How to assemble a Rhodes piano from scratch in 5 minutes
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- The Rhodes Electric Piano is quite possibly the most groovalicious instrument ever created. It's also surprisingly easy & fun to work on. I made this video to remind myself in what order to put all the pieces back together.
Invented by piano teacher Harold Rhodes in the 1940s-50s, the Rhodes piano was originally meant for injured WWII soldiers to play while lying in their hospital beds. More than half a century later, it's one of the most recognizable and beloved keyboard instruments. However, like many great old (heavy) instruments, the digital age has made it an endangered species. I hope this video helps some of you rescue an injured old Rhodes or two.
The song is "Bring Back Cynthia Centipede," a tune I wrote about trying to bring back old days long gone. It is also literally about a centipede whom I rescued and nursed back to health in the summer of 2005. Except for drums & vocals, every sound you hear is a Rhodes (the same one I put together in the video). The "guitar" at the end is the piano fed through a 12-watt Esteban G-10 amplifier which cost me $5 at a garage sale.
A Rhodes or Fender Rhodes piano itself can run you anywhere from around $200 to $2000, depending on its condition and where you live. They are in great demand in Europe. Ebay average price is around $500-700 for a Mark I Stage like this with all its parts.
If you're buying one, the main thing to check is if all the 73 tines (thin metal rods that vibrate & produce sound) are there. They can run you $20-40 EACH.
So now get out there, rescue a Rhodes, rescue a centipede and rock on.
Latex gloves optional.
"ahh finished wait whats that on the ground..... fuck i missed a screw"
Haha you know it. I'm actually really proud that I remembered to put the little push rod fitting in place before bolting everything down. That would've put a damper on the whole project. Lame pun intended.
Ok the video was cool... but the fact that you dressed like a magician... 10/10.
That is a great song.
Really dug the music. Wow!
Big thanks! The mix is a little cringe, but those 7th chords are sweet on a Rhodes!
How to assemble a Rhodes piano from scratch in 5 minutes
step 1: assemble the Rhodes piano in 4 hours.
step 2: timelapse the whole thing to 5 minutes.
geinus
Great, great song!
Thank you!
Wow I love your song.
This song is excellent
Much appreciated, my friend!
Amazing! You have SKILLS! I just started on my mission of rescuing a Rhodes. I hope I can return it to its “groovealicious” glory very soon!
Thank you! And major congrats on your rescue mission! These things are getting frightfully rare so I wish you all the luck in adding some more groovaliciousness to the cosmos 🖖🖖
This is FANTASTIC!
That song was dope as hell
That song is fantastic, I really like that. Well done for making this, I had no idea the Rhodes was such a complex instrument inside.
It's pretty scary in there for sure, but once you realize it's just the same simple mechanism repeated 73 times it's not that bad ;) Thanks for the kind words, I've been meaning to remake the song after a proper tune up for the last 6 years haha.
great work !! love the song
One basic flaw: No tech work was done during the assembly. So much more needs to be done!
Like everything.
Starting with key leveling.
Intro is just awesome! )
Hey this is the coolest thing I have seen this week.
This video was mesmerizing just to watch, but then you just cranked out some incredible prog music using only Rhodes and some drums???? Damn bro y’all went above and beyond
Thanks man! You caught the proggy 7/4 stuff I see ;) I always wondered why Yes, Genesis & ELP didn't use more Rhodes. But I guess they had their hands plenty full with Moogs, CP70s & Hammonds
Channel Zero
Have you by chance ever heard of Klaatu? They’re a bit more ELO and David Bowie than prog, but I bet you’d really like em. They heavily use the Mellotron and moog synths, and they have some great storytelling!
@@L00PdeL00P Calling all occupants of interplanetary craft! But I admit that's the only song I know. Awesome song though and I'm a big fan of storytelling songs like that, so I'll definitely check out more of them. Thanks for the tip! PS I'm also a sick fan of Bowie & ELO
Channel Zero that’s so cool! I can’t really pick a favorite Klaatu album, but imo “endangered species” was a bit weak. It wasn’t their fault though, I remember an interview with Terry Draper and he said that a label tried to buy them out and commercialize them. Regardless, it’s always fun sharing music with people! Keep up the cool work, dude. :)
Great vid. I like it so much!
this song is great!
