Rhodes

The Fender Rhodes is an amazing instrument and truly is one of those “they don’t make them like they used to” items. Mechanical and heavy – wood and metal. Tines, tone bars, hammers, dampers, magnetic pickups – all come together in a relatively simple assembly with little electronics (for an electric piano).

Distinct sound and played by legends on classic albums, this is an artifact of cultural importance worth preserving.

What I learned

1940’s – Harold Rhodes, serving in WWII, was asked to provide therapy for wounded soldiers and invented the bed piano
He used aluminum tubing from the hydraulic system of the B-17 bombers, cut to different lengths and struck. He was awarded the medal of honor for his therapeutic achievements.
1959-1965 – Rhodes joins Fender and the only instrument available is the Fender Rhodes Piano Bass
1965 – CBS buys Leo Fender out
1965-1983 – CBS Era and more freedom for Harold
Up to 50 units per day were produced ov
1965 The Suitcase 73 is released
1970 the Fender Rhodes 88 is released
1974 – the name was changed from Fender Rhodes to just Rhodes (no other differences)
1979-1982 – the Mark II was released and produced and is the classic benchmark Rhodes sound (more bell like). It moved from the rounded top to a flat top which allowed other items to be placed on the lid.
Through the CBS era, five generations of Rhodes were released – MKI to MKV.
1985 the main factor closed
in 1987, Roland now owns the Rhodes brand, and with synthesizers being all the rage, released the MKVI or MK-80 digital piano is released and production stopped shortly after
In 2007 a re-formed Rhodes Mark VII model was released, but many felt it was too expensive.
Today – You can buy a new Rhodes MKVIII today for $9450 and up
You could buy a new Rhodes in 1973 for $720 which, according to the inflation calculator, would be $4745 today (a used one from that area will run about $2500 and up as of right now)

What I learned

References