Fender Rhodos

History

Pre-war period

Harold Rhodos, born in 1910, sought an innovative method to learn the piano with the pupils from its music schools, Harold Rhodos School off Popular Piano. He thought that an apprentice pianist was to not only know to play, but also to include/understand the operation of his instrument.

First prototype

During the Second world war, Rhodos enters the US Air Force. It is charged to look after moral soldiers wounded with the face. It thus builds a sufficiently small and light piano to be removable in a bag. Rather than of the cords, its piano makes vibrate pieces of Aluminum recovered on the wings of bombers B-17. Its instrument, which makes only two octaves and half and holds in a bag, is a great success. Rhodos receives off even the Medal Honor , and its methods are described in number 29 of the Air Manual Body.

The meeting with Fender

After the war, many companies propose in Rhodos to build its mini-piano in series, but the inventor prefers to only launch out. He then creates Rhodos Piano Corporation, which presents the Pre-Piano to the NAMM Show of 1946. Alas the poor quality of manufacture makes that it collapses under repairs. Its company will have survived only two years. He perseveres however and ends up depositing the Brevet number 2 972 922 heading asymmetric tuning fork . This novel method enables him to build an instrument with 72 keys which allures Leo Fender, celebrates for its Guitare S and its amplifying. From their association is born the Low Piano which comprises only 32 keys in a serious register.

The golden age

The January 14th 1965, Fender sells its company with CBS for 13 million dollars. This new financing makes it possible to develop the Suitcase Piano, an instrument of 120kg which comprises 73 keys, a Trémolo Monophonique and an amplifying 50W. During the 16 following years, 50 Suitcase 73 will be produced daily. In 1969, the Trémolo becomes stereophonic and amplification passes to twice 50W.

In 1970 leaves Fender Rhodos 88. It is available in version Suitcase , but also Stage , without amplification thus twice lighter and less expensive, which is a resounding success. Michel Legrand orders even a version of it to measure with 92 keys.

The technical evolutions continue, with the neoprene hammers of the Rhodos Mark I in 1971 and a formal amendment of the metal bars in 1972. Lastly, in 1973, a loop of effects and detachable loudspeakers of twice 100W are added to Suitcase. In 1974, Fender Rhodos is renamed Rhodos and, in 1976, the plastic hammers make their appearance.

In 1979, the Rhodos Mark II is the first model with flat cap, more practical to pose another keyboard there. In 1980, the Rhodos Mark III EK-10 couples a Synthétiseur with the keyboard of the piano.

In 1981, CBS buys ARP and settles in Fullerton (California). The fashion of the electric piano passing, Rhodos leaves some Synthétiseur S. the company changes hand into 1983 and leaves the Rhodos Mark V. Lighter and more precis, it is perhaps the result of the know-how of Rhodos. On the three to four thousand produced specimens, three are equipped with catches MIDDAY.

The repurchase by Roland

Rhodos is bought by Roland in 1987. Harold Rhodos, which is then 80 years old, leaves to the Japan to develop a new product. It then expects to still improve its invention, but Roland leaves the Rhodos MK-80, a keyboard Numérique which simulates the original sound of the piano. Disappointed, Harold Rhodos will try without success to convince Roland to produce a true electric piano, then to recover its mark to produce its own instruments. It will finally die out with Los Angeles the December 17th 2000, at the 89 years age, of the continuations of a Pneumonie. His third wife, Margit, will recover the rights on the Rhodos mark in 2002

Indicative discography

It is impossible to quote all the recordings using an electric piano Rhodos. Nevertheless, some of most known are:

“Girls De Kilimanjaro” (Miles Davis)
“In has Silent Way off” (Miles Davis)
“Songs In The Key Of Life” (Stevie Wonder)
“Headhunters” (Herbie Hancock)
“Riders One The Storm” (The Doors)
“Just the Way You Are” (Billy Joel)
“Still Crazy After All These Years” (Paul Frederic Simon)
“Dark Star” (The Grateful Dead)
“The Return the Space Cowboy” (Jamiroquai)
“Return to Forever” (Chick Corea)
“Time 4 Changes” (Laurent de Wilde)
“Everything in Its Right Place” (Radiohead)
“Fantasy Hook” (Larry Heard)

External bonds

Official French-speaking site of the piano Fender Rhodos

Site of samples of piano Fender Rhodos

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