This is a common issue that affects all Rhodes pianos at some point. This could be one of a number of issues, here are some places to start: (Note: if unsure of any of these terms, consult the Glossary.)
Remove the lid and inspect the harp where the problem is
Rhodes lids are easy to remove, in fact, you’ve probably done it already. Identify the key where the note is not making a sound, and see if there are any obvious problems. The most likely place is the key and the action, so let’s start with some potential problems there:
Key, action, and harp issues:
- A key is sticking. This can cause the note not to return properly, or if really sticky, the hammer cam fails to strike the tine entirely. Wiggle the note from side to side to see if this helps, and ease the key bushings if they are too tight.
- A tine is broken meaning the hammer is unable to strike it. A new one will need to be ordered and cut to size.
- The escapement is too low, which stops the hammer tip from moving away from the tine, causing the hammer to stick to the damper lever. The solution would be to raise the escapement.
- A hammer tip is missing on the note in question, meaning that the tine is not being struck. Purchase and replace the hammer tip.
- A hammer cam is broken, which means the key is not hitting the hammer. Purchase and replace the hammer cam.
- A loose or missing tone bar screw means the tine is misaligned to the hammer causing it to miss, or is off entirely – so the same effect as a broken tine. Readjust the tone bar so it is near the pickup or replace the screw and re-screw the tine on.
Electronics Issues:
If you’ve exhausted the list of action and harp issues, the problem is more likely an electronic issue. This presents a little more of a challenge, but it should be fairly easy to find
- The pickup is dead, which can lead to a very quiet or completely silent note. This is much more common on Rhodes from 1981 onwards with a white sleeve around the pickup. Desolder the wire around the pickup, remove it, and replace it with a modern replacement.
- If all the notes on your Rhodes are dead, this is not great! It is a wiring issue – somewhere a wire is disconnected causing the circuit to fail. The most common place for these are loose wires and solder joints in the Volume and Bass Boost sections, and a broken wire/solder joint along the top and side of the harp. The RCA cable on the left could also be broken. Go through the wiring methodically and inspect it all.
In our experience, these are the most common causes of ‘dead’ notes. If none of these are your issue or you’re really stuck get in touch and we can help. It’s difficult to diagnose without looking inside the piano to diagnose the issue, it can be difficult to provide an exact solution. A service of your Rhodes will take care of this issue unless there is a huge problem. For situations like this we can come to your Rhodes on site. We are armed with spare pickups, tines, and other parts if needed. Contact us and send us some photos and we can better solve the issue.