In 4 min: "is he still dressed up as a magician ??? "
Intriguing to watch. I liked the song too.
very beautiful , love the sound track :)
Much appreciated!
Its not 5 minutes because it was fast forwarded
but i loved it anyway
"in 5 minutes" because it was shown in 5 minutes
oh thank you
@hii hehe You're dumb.
@hii hehe wow you really are that dumb, if you can't use common sense to figure out that it wouldn't take five minutes IRL. Fuck out my face with your cancerous replies.
@@kevingaba3704 jeez
It's interesting that you're wearing a costume for masters, you look like a master.
this looks like something i'd like to build from scratch up to the point where I can just add the custom hardware.
That's not a bad idea. Harold Rhodes himself was a lifelong tinkerer, and the Rhodes piano is a great DIY/mod project due to its simplicity. I've always wondered what this thing would sound like with piezo pickups like in the Yamaha CP70, or heck some custom guitar pickups would rock.
Niiiice!
Oh man that's the highest compliment ever! Jellyfish is one of the best bands to come into existence while I was alive... cryin shame they only did 2 albums. Nah I'm not on soundcloud, I just got a million songs filed away somewhere. Thanks tho... maybe I'll start uploading them here :D
link to song and other related songs by the artist of sylvia centipede please. i loved it.
Hey mojo, sorry for the late reply. It's not uploaded anywhere except here, but if you message me your email I can send it to you. Glad you like it!
素晴らしい❗️ THANK YOU🙏💦
どういたしまして ☺️
Pretty catchy when you speed it up to 1.5.
Спасибо!
I just saw a comment where you talked about Jellyfish! Jellyfish is my favorite bands, and the Rhodes electric piano is one of my favorite instruments!
I've been playing songs like New Mistake and Calling Sarah on mine since I FINALLY got a Rhodes yesterday. They used a Wurlitzer on the albums, but I don't care, it sounds SO CLOSE!
Hey JR, congrats on your Rhodes, man!! They're getting harder & harder to find these days. I bet New Mistake sounds killer on it, especially if you got an early 70s model with a lotta "bark". I like the Wurly they used on their albums, but I can't help but wonder how it might've sounded with a Rhodes. Post some vids if you record any of it!
New Mistake has some great keyboard sounds. Joining a Fanclub is one of my favourite tunes ever too! Much love for Jellyfish!
Phil Barry I remember hearing "Joining a Fanclub" for the 1st time when I was driving... I nearly wrecked, I loved it so much. Rock on, Jellyfish fans!
Andrew Morrow Even crazier - on this date in 1993, their second album Spilt Milk was released
+Andrew Morrow I think this is your divine calling to dig up Andy (according to Wikipedia he's writing pop songs in Japan) and get the gang back together! Your dream/vision and all these coincidences are irrefutable proof that you're the Jellyfisher Messiah. Don't forget to wear your lampshade crown of thorns...
Awesome video, I'm looking foward to make my own too, I love rhodes and wurlitzer sounds, but it is quite rare and expensive where Iive, so I have to shipe every single part from the USA, maybe build some parts myself, to have one of those, it will be hard as hell, but I'll give it a try, hope it works lol.
P.S Nice music.
let us here more!
Thanks TS! I might do that very soon. The full song is a lot longer, but I just posted the short "radio edit" here. Because it takes only 5 minutes to build a Rhodes ;) Thanks for the motivation, I'll dust off the full version and see if it's worth mixing down
why didn't you do the bump mod while it was disassembled?
The short answer: too lazy. The long answer: I learned to play Rhodes in high school on a beat up old thing that had action like pounding railroad spikes. I got used to playing it hard so I never really thought of upgrading to a more sensitive touch. Might try it though, since I picked up a 2nd Rhodes that's begging for some work...
I got completely sidetracked from watching the video because of how incredible your music was. Absolutely loved it. Where can we hear more??
Edit: Oh AND you're a Prog fan.. dude you rock!
What tipped you off to me being a prog fan... maybe when it kicks in 7/8? ;) Thanks man, you've kicked this up to high priority on my list of songs to mix. Somewhere on a hard drive is the full 20 min version (yes all on Rhodes!) so that might give you enough to chew on, if not put you to sleep. Stay tuned.........
