A tine is a thin metal steel length of rod in a Fender Rhodes electric piano. It is one of the key elements in producing the tone, along with the hammer tip. When a key is pressed, a the key pivots, pushing the hammer cam upward which allows the tip to strike the tine, causing it to vibrate. This vibration creates the piano’s characteristic tone, and is sustained by an attached tone bar.
Sound:
The combination of the tine and tone bar is called the tone bar assembly. This assembly vibrates when struck creating a tuning fork-like effect which sustains the vibrations. This tone is then captured by a magnetic pickup and converted into an electrical signal for amplification.
A tine is cut to length to give a certain frequency, with longer tines having lower frequencies and vice-versa. Fine-tuning is adjusted by a small coil fixed onto the tine called the tine spring. Adjusting this can vary the pitch by several semitones. The precise construction and positioning of the tine are essential for achieving the Rhodes’s distinctive sound.
Servicing:
Occasionally tines break from very hard playing, and the time will need to be replaced. And sometimes a tine is the culprit of a note having poor sustain. If replacing the tone bar screws and tone bar grommets does not improve the sustain, then this tine will need to be replaced too. When doing this, it is important to undertake the following steps:
- Unscrew and remove the old tine.
Cut the new tine to the correct length - Tighten the tine screw fully
- Align the tine correctly with the tone bar and pickup, retightening the tine screw if necessary.
- Adjust the tine spring so the note is in tune.
Tines have gone through a variety of production methods over the years, with the Torrington tine manufactured in the late 1960s to early 1970s often being coveted for having the best tone.
Current manufacturers of tines include Vintage Vibe in the USA and Rhodes Music in the UK.
