Recordings of the famous early Fender Rhodes "bark"?

[drockfresh]

Where can I hear a recording of the "Barkiest" early model Rhodes?

I'd like to compare it to the sound of my late model.

Thanks,
D

[Kiwiburger]

I expect a Best of Ray Charles should cover that.

[mizzle]

Are you referring to the Mark 1 ('69-'75), or earlier models?

[drockfresh]

Mark I (half wood/half plastic hammers I believe) early 70's models.

I have read those models sound better because, among other things, more "bark" than the Mark II.

I'd like to hear what that "bark" sounds like.

[Led]

I belive the earlier models pre mark1 had tines made of a different material also that sounded a bit different but were apparently quite brittle and broke easily.

[mizzle]

Herbie Hancock: Headhunters or Thrust
Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess
Stevie Wonder: Innervisions

The Herbie Hancock stuff is what the "Dyno-my-Piano" sound is based from. Most, if not all of the Rhodes is recorded direct.
The Ramsey Lewis is very barky, but many of the solos have wah on them (obviously enhancing the bark). I believe the Rhodes is going through a tube amp here.

[robot gigante]

Was the dyno'ed Rhodes on these Herbie Hancock albums or the later ones? I have one that sounds quite similar.

I like the Rhodes sound on Headhunters probably the best of any of his albums.

[mizzle]

I don't know that he ever got the Dyno mod. The story, as I remember it, is that the Rhodes sound from Headhunters was a prototype for the Dyno sound. Chick Corea got his done when they started to offer the service ('78 I think).

[robot gigante]

That makes sense...

I was lucky enough to find an early 70's Fender logo model (for $60!) that pretty much nails the Headhunters sound now that I've set it up right. I've never played a dyno Rhodes but I always thought that they were supposed to be more of a bell-like tone than a barkier sound like on Headhunters though.

The thing with an earlier Rhodes, btw, is that you really have to play one to be aware of what they can do- the way they react to the player's dynamics and how you can make it bark more or less depending on how hard you hit the keys. The thing I've found with later Mark II's is that you don't have as much range of tone to go along with how hard you play it. FWIW.

[Bassmankr]

First listen to some old Chick Corea albums, then monkey around with your Rhodes's setup. Start with one of the lower notes, say an octave below middle C and get the end of the tine (have the tine up and down adjustment centered with the center of the pickup) very close to the pickup (move the pickup out so it just about touches the tine), now remember that distance. Next adjust the Tine up or down, the amount of up or down from dead center of the pickup will determine your "bite" tone. That setup should get your Rhode's its barkiest. Once you get that first note the way you want it you will work to either side of it and try to match it for sound/loudness/point of velocity when it starts barking. It will take you some time to get it setup to play evenly as you will be setting it for how you play. This is going to take you an afternoon/night as it's a slow process but taking the time to get the sound you want in you head (listening to the reference albums) and setting the Rhodes just takes time.

The reward for the time spent is well worth it and you will be amazed how you can get a usable Rhodes sound out of any model no matter how beat up. One of the biggest tricks for keyboard players on Rhodes is to use stripped down chords (fewer notes at the same time), dense chords turn to mud fast even on the barkiest of Rhodes. This is the oposite of how many piano players are trained. Listening to Chick Corea will teach you that a few key notes of the chord in sycopation is going to groove more and keeping it simple stupid (KISS) is the best way to play a Rhodes (leave LOTS of room/holes for the other players). Let us know how it turns out after you setup your Rhodes.

[goldphinga]

Then early Fender Badged mark 1's are by far the barkiest (black not silver topped with rubber not felt tips).A lot of this is due to the way the tine fits into the mounting block. The fit is much tighter and smaller on the earlier models (pre 75)and this seems to contribute to the barkyness . Also Herbie's Rhodes had all the harder hammer tip ranges extended down by five tips to give a barkier sound in the main soloing area.Steve Woodyard who was the main artist tech for Rhodes back in the day told me this info.

Check out my track Swing til it hurts on my album Zeros and Ones for the sound of a 1972 mark 1 in full effect.

ropeadope.com/digital/artists/jd73

[paultools]

Check out Larry Dunn of Earth Wind & Fire:
"That's the Way of the World" and "Evil" come to mind.
Also, a cool solo in the live version of "Sun Goddess" on the "Gratitude" album.

