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lot like people - each one had its own character. Some were
temperamental, some sounded beautifully chime-like, others sounded
more harsh and squawky like an electric guitar, and many sounded
just plain bad. And so presented here are 32 Rhodes pianos, ranging
from the good (most of them) to the bad to the ugly.
A1 – Suitcase 1965
Modeled after a 1965 Suitcase 88. Called the Suitcase because it
consisted of two "suitcases" - a piano section with a detachable lid
and a curved black plastic top, and an amplified speaker section,
same length and depth as the piano section which fitted on top of the
speaker cabinet. A metal rod connected the keyboard to the sustain
pedal which was housed in the speaker cabinet.
At this time the tremolo circuit for the amp/speaker was mono, not
stereo, and felt hammer tips were used which gave the piano its
characteristic softer, more bell-like tone.
"Silver-top" Fender Rhodes Suitcase 73, circa 1965 (note Rhodes Piano Bass in
the bottom of the photo)
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