1973 Fender Rhodes Suitcase Piano w/ Erik James - Steely Dan Home at last

Erik James giving his new Fender Rhodes suitcase piano a run!
What a fantastic player with great touch and excellent feel. We are honored to have Erik in our camp of artists!
This Rhodes was fully restored at RetroLinear.
• Complete electronic overhaul- power supply, amp modules and preamp.
• Complete action overhaul with tuned bump mod, key bushings, damper regulation.
• RetroLinear Mk.I square hammer tips and isolation grommets on the harp
• New hardware, Tolex, Mesa style black grill cloth
• Charcoal sparkle top with holographic flakes
• Removable grill panel with Erik's logo.
Tweaked to perfection.
Turn up the volume, do some comparative listening! Note the sonic and dynamic response of this Rhodes from soft bell like tones to aggressive bark it's all there at your finger tips.
Tell us what you think! Share! / retrolinearinc
www.retrolinear.com

[@miikdaniels1439]

Laies and Gentleman...The Brock Lesner o' Fender Rhodes!!!! Absolutely awesome brother!

[@6PointHarness]

Man, Biff from Back To The Future can jam!

[@brianlee5455]

OMG I said the SAME THING!!! LMAO

[@FaFbFeverdog]

Lulz. That killed me. Hahaha.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

Hahahahahaha!! He does play great though

[@alext.1459]

Lolololol i was gonna Say the same!!! But man can he play!!!! Congrats this is the way a Rhoades should sound and be played!!

[@rihamy2nd]

Back to the Fender

[@adventurepromo]

I just appreciate that you're smiling. Music should be fun.

[@TallSomeone]

Just amazing. He's a conduit from higher powers, such as we all are when we release to music expression.

[@Renzsu]

Man I wish I didn't give up on my piano lessons as a kid, you're crushing this! Fantastic :)

[@reno145]

Grab a keyboard and get back in it! If you have breath in your lungs and can move your hands, you're halfway there.

[@philipStClair-mm4jq]

You guy's at Retro Linear appear to do amazing work! I believe that the Fender Rhodes, the Rhodes, and Wurlitzer's are so important to so many styles of music that your jobs, in my very humble opinion, are of utmost importance to so many musical styles and to the fans that love the sounds of these electric piano's whether they realize that's what they are hearing or not! Nothing sounds like the real thing. Your pride shows in your excellent work!

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Thanks very much :)

[@javasoccernut]

good stuff. The guy working in the background must be lovin it.

[@christopherpederson1021]

He really looks thrilled

[@RetrolinearAudio]

That's Karl one of our resident synth gurus, He's in synth land which is another dimension between time and space itself - he assures us he did enjoy the music!!

[@artfuladvocate]

He killed this

[@nalicie]

There’s hope for humanity after all. Expertly done.

[@RetrolinearAudio]

1973 Rhodes, the 1 pic in the video shows a 76 being broken down, just used it as a reference pic for what we do 😃

[@giorgiotibaldo]

Great player and great music from Steely Dan 👌🏻from 🇮🇹!!!

[@adrian_9951]

I love that bottom part before he slides down the first time, swear I've rewinded 70 times and about to again after I finish typing

[@haightashburymusic9394]

...own it baby!! (finally, someone who interprets a cover like me...refreshing)...and that Rhodes sounds fine too

[@nicolafabris6913]

Mammamiaaaaaa.....FORTEEEEEE !!! Tks x kind sharing, ciao Nick from IT

[@andretheshadow]

I love everything about this.

[@rwesreal]

Ive must of watched this a dozen times! Such a great version! Pops loved as well, thank you!

[@philipStClair-mm4jq]

Beautiful job Erik! I Thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@pizzlersteakhouse]

Absolutely phenomenal. We can see the keys flowing through your blood my friend.

[@amoricanseth8320]

looks and sounds gorgeous

[@klecoxs2]

Yep that certainly hits the spot !!

[@djbelc01]

Just wonderful. The playing, the piano, everything.

[@workn683]

Really Nice and Great Playing.

[@moshezarviv1252]

oh so good !! Rhodes at last !!!

[@freebreeze9042]

Your restorations sound like mine so I know you are doing it right. You guys are the best.

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Thank you for the kind words! Do you have any links to your restorations? Would love to hear what your doing! Maybe we can help you out with parts , spares etc?

[@timd7782]

Sublime and professional. Wow.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Lovely! Used to really enjoy playing this song on my Rhodes too!

[@artfuladvocate]

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@groovefondue5060]

Beautiful playing!

[@rsplatpc]

I like watching the people in the background try to figure out what to do until he's done

[@rhodesjuzz9508]

This Rhodes looks fabulous. Would love to hear it without phaser direct from its own speaker/bottom :)

[@RetrolinearAudio]

more to come!!

[@rhodesjuzz9508]

+RetrolinearAudio I played this song (steely dan's Home at Last for people who didn't know that) quite often, but never on a Rhodes ;)

[@Earlvis]

This is where I’ll bring my Hammond A102 for an overhaul.

[@gullyfoyle6354]

Excellent performance and restoration. Kudos!

[@whitelabelproduction]

Vibes.

[@tap1983]

Oh my gawd

[@RetrolinearAudio]

indeed!

[@pierreheuveneers4032]

A kind of magic 😊

[@laurahale9309]

What style, Erik!!!!!!!

[@rinagattoni3655]

Thank for this!

[@FaFbFeverdog]

Beautiful!

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Thanks! :)

[@415JayTee]

Bravo! Great sound and tonality. Well done.

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Thanks :)

[@carlbowles1808]

Beautiful 🏖😎🌞❤

[@steelyfan7745]

wow! that was amazing man!

[@andrewlineberger7544]

Awesome Tone Awesome Playin

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

Fabulous! Fabulous! Fabulous! (Did I mention I loved this video?)

