Tech Tip | Fender Rhodes Escapement

[@charlie-obrien]

I have to say that VV is showing the love they have for the vintage Rhodes pianos (and other EP's). How many others who make a living repairing and refurbishing instruments, so freely and fully shares their techniques and knowledge? I have 2 dreams now as I near my retirement. The first is to fully restore a '71 Fender Rhodes 73 suitcase and also to purchase a custom VV 64 deluxe. I never thought I would be looking forward to a trip to Rockaway NJ. Lol!

[@reidruh9720]

Dont ask questions on youtube guys, vintage vibe is very helpful on the phone

[@mootbooxle]

These videos are really helpful...But I have one question - after shimming it up, doesn't that more or less return it to the level it was before you shaved down the side supports? Or does a tiny 32nd of an inch make a difference when dealing with escapement?

[@Khoamikaze]

did you ever find out?

[@callevi1791]

I wrote then an email asking the EXACT same thing and have yet to hear back. And it sounds better even higher. Totally confused I’m sure we are missing something. I wish they showed us what a good escapement looked like as well. He says it good but no view...

[@goldphinga]

@@callevi1791 its a feel thing really- you have to adjust the strike line once you reduce the harp supports or take away shims, you also need to readjust the dampers and the voicing, all these things together will make the piano feel much more responsive with better tone

[@VintageGearFreak]

I believe they are demonstrating the technique of shaving the harp support and shimming. That particular piano may not need it though

[@alanhowell3646]

Agree. Seemed a bit strange to remove timber and then shim it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@adamploof3528]

Loving these news tutorials.

[@patrickgallagher1161]

I was wanting to know how!! Thanks VV!

[@ferranmelero7727]

I love the tips you have made

[@mikormichele]

Great tip! how about a mark 2 with metal sides? Thank you

[@roadsidesilhouettes6681]

Making a wooden side block might be your only option.

[@christopherroberts5823]

Vintage Vibe.......Is it ok to take the wood shims off the top of the metal sides to lower it?

[@connork.7934]

Christopher Roberts I've emailed them and they've recommended going down to bare aluminum and then adding shims as needed.

[@nzreggae2534]

The guardian angel of Fender Rhodes refurbishments. I'm going to watch this again. Some of my tines probably need replacing even after the tine stabilising spring/grommet. Pitch and tone unstable, I assume from less than vertical tine oscillation i.e. wavering. Some of my notes are nice and sensitive to light playing with a loud sound, but some are quiet when pressed lightly. I need to google around for info on shorter sustaining notes. Seems to be shorter sustain with notes 23,24,25 on a mark 1 73 just before the tone bars switch from vertical to horizontal. Maybe this shorter sustain is inherent to the high bass tone bars? Some keys sound decent but have a slightly annoying ting/click sound.

[@bourniplus]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

[@orchestrepuzzle]

Yeah ! That was a very good tip :-D Thanks a lot for that !!

[@Keyboardman88]

Nice video with good info; however, how about showing how to adjust escapement on a newer piano with the aluminum harp supports.

[@vintagepearlguitars]

At the end of the video, in order to find the sweet spot for the tone, Chris moves the harp much higher than what he had taken off the sides. Wouldn't that result in poor low dynamics responsiveness?

[@yellowman5334]

That is a good tip

[@januismer]

Ah ha! The missing tweak I've been waiting for!

[@stevenmayhew3944]

Get this: "escapement" also refers to the device used on pendulums on grandfather clocks and other clocks, and on spring-flywheel systems of portable windup clocks and watches, which is what times the gears precisely so that the clock does not "run away".

[@Keyboardman88]

Need to put out a tutorial on key leveling so all the keys are even

[@old-man-two-ears]

Yeah it shoudl be emphasized that the keys need to be perfectly level before doing what's in this video. Kinda hamfisted, to do such borad strokes without levelling keys, and evening out action. For instance the black keys are no where near level in this video. White's seem fine, but blacks are harder to level, but still important.