Get your rhodes sounding great
Smooth like butter, with that iconic bark. Whether it’s a quick service, or a full restoration of your Rhodes; we provide a number of options to get your Rhodes sounding its best.
Notes: If unsure of any of these terms consult the Glossary
‘Tune-Up’ Service:
Time: 2.5-3 Hours
Cost: £200-250 (+ parts if needed)
Our quickest and most affordable option. This service can be done on-site and covers servicing the essentials of your Rhodes, plus any small repairs that need doing. Ideal before a tour or a big session.
- Tuning
- Voicing
- Pickup volume adjustment
- Key lubrication
- Small repairs i.e. tine replacement, sticking keys, missing hammer tips/dampers etc.
Standard Service
Time: 8-9 Hours
Cost: £350-400 (+ parts if needed)
A comprehensive day service of your Rhodes where we take it to our workshop and can improve and repair the majority of areas including tuning, voicing, keys, action, and replacing entire sets of old parts. We include the ‘Tune-Up’ option as standard, and this includes:
- Tuning
- Voicing
- Pickup volume adjustment
- Key lubrication
- Small repairs i.e. tine replacement, sticking keys, missing hammer tips/dampers etc.
You can then customise what you would like from the list below in the remaining time.. For example a good option would be to add keyboard regulation and action regulation to get the touch and feel even. Another would be the Miracle Mod installation, to fix the sluggish and heavy action you may have.
If you are unsure, we can get the piano in the workshop and decide then, no pressure. Here are the options:
Older tone bar screws and grommets can become worn and brittle, affecting sustain and changing the tone quality of the note. Replacement of these parts will help rectify this and is well worth it for the tshort installation time and reasonable cost. If any springs need replacing we will do this as well.
We use Vintage Vibe screws and grommets as these are the highest quality parts available.
Hammer tips are the key to the sound of a Rhodes. Over time these rubber tips become worn and create deep grooves which can affect the tone. Replacing these will bring a significant improvement and evenness to the tone.
Even key regulation is essential for even touch throughout the piano. Over time the middle of the piano tends to become more uneven due to the higher frequency of playing there. This service includes correct setting of key height, key dip, squaring the keys, tightening the keys if needed, and improving side-play (the side to side ‘wiggle) of white and black keys.
Good regulation starts with the key, and the keyboard will look nice and even as well.
Following keys, action regulation is the next step of good rhodes regulation. We will regulate the hammer cams and dampers to create an even touch on every note.
Improves the touch and responsiveness of Rhodes pianos that are heavy and sluggish. Installation involves adding a bump to the front end of the key pedestal to improve leverage between the key and the hammer cam.
The metal case brackets and hinges (hardware) become rusty and corroded over time. Replacing them will make your Rhodes look fresher and nicer. Requires extra cost for hardware parts which we get from Vintage Vibe. Great for the studio or the stage. Service time can vary due to older screws often becoming stripped and then needing to replug the screw holes.
Full Service
Time: 15-16 Hours
Cost: £600-650 (+ parts if needed)
An extensive full 2 day service of your Rhodes in which we can dive deeper and service more parts for longer. We will dedicate 8-9 hours to our Tune-Up package, keyboard and action regulation; then you can decide what else you would like us to work on.
- Tuning
- Voicing
- Volume Adjustment
- Key lubrication
- Escapement & strikeline adjustment
- Repairs i.e. tine replacement, sticking keys, missing hammer tips/dampers etc.
- Key height & dip adjustment
- Tightening keys, side-play and squaring key adjustment
- Hammer cam regulation
- Damper arm regulation
Short of a full rebuild, this is the best service your Rhodes can get. You can customise what you would like from the list below, or if you are unsure, get in touch.
Older tone bar screws and grommets can become worn and brittle, affecting sustain and changing the tone quality of the note. Replacement of these parts will help rectify this and is well worth it for the tshort installation time and reasonable cost. If any springs need replacing we will do this as well.
We use Vintage Vibe screws and grommets as these are the highest quality parts available.
Hammer tips are the key to the sound of a Rhodes. Over time these rubber tips become worn and create deep grooves which can affect the tone. Replacing these will bring a significant improvement and evenness to the tone.
Key bushings are strips of felt that support the key on the front and balance rails of the keybed. Keys that need re-bushing have that rather annoying rocking unstable feeling that affects how you play. If our tightening efforts and side-play adjustments are unsuccessful then we would recommend re-bushing the keys to resolve this. This will give a tight, responsive feel to the key which is far more enjoyable to play.
Note: Mark II Rhodes from 1981 onwards usually have plastic keys meaning they do not have key bushings.
Improves the touch and responsiveness of Rhodes pianos that are heavy and sluggish. Installation involves adding a bump to the front end of the key pedestal to improve leverage between the key and the hammer cam.
The metal case brackets and hinges (hardware) become rusty and corroded over time. Replacing them will make your Rhodes look fresher and nicer. Requires extra cost for hardware parts which we get from Vintage Vibe. Great for the studio or the stage. Service time can vary due to older screws often becoming stripped and then needing to replug the screw holes.
Full Restoration:
Time: Several Weeks/Months
Cost: Contact us for a quote
A full rebuild of your Rhodes piano can make it ‘like-new’. Whilst this may not be necessary for many Rhodes (we’re reluctant to fully replace parts on instruments that already work and sound well), but if your piano is in a terrible condition or has suffered major damage (being dropped or extensive water damage for example), then this may be the right option for you. The cost is this will vary significantly due to parts and labour time, but you’re looking at at least £1500.
Here’s a list of some of the work that can be undertaken – you can customize as much or as little as you like:
- Replacement* of tone bars and tines.
- Replacement* of pick-ups and rewiring
- Replacement* of hammer cams, damper arms and bridle tapes
- Replacement* of plastic key tops
- Replacement* of legs and pedal hardware
- Repair/replacement of amplifier**
- New electronic components
- New damper felts and hammer tips
- New key bushings and other felts
- New case brackets and hardware
- New tolex installed on Rhodes case
- Miracle Mod installation
- Keyboard & action regulation
- Tone bar screws and grommets replaced
- Escapement & strike-line readjusted
- Tuning & voicing
- 12 month warranty
*Partial or full replacement of parts as needed/desired.
**Suitcase models only. We subcontract our amp repair to an amplifier specialist.
Cosmetic Surgery: Tolex & Hardware
Time: 14 hours
Cost: £500 (+ tolex & hardware costs)
Tolex is the black vinyl material that covers the case of your Rhodes. Over time this becomes worn, ripped, and sometimes falls off entirely. Replacement of the tolex and case hardware is the best way to making your Rhodes ‘look’ like new.
Replacing the tolex on a Rhodes is a time consuming, difficult, and sometimes tedious job. It requires removal of the old tolex, sanding down the wooden casing of the Rhodes down to remove glue and create an even surface, and many hours of patience and care to install the new tolex. However, it is always worth it as your Rhodes will look fantastic.
