From the early 70s, Rhodes tines were made using rotary swaging, aprocess where asteel rod is fed into amachine which hammers around its circumference. Underpinning the analogue namerail effects is alayer of digital control. According to a Facebook post made by Rhodes a few days ago, there will only be 500 of the MK8 keyboards manufactured in 2022, which seems small for such a revered brand. Optimising the iconic sound of the Rhodes piano, the MK8 offersconsiderable improvements in tone, touch, intonation and dynamics. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Re: 5.1 Surround Sound Freelance Mixing Opportunities? Blur drummer Dave Rowntree: Some dads and sons would go to the football. By continuing to use Reverb, you agree to these updates, and to our cookie policy. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Please check the fields highlighted in red. The long and winding Rhodes to release continues. Start date Sep 26, 2022; P. patekswiss New Member. All rights reserved. The Rhodes mk8 is being built to order in limited quantities. Based on your location, we've changed your settings: Shipping Region: Harold, then in his 80s, took the few tines they could find and said he'd build Wray a new piano. Another effects module containing an allanalogue compressor,chorus, delay and phaser for the righthand side of the name rail is available as an option. Expression pedal control of phaser speed, chorus speed, delay time, delay feedback. Pickups: Rhodes custom precision-wound alnico pickups with anti-slip adjustment for accurate voicing and flat-ended pickup heads for accurate volume adjustment. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The custom Rhodes engineered MK8 analogue preamp features parametric EQ, independent drive, envelope control, wah, new vari-pan with 4 waveshapes, audio rate modulation capabilities and dual expression pedal control inputs. As the Rhodes renaissance gathers momentum anew Mark 8 (stylised MK8) aims to futureproof Harolds legacy. Visible above them are the felt dampers on the aluminium damper rails. It is crucial that the damper arm material is capable of maintaining tension memory once adjusted. Once you have placed your order, we aim to have your custom Rhodes MK8 in your hands as soon as we can. (A silvertop MK8 FX with that additional effects section and a matching silver stand will cost $11,320.). By clicking Subscribe, I agree to receive exclusive offers & promotions, news & reviews, and personalized tips for buying and selling on Reverb. The send jack can also be used as a direct output for the pickups, bypassing the preamp. With external design by Axel Hartmann, the MK8 closely echoes the classic lines of the much loved Rhodes MK1 piano, whilst inviting a level of owner customisation never before offered on a Rhodes. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The MK8 pickups use anew process for strengthening the wire terminations, and the pin is moulded directly into the pickup, making it far more rigid than previous versions. This gives scope for enhanced and expanded functionality with each new release. Everything the old Rhodes EK10 should have been, in fact. The metal pickup head, while maintaining asimilar angle to the originals, now has aflat edge with much sharper angles than previously. Find out more at RhodesMusic.com (opens in new tab). To reflect our commitment, we updated our terms and conditions. The sustain pedal is then connected, Wurlitzer electricpiano style, to pull down at the other side of the pivot using acable rather than arod. The Rhodes team were extremely generous and open throughout our visit, allowing us to examine each component of the MK8 in detail alongside different iterations of prototypes of some parts. Click here for the Rhodes Mark 8 https://r. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The result is abeautifully machined tine that soundsfantastic. Axel has chosen to evolve the classic Rhodes look, so the MK8 features the traditional wedgeshaped, Tolexed wooden case, extruded aluminium name rail and ABS lid, though the build quality is far higher than the original. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Now under new ownership, Rhodes is playing the long game as it prepares to release its new electric piano, which we now know will be called the MK8. Those made for the MK8 are broadly similar to their ancestors, but Dan and his team have made some significant improvements. Rhodes say they will open their digital order book for the MK8/75AE at 16:00 ET on 15 September 2022. Its unique soulful and expressive properties were eventually rediscovered by anew generation of musicians, to the point where anew Mark 7 was briefly introduced back in 2007. If you want to . A brand-new Rhodes company, Rhodes Music Group Ltd, has just officially unveiled the Rhodes MK8. The mid band of the EQ can be controlled by envelope follower or footpedal for a wahlike effect, while the tremolo goes into the audio range for ringmod sounds. