ordered today the Retroflyer plus 3 TRS cables from your website. I have been looking for a good pream for my Rhodes MII and after some research I figured that most good preamps for mics are expensive. Just couple days ago I saw the video posted by J3PO showing his Retroflyer in action and I have to say I was amazed by the sound that Retroflyer provides. Therefore I pulled the trigger and ordered it. Also the price is another reason for me when it comes to the final decision.
I live in Taiwan so please provide an adaptor of 110V. Does it come with user manual for installation and usage?
BTW I am thinking about posting videos in my channel making before-after sound comparison once I receive the Retroflyer, so hope to receive it soon !!
Great, thanks for the order and your kind comment. The RetroFlyer comes with a universal power supply as well as a manual which details installation and operation. As for the sound quality and price. Again very kind. We work hard to put out products that are both well designed and constructed as well as affordable. In regards to shipping, if you want your order quickly (which almost everyone does) I'd highly recommend shooting us an email and upgrading from first class to either priority or UPS. Any other questions just let us know and we hope you absolutely love your RetroFlyer! 🔥🎹
I’m very interested in buying one of these but most if not all of the videos that I’ve seen sound distorted. Is that common on these units? I noticed that it distorts mostly while they’re playing bass notes.
Hey Bobby, thanks for the question. So there is some distortion on the J3PO video, but that's caused by him overdriving the secondary gain stage after the RetroFlyer. In terms of the RetroFlyer itself distorting it's very very hard to do and basically wouldn't happen in anything like normal use. The RetroFlyer is a pretty low-gain preamp all things considered and that's simply because it's so import to have loads of headroom when it comes to the Rhodes - which is a VERY dynamic instrument. Also if the RetroFlyer were to distort it would not sound pretty, like an overdriven amp, it would just sound like the signal was breaking up. That's just the nature of IC based circuits like this. So pretty much any distortion you hear will be a result of secondary gain and/or processing. Or even the speakers at the end of the chain. One way to address this is by adjusting the onboard high pass filter which will reduce the bass frequencies. Another important method is watching the gain staging carefully knowing there is a lot of energy in the bass end of Rhodes so it requires decent headroom throughout. Or in terms of studio...or even live for that matter, a frontside compressor/limiter can also help a great deal in taming the large spikes in amplitude. Lastly would be regulation on the Rhodes itself. The bass end can buzz or distort quite easily when unregulated or due to aged parts. So providing the RetroFlyer with the best signal possible will absolutely help. In fact many people tell us the RetroFlyer is great help in regulating their boards as it reveals spots with issues much easier due to the increased clarity. So I hope that helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions. :) - All the best, Greg @ Avion
Where is mains power plugged in?
Heyo, excellent question - it's really simple. We have a custom DC power cable made that sneaks between the cheek block and the case. Most people just swing it around the side and hang it on the handle so it stays out of the way. It's not the most elegant but it is very simple and reliable. Other people have done a whole assortment of custom installs with IEC jacks in the back and so on. But the general benefit with this simple system is it requires no modification to the Rhodes and installs in less 15 minutes. Hope that helps. Let us know if you have any other questions. Best, Greg - Team Avion
I'm trying to get into the Rhodes world. I'm looking to getting a 1973 Rhodes stage piano mark 1. Your retroflyer sounds amazing and I plan to buy it after I buy the Rhodes. Would the Rhodes model I'm getting be a fir with the retro flyer. And also, how would a Rhodes sound through a fender blues jr. Or what do you suggest?
That's great to hear Jesus! There are a lot of good amp options for the Rhodes. Many people like a Roland JC-120 or vintage tube Fenders. But really many many amps can work great. Or even PA speakers or monitors. I hope that helps a bit. Feel free to email us anytime for more in depth help/advice.
Avion Studios have you ever heard it through a fender blues Jr? It’s a tube amp so I assume it would sound good. What do you think?
@@JesusMartinez-me1je It should sound quite good. The thing about guitar amps is they won't be as full-range as a PA or keyboard amps. But that's not always a bad thing! The Rhodes shines in the mid range and can sometimes be overly bass heavy or piercing when fully extended. Often we prefer a nice tube guitar amp for quick good sound and sitting well in the mix with an ensemble. Either way, if you have a blues jr it's a great starting point and you can always try out other options as you go. 👍🎹
@@avionstudios6463 I'm excited! lol I hope I can find a good deal here in LA for a Rhodes. One more question can I get a stereo image from the Rhodes to protools with the retroflyer?
