Rhodes Stage piano and low output volume level -Any help?

[Antti Peltonen]

Hello out there,

I have about 20 years old but quite OK
Rhodes Mark II 73 key Stage piano (No amplifier attached,
standing on 4 legs.)

So the problem is that output level is quite low, compared to
new electronic keyboards (like Hammond XB2), when I plug it
into new Fender keyboard amp.

I have adjusted mics properly but I think some kind of preamp
,maybe with tremolo/chorus :), would help. - I do not want to
turn master volume of the main amp too high (and add hisss.)

Second "problem" is that I would like to have a bit more treble
or high end to the sound (more bells). I think on "Suitcase Model"
sound was generally more "bell like" but the main difference is just
electronics. Some kind of pre amp could help for this also.

Any help appreciated. Please reply by e-mail to address
antti.p...@oulu.fi

(If you press reply button, remove NOSPAM from address.)

-Antti Peltonen-

[Dean L. Surkin]

The Rhodes stage piano has low voltage output, like a guitar pickup or
hi-impedance microphone. Synthesizers tend to have high voltage output.
There will always be a difference, so you have to adjust your gain control
accordingly on the amp. When I played professionally (about 20 years ago), I
used a pre-amp to balance the difference output stages of my various
keyboards.

Regarding the timbre of the sound: you can adjust the pickups, one tine at a
time, to achieve the most pleasing sound. Trade off: mellower sound usually
means lower volume.

Hope this helps.

--
Dean L. Surkin
Please remove "anti-Spam" XXXX from my e-mail address for a reply.
Antti Peltonen wrote in message <66jbku$9dj$1...@ousrvr3.oulu.fi>...

[Anders.Romin]

About pre-amp, what about the "Tube MP" mic pre-amp? I thing it should
do the job, plus applying som nice tube-amp sound :-)

About changing the timbre, you should try to change the angle between
the tine and the hammer (try loosen/tighten the screw closest to you on
the tine). This way you can get different amounts of "bell" sound (this
is actually what the "dyno" pedal did, back in the seventies).
Another possibility is replacing the hammer tips (the black rubber part
of the hammer) with harder ones, I have no idea where to get new ones
though.
Third possibility, probably the easiest: equalizer! You can play a lot
with the sound using e.g. a five band eq.

Good luck!
Anders Romin