@@ZeroChannelZero Checking out your other uploads on your channel tipped me off. Heart of the Sunrise and Dance on a Volcano are two of my all time favorite songs. Also I really like your sense of humor that comes through in your videos. I hit that subscribe button fast.
@@davidreinhard6037 Thanks man!! Yea prog music definitely comes with a bizarre sense of humor attached. How else can you justify all those sequin capes & flower costumes?? Great to meet a fellow prog fan, we gotta stick together. And share dry cleaning tips
the intro : )
I want to quit analyzing data as a data analyst to do something cool like this.
Hahaha do it, MJP! Data analysts are perfect for Rhodes restoration. You gotta be a little OCD to keep track of all the damn pieces.
so, everything gets reused? do you find pieces that are beyond repair?
Yes, often pieces are beyond repair, especially broken tines, worn hammer tips, and torn bridle straps. The good news is you can easily find replacements on ebay... but that's where it starts to cost a lot. Btw, keep your broken tines; they can be reused for higher notes!
I'm here because I broke our family's piano.
I’ll buy it from you if it’s still broke
Enjoye
Enjoie
Enjoiye
Have fun
*breath in*
BOIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Hi friend I have a question, can you share your song (Bring Back Cynthia Centipede), because is awesome tune!, thanks and greetings :D
Great video!! By the way, unfortunately, I found some hummer tips are missing...
I have no interest in assembling a Rhodes piano but that is a hypnotizing video haha
Great video and song. I'm looking into getting a Mark l 73 stage model (fender), which is very similar to yours. I wonder if you have completed your full restoration....the one I'm thinking about is going to need a lot of TLC and new parts. Lol
But that sound will not let me go!
Thanks and more importantly congrats on your (impending?) acquisition! My restoration stalled due to a move, so my project is currently in storage. But I highly recommend digging in to one of these yourself. The main thing is not to feel intimidated because, sorta like an electric guitar, the basics are really simple and the best way to learn is to just roll up your sleeves and get a feel for it. Just try not to get fleeced on replacement parts; what I did was I got on Craigslist and bought a cheap one that was totally trashed, then I used that for donor parts. You said it, the sound is undeniable. So go ahead and take the plunge man, I’ve never met a Rhodes player who regretted buying theirs.
@@ZeroChannelZero Thanks for the reply. I already play and work on electric guitar, so I know what you mean about the work, although it does seem a little less intimidating to tune 6 strings and a couple of pick ups versus a 73 key instrument. LoL
The one I'm looking at is in decent shape but will probably need dampers, the miracle mod and some tuning.
But as you say, I don't read many disappointing comments from owners, except those who have let theirs get away from them.
Even if you put your Rhodes away for now, keep writing and recording. Your song posted is definitely groove-alicious.
@@charlie-obrien Wow, with your understanding of guitar architecture you could take Rhodes restoration to new territory. For example, ever wonder if a Rhodes could be fitted with active pickups for a different tone & output level? But ultimately you’re right that 6 is a lot less to handle than 73 which is probably why nobody has strayed far from the tried & true Rhodes design.
Thanks again for the kind words on this song! I really need to get back to it & finish the unreleased 2nd, 3rd & 4th movements wherein our heroine Cynthia meets the King of France (sad thing is I’m not joking)! Thanks for the encouragement, I’m suddenly feeling the need to go visit storage...
hello, i really like your song! can i download it?
@kaden Thanks! Sure thing, I don't have a website but I just uploaded it here for you (link good for 7 days)
wetransfer.com/downloads/7e31d7cba2df13e804761daa2d91d30d20181011152958/c1d67924ac7924d7d8da232799e97c8920181011152958/ff1677
@@ZeroChannelZero aw youtube didnt give me any notifications x.x but thanks though!
the intro gave me flashback to youtube 2009
Don't tell anyone, but it's actually a shameless rip off of the Hot Shots Part Deux intro, 1993 -_-
I loved the sparkly tolex! did u switch from the black tolex to the sparkly one, or is that original?
if it sounds like it looks its got to be a really nice instrument!