@@JesusMartinez-me1je Oh super easy to get a good stereo signal into a recording interface. The RetroFlyer gives a great line level signal on the higher side of the volume rotation. ALSO, we have Mark I in Ventura that we were about to ship here. So if you're interested in that send us an email for some details! 😀👍
Is there a way to use this externally without installing it?
You can. Some people have done it. We added an open ground tab on the PCB for people that do that - so you can ground whatever enclosure you use. We don't currently offer an enclosure for it but we may at some point. Besides not having the benefit of the controls being on the rail the only real issue is shielding. Installed on the rail the whole harp acts as shielding for the circuit whereas if you place it outside it should have additional shielding. That said, some people who live in relatively interference free homes/studios have simply sat it on top of the Rhodes and signal to noise is still quite usable. So environment is a factor, but really it should have a proper enclosure outside of the rail. Any other questions just let us know. :) - G
Avion Studios ok! Will check back when you guys make an enclosed version. Thank you!!
@@louierubio Well to be honest Louie it will probably be awhile - more likely we'll come out with more retrofit models before an enclosed version. So it could be a year or more. The benefits of the rail mount are a big factor in the design and installation is completely reversible, so you're always safe to go back. Although to be fair maybe 1% of users actually do swap back. Also, if you haven't seen it, check J3PO's demo. It's banging. ruclips.net/video/hctiuM0jlhE/видео.html
Avion Studios ok will do!! Thank u!
Does this work with a Mark 1 Stage model?
Absolutely! The Retroflyer will fit any Rhodes with a 2" hole spacing on the rail. But it's especially great for retrofitting in passive Mark I & II models. Feel free to shoot us an email if you have any other questions. avioncontact@gmail.com
Hi, interesting tool, but where is the power supply connection? On the cheek block front as some Dyno units? Thanks
@@filippobuccianelli4606 Hey Filippo, excellent question! The power supply is actually up on the Rhodes in this video. Just to the right of the dry erase board. Power introduction was certainly the trickiest thing because of the limited holes on a standard passive rail. We supply a thin a cable that can be tucked in between the rail or cheek block and the enclosure.
We actually make the cable in house because we couldn't find one that was thin and long enough to suit our needs. It actually works really well. The cable has a female DC plug which connects to any standard 24V male DC plug. We include a power supply as shown which uses an IEC from the AC side so anyone in the world can use the RetroFlyer without much difficulty. We supply some different kinds of AC plugs but all you need is a the correct AC IEC cable for your country. We also include a DC jack that can be mounted on the lid or rail or enclosure if you choose. The cable we include is long enough to reach the handle on the side of the case and tuck in there for solid stage use. And then can easily be disconnected and set inside the case for transport.
There are two major advantages to this method. 1) cost! We wanted the RetroFlyer to be as affordable as possible without sacrificing audio quality. Using a cheek block would have increased the overall cost by around 20-25%! 2) Installation is super quick! Most people can install our Retroflyer in less than 10 minutes (although we don't want anyone to rush!)
I hope that helps. We'll have an installation video coming out soon that shows everything in detail. But the RetroFlyer also comes with a manual with complete instructions. You can always contact us through our site if you have any other questions. We're always here to help. Cheers!
price?
$225! Free US shipping w/ coupon. $30 shipping everywhere else. Plus we have EU distribution through Klassic Keys GB. :)
Are they still available?
Absolutely and there are even more options to fit more Rhodes than ever. www.avionstudios.com/rhodes/retroflyer
Would this work with a Rhodes 54?
It would! The only difference with those 54s is that the holes are father to the left, so the cabling is little tighter and most people skip the faceplate as it hangs over a little without a trim. Other than that installation is the same. Let us know if you have any other questions. 👍🎹
@@avionstudios6463 how does that work considering the 54 has volume and tone faders that slide side to side as opposed to clockwise?
@@tuckryanmusic Ah, I thought you had the round hole version. For the slider version you need to modify the rail. What a few people have done when doing that is place the holes in such a way that your can then use the faceplate to cover the slider slots. So it can still look clean despite a bit of surgery. Using the faceplate as a template is the easiest way to do this. I hope that helps. Any other questions just let us know, happy to help!