How to fix 'bobbly' dampers on a Fender Rhodes
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- čas přidán 15. 09. 2019
- Quick instructional video on how to rectify the bobbly damper issue that can arise on old unloved instruments. It gives the impression the hammer double strikes, but it's actually the damper not stopping first time.
- Hudba
Wow, I just fixed mine because of this video! THANK YOU 🙏🏽
Glad it helped you out! Cheers for the kind words! :)
thank you!!
thanks for this 🎹
Very welcome :)
That was brilliant. I almost feel the need to buy one just so I can utilise my extensive spanner collection....😬
I just couldn't be bothered! 😜🤣
Is there anyway to fix the noisy key-hitting mechanical sound in like 2:46?
I've thought of replacing the felt where the wooden keys meet the plastic hammer with a noise dampening strips of cushioning material. I'm still looking for the best material. The felt that the Rhodes company installed is not workable. I think it was an afterthought. That noise is very distracting to me.
@@mojooftheg5961 yeh, this noise indeed is very distracting and the key bounce back feel is uncomfortable too; I tried to search on internet but seems not many discussion regarding this kind of clacking thing. cushioning material......maybe some rubber could do the job !?
@@mojooftheg5961 BTW I replaced the felt but seems to getting worse, I think the old felt might have got to a good match with the plastic hammer along the time, and the new felt needs time to fit
Interesting topic! I personally don't find this noise irritating or distracting as I've always regarded it the actual mechanical noise that they make, and to me is one of it's characteristics. I can understand how it would be annoying and distracting though, so if you find the cure, please comment back!
Just picked up a 79 stage 73 mk1, my first. I am finding it to be all 'bell' and no 'bark', unlike yours which has the sound I'm after. Have new grommets and screws on the way, any other tips on how I might get it sounding a bit dirtier?
Hey there! Thanks so much for commenting. In order to get the 'bark' you're after you'll need to properly tune and voice it. If you've got grommets and screws on the way, do that first as you'll of course need all the tone bars off to do that anyway. Then, when you re-install the tone bars, set their gaps as per factory standard. (Escapement). Have a good read through this website: www.fenderrhodes.com/
There you will find manuals, service information, and all of the factory standard measurements for your key height, key dip, escapement, damper regulation, pickup distance etc. With factory settings you should get that 'bark' when you strike the notes hard. If not, play with the escapement as you play the notes to find the sweet spot you like! (Voicing). It's all about the players preference really - let your ear do the work - but starting off at factory spec is a good place to start! If afterwards you still require some more dirt or 'stank' as I like to call it, there are options to mod the passive electronics with tube units from Vintage Vibe, or you can run them through tube amps, or pedals. I've got brand new standard passive electronics in mine running through a BOSS OD-3, and I love the way it sounds now! Congrats on your purchase and good luck! Mine is a 79, and personally I think they're the best Mark 1!
Hey thank you very much for the reply, all great tips. Since asking I've done all the grommets, screws and washers. That improved the sound quite a bit, but not so much adding to the bark. What I ended up doing is pulling off the harp and digging those crappy pressed board shims off. I replaced them with solid white cedar shims that are about half the thickness of the originals. Then I set the strike line much closer than it had been. Those last two have gone the farthest in getting the 'bark', along with voicing each tone bar in that particular barking sweet spot. I'm shopping around for a preamp and or tube amp, and also considering an EQ pedal- as an owner of a Korg SV1 I find boosting the midrange can go some ways in getting an EP to bark. Thanks again for the video and tips!
@@CGOlde Biggest factor when voicing for 'bark' is pickup distance. A shorter pickup distance changes the dynamic response, and gets a much barkier sound when you dig in. Careful you don't get them too close as to get out of control.