Rhodes Mark 7

[goldphinga]

Can anyone from Rhodes shed some light on progress with the design and when we are likely to see them on sale? Having a hard time getting any info and the Rhodes site has not been updated since NAMM.

Maybe Jim W can shed some light

Thanks

[vudoo]

A couple of local dealers told me the new Rhodes will not be release. That explains why so many emails went unanswered.

[sparker]

Hi Vudoo - your dealers have it completely wrong. I last spoke to Joe Brandstetter a few weeks ago and everything is still going ahead for release late summer as planned.

Prices are still to be finalised but I believe pretty much all aspects of production are now tied up and all keyboards will be made in the states. At Frankfurt Rhodes showed a fully working MIDI equipped board as well as a few other units with different finishes etc.

One of our staff posted some more info here:

Sound On Sound Forum

Cheers

Steve

[elambo]

There's never a shortage of false rumors at GS.

[vudoo]

You know what. This is exactly what the people at Rhodes told me more than a year ago....i'll believe it when i actually see them in the stores.

[sparker]

so you have a dealer who doesn't have any stock or a distributor who has actually ordered them and talked to the owner of the company.....

you decide who to believe - I'm pretty sure we'll see them late summer as I mentioned before. I'll ask the people at Rhodes to get their info updated so your dealers get some better info.

Cheers

Steve

[vudoo]

I emailed Rhodes 5 times just to find out about possible release date...no answers whatsoever then went through 2 local dealers....same results.
Anyways, hopefully you're right, but so far, it does not look good !!!

[sparker]

OK - I see where you're coming from then - i'll pass your thoughts onto Rhodes - I guess they don't want to commit to customers until they have a concrete date etc, but some info would be better than none right?

Cheers

Steve

[bexarametric]

I have heard that the prices on these are going to be very steep. Like twice as expensive as you can get a vintage one for.

[prismtheory]

I just got a mark 1 because I was tired of waiting. I got it in perfect working condition.

[goldphinga]

Yes they are different beasts but the main difference will be the powerful eq, midi and weight of the Mark 7 other than that early wooden/plastic hammer mark 1's are THE benchmark for sound and Mark 5's THE benchmark for action.

If the mark 7 turns out to combine both these qualities at the right price then it will be a winner. The main component they must get right is the tines. The early mark 1's which had the fattest and roundest sound of all the rhodes models had a tighter fitting block for the tines and the sound was much better.

The argument that has been aired a few times on here that the earlier tines are too soft is just not true. They sound the best and ive had far more breakages as a player and tech on later mark 1's (after 75) than on the earlier pre 75 models. However... if the eq is powerful enough and the tine composition and block fit is good the mark7 should be every bit as good as the early mk1-lets wait and see

[zenguan88]

yep i email them a few number of times without any replies. sigh its so frustrating eh?

hahas

[audiovisceral]

any updates or wild guesses on price?

[TheRealRoach]

I wonder how this is going to affect sales of the Nord Electro. I guess it depends on the price. The Rhodes website is pretty impressive and it seems too good to be true. The sound samples on the website sound wicked cool.

[audiovisceral]

nord is just another digital sim. different market



watermelon man.

is $1500 a reasonable hope? or 2k+?

[TheRealRoach]

I personally think that these things are gonna fly, and unless there's something brutally wrong with some aspect of the design (which there doesn't seem to be), then Rhodes will hopefully price them lower in anticipation of a high volume of sales. These are not going to be nearly as much a "niche" product as so much other music gear can be. I would think that the rhodes vets will flock to pick one of these up just as fast as the young indie-kids.

[bexarametric]

I want one so bad

[Studioklocka]

Originally Posted by audiovisceral

nord is just another digital sim. different market



watermelon man.

is $1500 a reasonable hope? or 2k+?

great playing by all of the keyboard-players.

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by goldphinga

mark 1's are THE benchmark for sound and Mark 5's THE benchmark for action.

If the mark 7 turns out to combine both these qualities at the right price then it will be a winner.

My understanding from other discussions here is that they are not going for the earlier tine sound. If not, the product will stiff.

I think Jim Williams has a hand in all this. track him down for an opinion.

-R

[Abel]

have a q about midi.
they say it has MIDI in, but does it actually mean that M7 will be able to play a midi sequence with automated keys like a sound module? Otherwise what's the point?

[goldphinga]

Originally Posted by Abel

have a q about midi.
they say it has MIDI in, but does it actually mean that M7 will be able to play a midi sequence with automated keys like a sound module? Otherwise what's the point?

Midi in is for software updates only and using the rhodes as a standalone midi interface. The rhodes sound itself cant be triggered by midi as its a mechanical action.

Midi out and zoning plus poly aftertouch is transmitted via the midi out for controlling outboard modules etc

Very excited about this Rhodes

[wuss88]

UK Pricing

http://www.dv247.com/search/0/2305/P...ding/rhodes/1/

ouch

[goldphinga]

Thats not final pricing but regardless i really feel that a brand new Rhodes with class A preamp, and midi is worth that kind of money. Its every bit as worthy an instrument in its own right as a real piano and should command a similar value.

Look at it as a lifetime investment and im sure you wont be disappointed. These are gonna be amazing instruments and a lot lighter too.

Cant complain, got to commend Rhodes for coming through. Theyve been hard at work!!

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by goldphinga

Cant complain, got to commend Rhodes for coming through. Theyve been hard at work!!

So you are saying we might actually see this thing before the world premier of Chinese Democracy?

[zenguan88]

3899 uk is a real crazy price mans! lols i guess. its half the cost of a grand .

[matt thomas]

Originally Posted by wuss88

ouch

thats an understatement.

narco

[boyinthebox]

Originally Posted by narco

thats an understatement.

narco

Agreed! Wow.

[bexarametric]

Forget it. That price has made my decision for me. I will get a vintage one.

[lookingfor]

Well, I would wait for an official press release about prices before judging...

If those prices are true, I really hope the new rhodes has been built to last :-)

[goldphinga]

Any more news anyone at Rhodes?