Thanks Fitz! Yes I re-did the tolex in silver sparkle because the original black was chewed up pretty bad. The experts can retolex a Rhodes in 4 hrs but it took me 4 weeks, I hope I never have to do it again :P
those 4 weeks were worth the trouble then!
but if you can take it apart and put it together, like you did here, then things like the tolex aren't a real hassle to you! i hope you put a video of it playing! id love to hear it! and i'd love to own one!
Where did you find the custom sparkly tolex?
Wish I could remember... There's a 2nd Rhodes I want to do the same way but can't remember where I got the cool tolex. If anyone out there knows please chime in!
This song creeped me out idkw
You really had to rush to get it in on time with the music!
I realize this video was published years ago but if anybody could send me a link to this song I'd appreciate it.
Never-mind I'll look it up.
Sorry for the delay, I had technical difficulties sorting out which of the 92 versions is the one I used here haha. It was never officially released because I wanted to turn it unto a 22 minute prog rock opera which is still in the works 10 years later. But here's a link for ya wetransfer.com/downloads/2216459c7c97b6d5770a88f7e39fd1e120180513123953/faf9dec9777afb1e5222e4efef2a8df020180513123953/3d80af
Thanks. I've worked in the music business for years with some big named people and I am blown away by your song! The music industry is currently broken. If times were like the older days people like you would have their songs on the radio and the world would be a much better place. Instead I have to listen to top 40 crap when my kids are playing the radio. Later, I have to explain twerking after researching to find out what it is. It sucks the way the system is. Your song deserves to be heard by millions. Not just because it's good but because people deserve to hear good music. Well some people at least. Anyways, thanks! I will listen to it and enjoy!
One more thing. I used to play 60's Rhodes, Wurlitzers, you name it. I got sick of adding solder just to stay in tune! Plus, they are heavy when touring. I finally gave up and switched to samples! There is no comparison to the real thing though. The warmth of an old Rhodes in person is unexplainable.
Man I truly appreciate the compliment!! I totally agree with your take on pop music today, and it's a real cryin shame because you'd think the music industry, like all others, would be a progress--constantly improving itself on new ideas. Instead, the powers that be decide to bury everything different and feed us the same 4 chords and predictable vocal lines. Imagine us still using rotary phones, just dressed up in flashy colors & bling, that's how pop music treats the consumer. And don't get me started on all these damn kids twerkin on my lawn...........!!!
Woo that felt good. Back to Rhodes & stuff. I hear ya, the old gear can be a real pain in the ass (not to mention the lumbars). You win the Awesome Award for lugging this stuff on tour. Btw this is the same award as the Batsh!t Crazy Award. You're right, samples just make more sense, but wow when I'm the Emperor of the universe, my first proclamation will be a Rhodes on every stage! My 2nd proclamation will be all public restrooms will have mellotrons above the urinals.
Show...!!!
Niiicee! However a lot of tuning is required to make a Rhodes sound right which isn't featured in this video. I bet that piano after that quick assembly (thank you, time lapse video) has a lot of ground buzz issues. Fender and CBS would have loved to see their pianos manufactured in 5 minutes ;-) Nice to see a silver sparkle finish on the originally tolex parts which wasn't available at the time that this piano was sold. Kudos to the poster!
Thanks man! Yup, as you guessed, the 5-minute reassembly doesn't exactly produce studio quality material. As I listen back to this song (which did use the same Rhodes assembled in the vid), I hear how "lazy" it sounds. But I guess sometimes that's the charm of these old dinosaurs. Each has its own personality, and I've never heard two Rhodes exactly alike. I can only imagine how they sounded fresh off the factory floor. Glad you liked the video!
Why did he take it apart and not do the tech work to get the most out of it?
hi is it possible to replace broken tines?
Hey Adam, yes it's pretty easy to replace broken tines. Just take off the cover, unscrew the 4 bolts holding the wood harp down (the ones I'm screwing in @ 3:57) and lift up the harp like I do @ 3:55. Each tine is held by 1 screw on top of the harp. There's probably a better video on youtube showing you exactly how. By the way, keep your broken tines! Sometimes they can be re-used for higher notes. Otherwise they can be pretty expensive, like $20 each. Good luck!