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Rhodes custom analogue tri-band (low/mid/high) active Sweepable parametric midrange. Those playing close attention will already have spotted that the MK8's keyboard will come from Kluge Klaviaturen GmbH, which is part of the . The MK8 uses acustommade patented polymer for greater control of Shore hardnesses and enhanced wear resistance, with the tips set at uniform height across the keyboard in four zones of hardness. The damping system is an oftenoverlooked, but critical element of the Rhodes sound. The wait is over. Depending on the demand, there may be a wait before it is the turn of your MK8 piano to be assembled by the Rhodes team. We were invited to the factory in Leeds, UK to test the new Rhodes and meet the team behind it. The hammers are made of hard, selflubricating plastic; the four raised ones show off the colourcoded hammer tips used in different hardness zones. Action: Rhodes custom high-impact ABS hammers and combs, quad-zone hard-wearing tips, aerospace-grade damper combs, black natural wool damper felts. (opens in new tab) This article is part of The T3 Edit (opens in new tab), a collaboration between T3 . The cheek blocks, while molded in the same black plastic as the originals, have been widened, with the front left side featuring aheadphone output and volume control. The next-gen 73-key instrument will also soon be available for pre-order, likely before the end of 2021. Or please get in touch with us directly via email or telephone. Aslotted aluminium baseplate sits above the stand cutout, and the back of the case is cut down slightly to accommodate the lids reinforcing rail. The most expensive version is 9,115 or 10,938 including VAT and adds in the FX panel and stand, makes the hood transparent and finishes the body in walnut. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The audio connections are found on the left side of the instrument. In order to maintain sustain, each tone generator assembly is mounted individually on the harp on springs, secured with two screws against neoprene grommets. The long and winding Rhodes to release continues. To gain early access to the website . With those kinds of details, it's easy to see that the new Rhodes company has every intention of building a piano worthy of the name. The difference between a guitarist and a musician? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hammer tip material and hardness are important variables in Rhodes voicing. (Having both worked on Mark 7s in the past, Dan Goldman and Iagreed that even though they had some issues, the keybed was actually pretty good. In order for the sound of the Rhodes to remain authentic, and each note to have consistent attack and long sustain, the design and manufacturing process is critical. This second effects board is an optional extra which was not ready at the time of our visit, but promises to extend the already versatile instrument still further. It does not store any personal data. They introduced themselves and heard Wray's tale of loss. The specs, according to Rhodes music, include: Analog Preamp: True analog signal path. Asmall updated Rhodes logo sits in the centre, while the faceplate for the electronics occupies most of the lefthand side. Listen to examples of the Rhodes Mk8 in action, with various settings and styles to help you get an idea of what this instrument is capable of. Dec 2, 2021. Optimising the iconic sound of the Rhodes piano, the MK8 offers considerable improvements in tone, touch, intonation and dynamics. Courtesy of Rhodes. Save your current configuration and we'll send you a PDF containing 3d renders and pricing information. BA1 1UA. The MK8 is being built in Leeds, England and is customizable. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 50$ coupon for the new release on Synthizer.com : Vocal Booth HSB-1. The first 500 MK8s are available for pre-order nowbut only to people who signed up in advance at rhodesmusic.com. Rhodes custom vari-pan with variable rate/depth with 4 wave shapes and audio-rate modulation. Encoder values and effects thresholds are determined by firmware, as is standard in many modern analogue synths, and this can be updated using the USB port on the righthand side. Keyboard: 73-note (E8-E80) Rhodes custom spruce keyboard by Kluge Klaviaturen GmbH, oak and beech key frame. As Rhodes pianos age, the point where the pickup wire is soldered to the pin becomes vulnerable to corrosion. The Rhodes Mark 7released in 2007 by the Rhodes Music Corporation, which has no relation to the new Rhodes Music Group Ltdwas ill-fated and wasn't in production for long. Once set up with new damper arms and all bad tines replaced, aMark 7 is capable of playing really well.). Oops, looks like you forgot something. Rhodes, the company behind the iconic Rhodes piano, relaunched earlier this year under the name Rhodes Music Group.The company has now released the new MK8 electric piano, designed and built in . We'll have to wait and see. Overall the MK8 weighs in at 75lbs, asignificant reduction over all of the original Rhodes models. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Another vital aspect of the tone generator on aRhodes is how it is mounted. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Site by Bozboz. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So, the MK8 sustain pedal is another aspect that has undergone acomplete redesign, with Axel Hartmann again handling the cosmetics and James Cope Design in Halifax the mechanics. Volume, drive, envelope controls. By the 1970s it was providing the soundtrack to an era, and went through numerous design variants or Marks before losing out to digital competition in the 1980s. 2022 Rhodes Music Ltd. All rights reserved. 5.1 Surround Sound Freelance Mixing Opportunities? We spoke to Rhodes at Superbooth 2022, where they gave us an overview of the MK8 along with a demonstration of the limited edition prototype. Though the pivot arm in our test Rhodes was still a3Dprinted prototype, the system was already working much better than the original rod system. One of the most unfortunate failures of the Mark 7 was that the damper arms were fabricated from agrade of aluminium without this property, making slack damping impossible to correct. This problem was solved in the Mark 7, which also adapted the Mark 5 keyboard, by increasing the diameter of the pivot pin, and the MK8 carries this solution over. In the MK8, aplastic antislip washer has been added to overcome this, which in my trial pickup adjustment was very effective. Rhodes Music Group has finally revealed the technical specifications of the hotly-anticipated Rhodes MK8. If you are located outside of the UK we will not charge you sales tax/VAT or import duty, this will be collected by the delivery company once the goods get to your country. Dan has stuck closely to the design of the original Rhodes tonebars, though the connecting bolts are much heavier duty than the originals and now have ametric thread. Though the lid is still manufactured from vacuummoulded ABS plastic, its avast step up from the original in quality terms, and will be available in multiple colours. Choosing damper felts for the MK8 took alot of experimentationDan showed us aphoto of atest instrument with about 15 different types of damper felt installed. Maybe not surprising give that its hardware and very pricey hardware at that. All MK8 pianos will include the very impressive preamp/EQ/tremolo board. Im the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Vintage Vibe EP s don't have any extra built-in effects, don't have the Rhodes name on them, and don't exactly have the sound of a vintage Rhodes, but still start at $5,650 and go up to $12,000. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. At Rhodes Music Ltd our skilled and dedicated Rhodes master craftsmen build each MK8 piano to order. The basic model is 6,795 or 8,154 including VAT and is all in black, without the stand or FX panel. Yorkshire has along and distinguished history of highly skilled steelworking, and Dan managed to find afirm just down the road in Leeds who were prepared to take on the project. This has the effect of reducing the diameter as well as changing the grain, so that the metal is greatly strengthened. But I'm wondering if anyone happens to own one or have experience playing it? Hey! THE RHODES MK8 THE ULTIMATE IN RHODES SOUND AND FEEL Harold Rhodes' legendary electro-mechanical tine piano returns. This gives more stopping power and less chance of the damper interfering with the tine on ahard strike leading to spud notes (the term used at Fender R&D for athunking, dead sound). At Rhodes Music Ltd our skilled and dedicated Rhodes master craftsmen build each MK8 piano to order. The tines are left with ataper of uniform length, in order to add more strength to the rod and guarantee aconsistent strike point. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This week, at least, the company has shared the first picture of the MK8 in its entirety, as opposed to obscure shots and renders of the keyboard. In addition to stereo 1/4" outputs, the Rhodes MK8 features balanced XLR outs. audio-rate modulation. To adjust damper response, the tension of aRhodes damper arm is altered by raising or lowering the arm with the bridle strap removed. Choose from solid and custom sparkle colours for the lid, along with a selection of beautiful finishes for the front panel, case, pre-amp panel, pedal and rear grille. The keybed is one of the few elements of the MK8 manufactured outside the UK: it comes from Kluge Klaviaturen in Germany, who make keybeds for Steinway acoustic pianos. All rights reserved. 4 wave shapes and And if you can't resist splurging for the silver sparkle top or another custom hood finish, you can add a few hundred more. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Expression pedal control of volume, mid sweep (wah), pan speed, pan depth. The reborn Rhodes piano is astunning showcase for British manufacturing. Apart from being black in colour, the hammers look identical to those from the Mark 7 and are likewise from asimilar highimpact ABS, selflubricating to cope with the friction that occurs between hammer cam and key pedestal in aRhodes. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. An adjustable rod pushes up adowel to tilt the damper rail, which then rotates and pulls the dampers away from the tines. The immense note sustain that gave the Rhodes such an advantage over its competitors is obtained by connecting the tine to atonebar tuned to similar pitch, in order to create anunequal tuning fork. All critical components . Rhodes needed a solution to the mobility issues his students faced when hopping out of bed to sit at the piano. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, True analogue signal path. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". equalizer (+/- 15db range). These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Rhodes pickups can be difficult to adjust precisely, due to atendency to slip backwards or forwards as the pickup screw is tightened. Having teased the release for the past several months, this new endeavor is actually the . There is atendency for these pins to crack, resulting in the hammer not aligning correctly, and in some cases missing the tine altogether. Re: Is theft the sincerest form of flattery? There are actually two different MK8s available: the MK8 S (seemingly for "standard") and the MK8 FX, which adds an onboard stereo effects section including a compressor, phaser, chorus, and delay. But what of the true fanaticsthe type that will pay many thousands for an early '70s, Buz Watson-modded Mark 1 and thousands more for restoration and maintenance? Axel has chosen to evolve the classic Rhodes look, so the MK8 features the traditional wedgeshaped, Tolexed wooden case, extruded aluminium name rail and ABS lid, though the build quality is far higher than the original. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". For maximum stopping power the arms have been made slightly thicker, with the bend extending as far as possible down the arm. Harold Rhodes' legendary electro-mechanical tine piano returns. The hammer combs in the MK8 are also based on those in the Mark 7, with an enlarged hole to accommodate the larger pivots on the hammer. The effect send and return jacks provide an opportunity to use external effects. Finally, the high word is out: The Rhodes MK8 is here! Rhodes has released a new electric piano, the MK8. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. 73-note (E8-E80) Rhodes custom spruce keyboard by Kluge Klaviaturen GmbH, oak and beech key frame. There is agreat deal of mystique in the Rhodes community surrounding which tines have the warmest sound or greatest bark, so Iasked Dan if any year of tine manufacture stood out as having aparticularly unique quality. The company relaunched as Rhodes Music Group earlier this year and now has a new product to show for it, if you can afford. In fact there are four available waveforms: square, triangle, sine and an upwards ramp which gives astriking fadein effect. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. You may login with either your assigned username or your e-mail address. Iwas even passed ascrewdriver and invited to try out my own voicing! Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. Anice touch is the removable rear logo which enables access to adjust the pedal mechanism without disassembling the piano. This is being worked on at the company's factory in Leeds, and will be going on sale soon. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This is a refined Rhodes in all but name, with the internals based on the classic Fender Rhodes models produced from around 1970 to 1975 with the halfwood, halfplastic hammers (Vintage Vibe now mold these in a single piece for extra durability). The main competition for the MK8 comes from the Vintage Vibe Piano. By the next day, they were visiting the burned-out rubble of Wray's Hume House, looking for any remaining pieces of Wray's Rhodes. The MK8 offers you the opportunity to dial up the effects of your choice with inbuilt VCA analogue compressor and low noise analogue stereo bucketbrigade effects: chorus, phaser, delay. At Rhodes we make a maximum of 500 pianos a year, and each piano is made to the custom specification of our customers. Having teased the release for the past several months, this new endeavor is actually the second attempt to revive the Rhodes name after Harold's death in 2000. The felt that made it onto the production MK8 is soft enough not to cause areturn noise on damping, as well as being woven to maintain its shape. Rhodes has been telling us a little more about its new MK8 electric piano, giving us plenty to to excited about while also keeping a few 'key' details (pun very much intended) close to its chest. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The Rhodes MK8 is available from 8,154. All contents copyright SOS Publications Group and/or its licensors, 1985-2022. READ MORE: Month in music tech: the biggest news of August 2021. Harold Rhodes legendary electro-mechanical tine piano returns. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. Expression pedal control of volume, mid sweep (wah), pan speed, Germany, Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The UK-based company announced the new keyboard at the end of August 2021 , claiming that it will be "the best Rhodes keyboard yet". This design is carried over into the MK8, and implemented to amuch higher standard. Cyril prototyped the effects on his purple Rhodes, which formerly belonged to Bernie Worrell, so every parameter is calibrated to be aperfect fit for the Rhodes sound. True bypass. Voltage-controlled, resonant midrange filter. So in the MK8 we get the same premium Bavarian spruce and antislip keycaps as would be found in aSteinway! We will contact you before we commence the build of your piano to ensure that all the specifications are as you want them, and you will be able to add or remove FX options, and change any colours or finishes before you pay any remaining balance and we commence your build. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The Rhodes MK8 is here! #11. Web site designed & maintained by PB Associates & SOS. There's also a headphone . Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. It began with Harold Rhodes, an American piano teacher who joined the US Army Air Corps in 1942 and found himself providing piano lessons for injured servicemen. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. All piano orders are assembled chronologically: if your purchase is order #273, your piano will be built directly after #272. Buyers can choose between different finishes for the front panel . Will the new keepers of the Rhodes name be able live up to it? Pianist Jim Wray had lost his Malibu mansionand his 88-key Rhodes Suitcasein the large and disastrous 1993 wildfire. The rear of the lid is reinforced with ametal rail which ensures stability for keyboard stacking. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Dan has opted to clone the grommets from the Mark 5, which were designed for cup washers held by acountersunk screw, rather than those from earlier Rhodes which used flat washers and apanhead screw. There is still no word on a release date for the MK8. During our visit we were able to see an unTolexed wooden case, manufactured in Sheffield from poplar plywood and super light at 6lbs. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The head is now held in place more firmly with lugs molded into the bobbin. But my favourite aspect of the electronics is the tremolo speed control, which at around 11 oclock on the dial moves into audiorate modulation. From his collection of components and various parts pianos, Harold and Margitwho handled most of the soldering and construction workcompleted a new, custom Suitcase model that Wray called the Last Rhodes. Also, the pedal has ahabit of skating around the floor unless it is physically stuck down. In this photo, the harp has been tilted upwards, making visible the tines, tonebars and pickups. Marc van den Hurk on October 27, 2021 / 0 comments. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Gone is the excess labour of feeding each tine into the swaging machine, stamping into the block, cutting to length, and quality testing. Rhodes custom stereo effect processor: analogue compressor, phaser, chorus, delay. Designed by Axel Hartmann, the MK8 case looks fantastic: part minimalist industrial, part midcentury modern. Neoprene is still the main choice for reissue hammertip manufacturers today, though square felt tips as well as sets of teardrop hammers can be purchased from Vintage Vibe for anyone wishing to get closer to a1960s tone. Obviously, this cost will price out the casual fan. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Learn More, We understand the importance of online privacy and are committed to complying with the EU General Data Protection Regulation. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This shot of the internals shows most of the key components, nearly all of which have been reengineered in the MK8. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Ben Rogerson. Clips played by Rhodes CPO, Dan Goldman. Last edited: Sep 29, 2021. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The company will release new details on the upcoming instrument every week. Keep your eye on the Rhodes (opens in new tab) website for further details. As the adjustment to set pedal response has to be made every time the piano is set up, it is quite easy to push the rod in too little, leaving barely any pedal response at all, or too much, resulting in hanging notes across the keyboard. Now under new ownership, Rhodes is playing the long game as it prepares to release its new electric piano, which we now know will be called the MK8. Today I go to the Rhodes MK8 factory to see what it takes to build this legendary electric piano in 2021. Sep 26, 2022 #1 So there's little to nothing I can find here on the Rhodes MK8, the new piano from the "reborn" Rhodes. Precision built in the UK with the finest hand-selected materials. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Learn More. Production in the next year is expected to be limited to 500 keyboards. An experienced Rhodes player will have perfected the manoeuvre of grabbing the sustain pedal midsong with both feet and pulling it back to where it was placed at the start of the gig! The new Rhodes team promised a premium electric piano, and by the features and specs, that's exactly what's in store. One of the most impressive parts of the MK8 project is the use of modern methods to produce atine with the same sonic properties, but with greater durability, consistency and efficiency of manufacture. This closeup shows the tonebar (top), tines (behind the black cable) and pickups (right). We make around 50 pianos each month. Site by Bozboz. Expression pedal control of phaser speed, chorus speed, delay time, delay feedback. 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