[@Poop-nu1so]

Awesome video, awesome song!!

[@brandonpryor601]

Great stuff nice playing.

[@scottlowery8947]

Best video ever

[@WillsJazzLoft]

Home At Last

[@DaveyL1954]

Do you know what would sit nicely on your beautiful piano? Answer, my 1972 MiniMoog. Just a thought.

[@ayrtoninchejanampa6874]

Buen toque, y mas aun con Phaser

[@sergeruffles1380]

Home at last

[@gnawbabygnaw]

Wow very nice. Now I don’t want one anymore. I’ll never be able to do that. Where’s that sharp knife we keep around here…. 🤙

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

One of the most fun instruments I've ever had my hands on. But I was not keen to move it as the stage. I cannot IMAGINE the weight of the AMP. lol. Most people just use the baby Leslie. :) Probably lighter.

[@bluarcher5941]

we hauled a Rhodes Stage 73 and a Hammond B-3 with a 122 Leslie all over the country in a U-Haul for several years. Thank God for strap dollies for the B-3.

[@housebandthexenos2569]

So excited! Just got one of these, a suitcase seventy three. Haven't hooked it up yet, has to wait till tomorrow so I came here to hear it. Fantastic and great playing too. Thanks! can you tell me plz is it a regular female extension cord plug that attaches to the speaker for power?

[@avalanche9026]

All you need is sun glasses bro you good to go.

[@michaelcarr4139]

My 1974 Rhodes 73 Suitcase was stolen from my car in 1985 in Los Angeles. I had just had the action redone and the case re-tolexed by Buzz Watson in Fullerton CA. It had a small cigarette burn on the left side of the top, and I wrote the names of the notes inside above the tines on the wood for when I tuned it and replaced tines. Still pissed off. Let me know if you see it.

[@nicholasmarch3286]

damn he was really feelin this one. incredible playing skills... makes me want to quit playing lmao

[@jaredini]

Great playing, was never keen on that effect though.

[@RetrolinearAudio]

A little Phase 90, its that Steely Dan thing!! Rhodes + Phase = Sound of the 1970's Rhodes Chorus = Sound of the 1980's

[@Bro_TD]

What’s not to like about this ?? Happy I have a ‘73

[@ggb0309]

Very nice! Love the phaser! What kind of phaser did you use?

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Its a MXR Script logo Phase 90 modified to handle the hot signal of a Rhodes ;)

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

I'd love to foster one of these, so I could play it whenever I like and not have to maintain it. :) Any electronics engineers out of space..?

[@ldoubleg2006]

Heard they (steely dan) had like a 2 million budget

[@NEOLYS_]

Hi, wat kind of top lid is it please ? I couldn’t find any on your website

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Hi, apologies for the slow re- this was a custom painted top, this could be done again however it is a costly process to get them perfect like this!

[@joelj7279]

Actual song was played on an acoustic

[@cubdukat]

What phaser did you use, and what settings did you use? I’m trying to do a cover of “Peg.”

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Script logo phase 90, has the R28 mod and also 2 caps changed to deal with the stiffer rhodes signal and not clipping.. Rate was set almost off. Donald Fagen uses Whirlwind orange boxes on stage , the Orange box is VERY Close if not identical to the original Phase 90, the New mxr are different electronically in comparison to the originals... Hope that helps! Thanks :)

[@taylorgrey2004]

Retrolinear: How are you getting that beautiful overdriven tune out of that thing? Pedalboard, or did you modify the stock Mark I Suitcase amplifier? I can tell a lot of that bark comes from the voicing and setup. But the overdrive leaves me curious. Thanks! Also, if you have any pro tips on retolexing (secret process or not) please share! I'm re-doing my Rhodes Mark I suitcase in silver sparkle tolex. Thanks again.

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Having the piano setup right is good, but having the right player goes even further, its a stock instrument- no mods aside the custom lid, tolex etc. :)

[@michelesantarelli3450]

tough song to play

[@JeremyBall76]

Excellent! What year is this Fender Rhodes?

[@RetrolinearAudio]

1973

[@Brownhornet419]

JJ Watt?

[@Music73777]

Is that also a small clone chorus you’re using with the phaser?

[@RetrolinearAudio]

Small Stone phaser.

[@adamandlorraine]

do you know how to identify the year of my stage II 73?

[@RetrolinearAudio]

We do know, and its simple to determine when your piano was made. Start by lifting off the plastic lid, exposes the harp/internals. Then there should be an ink stamp top right side of the harp. Literally stamped onto the harp generally red or black ink. You'll see 4 digits first 2 the week then 2 are year. so 10 72 would be 10 week of 1972. or 4077 40th week of 1977 Max over at Chicago Electric Piano made a page on decoding date codes! chicagoelectricpiano.com/rhodes/how-to-date-date-rhodes/ if the ink for whatever reason is missing, we could date it by the parts, visuals etc. let us know how you make out either way! Thank you.

[@paulhopkins5067]

there's bass face, what do you call what my guy is doin right here.

[@AnthonyElsetinow]

How much was restoration?

[@RetrolinearAudio]

depends on the piano! email [e-mail] to discuss details, thanks!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Uh, oh. "Price on request." That much, huh? Could just say, it'll never be more than X. Lol

[@rower5222]

Зачем этот гражданин бъётся как рыбка об лёд?

[@luigicirelli2583]

you can synthesize it, but... why?! lush; that's why not.

[@DonIsadick-mf3gv]

Roland bought the Rhodes name in the 80s. And I bought the first Roland Rhodes. Never played the real thing. I assume you got to tune it right? Or do you get it tuned by a pro piano tuner?

[@user-sn3rv1zc5z]

Come on, man, why don’t you get into it a little bit?😂😂😂