The tone bar assembly is the tuning fork-like mechanism that generates the tone for each note of a Rhodes piano. It is made up of eight parts:
- Tone Bar – the large bar positioned at the top of the assembly.
- Tine – the thick wire length section which is positioned below. This part of the assembly is struck by the hammer tip.
- Tine Spring – the metal coil/spring positioned on the tine that adjusts the fine tuning of the note.
- Tine Screw – the 5/16” nut screw that connects the tone bar and the tine.*
- Tone Bar Screws – two self tapping metal screws that connect the assembly to the harp.*
- Tone Bar Washers – two metal washers that sit between the screw and the grommet.
- Tone Bar Grommets – two rubber grommets that limit vibration of the tone bar travelling to the harp
- Tone Bar Springs – two metal springs to keep the assemble under tension so it ‘floats’ above the harp.
The mass of each tone bar assembly increases the lower down the piano. This is because a larger mass equals a lower pitch. See the individual items for more information on these parts.
*Sometimes these two terms are used interchangeably for the screw connecting the tone bar and tine. We call it the tine screw to try to avoid confusion.