You cheated with the 5 minutes thing, but I enjoyed your music very much :)
lol a little clickbait goes a long way. Glad you liked the tune! It's been on my list of songs to redo properly for about 9 years 😬
Haha love it.. even the "guitars" at the end.. you maybe should have replaced the two missing hammer tips before you put it back together tho ; p
Hi friend, hey I have a question, can you share your song (Bring back Cynthia Centípede)? because is awesome :D greetings :)
Where did you get the tines and keys and stuff from? Also, what are the things you're pushing over at 1:01?
Almost all replacement parts came from ebay. If you're tight on cash, don't buy tines & keys individually because that'll cost ya plenty ($10-$20 per tine). Wait for someone to list a box of tines at a discount, or set your ebay alert for "Rhodes parts" and you might get a good bargain! The things at 1:01 are (someone correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a while) "balance rail shims" made of paper. Those are really cheap, like 10 bucks for a full set. They're used to level all the key pedestals (the end that pushes the hammers up).
...as you can see I didn't exactly make sure all my pedestals were level, but hey I only had like 4 mins to put the rest together ;)
Can someone tell me what the pieces he's putting on at 2:33 are called??
Sean Williams That's the hammer/damper assembly which is 6 parts: damper module/arm, damper felt, bridle strap, hammer, hammer tip & hammer flange. Here's a website where you can look at the official Rhodes Service Manual from 1979 (earlier versions also on the site if you look around). Good luck! www.fenderrhodes.com/org/manual/ch2.html
@@ZeroChannelZero appreciate it man!
Cool song! Where can I find it? (the Rhodes itself is pretty neat too!)
Thanks!! I just uploaded it for ya... The link ought to be good for a week. Also stay tuned because I plan to remix & upload the full version in a few months!
wetransfer.com/downloads/34fc3dcb76a18a18707830d0dacdc1a320200415205957/62178664902a9a4d972892296f13e6af20200415210048/b00baf
What's name music ?
"Bring Back Cynthia Centipede" by Sixes and Sevens. But I haven't finished recording it yet so this is the only place you can hear it ;)
Are you a wizard?
Gah, how did you know??? I must now disappear in a cloud of smoke, never to return. *poof*
What was your actual real time assembly?
I think I sped it up 4x, so with the video assembly being 4 mins that would put it around 16 minutes real time. But I had all the pieces carefully laid out, and of course the harp was pre-assembled because I'm not that nuts (73 tines, 73 tonebars, 73 pickups, say you're blazing and it takes you only 2 mins per note... that's still over 2 hours, not including tuneup & tweaking). The magic of time lapse takes away all the frustration ...and the off camera cursing.
How did you paint your rhodes case?
Cheers
Hi, it's not paint... I replaced the torn, black vinyl (tolex) with silver sparkle tolex. It's available in many colors. The procedure is difficult for the first time; it took me a few weeks, including cleaning and sanding the old wood, but the experts can do it in a few hours. Look for instructions on how to re-tolex a Rhodes. I found the most important tip is to keep your old tolex scraps, and use them as a template to cut the new pieces. If I had known that tip beforehand, it would've saved me a lot of frustration!
Love the tune tho.. ypu on soundcloud or anything.. kinda reminds me of the band jellyfish..
still a good video tho :)
А какая цена у этого эл.пиано?
В США это стоит около $ 600. Но в Европе это может быть € 1500 или больше.
Спасибо!!!
can I just ask how is it five minutes? It's sped up dude.
Hahaha that bothered me, but I figured there was no way anyone would notice!
this would have end better if you played something on the assembled Rhodes
Do it in 5 mins,
Checks the length of the video and it is close to 5 min and his doing a time lapse...
Yeah 5 minute INDEED
not from scratch though
Also not 5 minutes.
Sponsored by Rhodes.
this does not seem to be from scratch, my dude.
By "from scratch" they mean they acquired the parts first and then assembled it by themselves, rather than having it pre assembled.
It’s ‘assembled from scratch’ not ‘built from scratch’. Just like the title says. If you are doing things like measuring and drilling holes for the pins, you are building not assembling.
I made it by myself. I used woodprix scripts for that.
5 minutes time lapsed -_-
“From scratch” my ass. You just put it together. The title is BS even though you got it right in the opening text. Cool video though.
It helped me to understand the beauty of how the different parts of the Rhodes go together.
There are other vids for highly technical adjustments and repairs.
Wtf is this
Wtf?