Damn.... "Gratitude" is the SHIT! Larry Dunn is a baaaaaaaad man...

[fross]

Originally Posted by paultools

Check out Larry Dunn of Earth Wind & Fire:
"That's the Way of the World" and "Evil" come to mind.
Also, a cool solo in the live version of "Sun Goddess" on the "Gratitude" album.

Damn.... "Gratitude" is the SHIT! Larry Dunn is a baaaaaaaad man...

His was Dyno'd

Don't believe Herbie was known for the Dyno'd sound
George Duke use to play some pretty Barky Rhodes. He also had a Dyno'd Rhodes as well.

[Mike O]

Little Feat - Red Streamliner, Time Loves a Hero

[bit mangler]

Originally Posted by Bassmankr

First listen to some old Chick Corea albums, then monkey around with your Rhodes's setup. Start with one of the lower notes, say an octave below middle C and get the end of the tine (have the tine up and down adjustment centered with the center of the pickup) very close to the pickup (move the pickup out so it just about touches the tine), now remember that distance. Next adjust the Tine up or down, the amount of up or down from dead center of the pickup will determine your "bite" tone. That setup should get your Rhode's its barkiest. Once you get that first note the way you want it you will work to either side of it and try to match it for sound/loudness/point of velocity when it starts barking. It will take you some time to get it setup to play evenly as you will be setting it for how you play. This is going to take you an afternoon/night as it's a slow process but taking the time to get the sound you want in you head (listening to the reference albums) and setting the Rhodes just takes time.

The reward for the time spent is well worth it and you will be amazed how you can get a usable Rhodes sound out of any model no matter how beat up. One of the biggest tricks for keyboard players on Rhodes is to use stripped down chords (fewer notes at the same time), dense chords turn to mud fast even on the barkiest of Rhodes. This is the oposite of how many piano players are trained. Listening to Chick Corea will teach you that a few key notes of the chord in sycopation is going to groove more and keeping it simple stupid (KISS) is the best way to play a Rhodes (leave LOTS of room/holes for the other players). Let us know how it turns out after you setup your Rhodes.

I fully agree with that.The pre "73 bark is a myth in my opinion.In my personal experience coaxial pu & tine gave a bell sound and offsetting the tine seems to produce a bark.This is more pronounced in the lower octaves.
I need a few replacement tines.The online guys are charging an arm & a limb.Anybody reading this have a few to sell?

[paultools]

gotta love this:

Dyno-My-Piano: The Chuck Monte Story

[AnthonyRochester]

oh, didn't Ray Charles play a Wurlitzer? I reckon you get more of that bark from a Wurli..

[TimbaBeat]

Thought about putting this in a new thread, but this one has related info already.

Does anyone know what Herbie was plugging his Rhodes and Clav into on HeadH and Thrust?

What was the wah he used with his clav?

Thanks,

[James Lehmann]

Herbie's sound around the time of 'Fat Albert Rotunda' and 'Crossings' etc wasn't especially bark-like IIRC.

[Sounds Great]

He may look like he is playing a regular piano..

The Guess Who 'These Eyes' (1969)

[ebot9000]

Just put it through a Fender Twin

[TimbaBeat]

Originally Posted by ebot9000

Just put it through a Fender Twin

Thanks. Have the Twin. Does anyone know what was the wah pedal Herbie was using on the Clav?

TB

[TurboJets]

Styx, Blue Collar Man? The organ really had balls on that one.

[mizzle]

Originally Posted by Sounds Great

He may look like he is playing a regular piano..

The Guess Who 'These Eyes' (1969)

2 things:

1. That's a Wurlie
2. That dude has (had) a serious vocal range!

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by mizzle

2 things:

1. That's a Wurlie
2. That dude has (had) a serious vocal range!

1. I thought it might be, but the best I could find, it was claimed to be a Rhodes.

2. thumbsup

[mizzle]

Ramsey Lewis
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Kj6DETXNk8

Stevie
http://youtube.com/watch?v=q8dK0iEzi1M