Custom Gold Fender Rhodes

Rent the only one of its kind in the world

 

The Ultimate Rhodes

This highly customized suitcase is the culmination of years of Rhodes expertise, combining the best of the best in Rhodes production and enhanced functionality.

Starting with a very desirable year of production, this unique Rhodes is equipped with a custom preamp designed for the Rhodes sound, giving it a wide spectrum of EQ to choose from while being remarkably quiet.

Check out Frank McComb making it sound incredible, and check him out at https://frankmccombmusic.com

Wildly Customized, One Of a Kind

Fully Restored, Far Better Than Factory Performance

Custom Preamp with Wide Array of EQ

Makes an Incredible Statement

Custom Gold Fender Rhodes

This Fender Rhodes Piano started its life off as an internally mint 1974 Suitcase model, in what many consider to be the golden era of Rhodes production.  It was refurbished to the highest caliber with the desire to make it the ultimate Rhodes.

Cosmetically, it was stripped down to bare wood and completely refinished.  The gold alligator tolex and floral fleur-de-lis grill cloths were sourced locally from the LA garment district.  The anodized metal parts were powder coated in gold, including the legs, pedal and name rail.  Gold Fender Rhodes logos adorn the front and back to complement the color.

The lid was professionally custom painted with color-changing sparkle paint, so that in varying lights, the lid can appear from green to brown on the color spectrum.  The custom preamp sports a custom gold face plate and tasteful knobs.  This Rhodes looks like no other, and sounds like no other piano.

Action, Keys, Harp, Voicing, Electronics and more

An incredible amount of work went into creating this unique instrument from the ground up.  Besides getting a full restoration, the cosmetic customizations took months.  Check out below to read about some of the work that went into making this killer Fender Rhodes Suitcase Piano.

Action and Keys

A Fender Rhodes is only as good as it feels.  The piano received the works for action treatment to make it a joy to play.

  • Key pedestal bump mod for light action

  • Key tops were recapped

  • Key dip was correctly set

  • Leveled the keys

  • Tightened key bushings

  • Adjusted damper felts for tight note-offs

Harp: Voicing, Position, Tune

The key to an amazing tone and dynamic response is to really dial in the Fender Rhodes harp.  Tone bar and pickup voicing, as well as the harp’s relation to the hammers, will make or break an ideal sound.

  • Escapement was correctly set for the instrument

  • The harp strike line was properly located – it wasn’t correct from the factory

  • New tone bar grommets for improved stability
  • Multiple voicing passes yielding a uniform tone and dynamic bark

  • Full tuning to equal temperament

Electronics

This custom Rhodes has a custom preamp paired with the nearly indestructible and highly powerful Janus-era Rhodes power amp.

  • EQ modeled after famous Eddy Reynolds sound
  • Smoother vibrato modeled after early Fender Rhodes pianos
  • Accessory jack placed after preamp gain stage to minimize effects pedal noise
  • Power amp rebuilt for reliability
  • 2 sets of Stereo ¼” outputs for monitors or signal sends
  • 4x 12″ Jensen C12-N speakers

Office Location

Los Angeles, CA 91406

Open Hours

Monday – Friday: 8am – 6pm PST
Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 5pm PST

Email

info@retrorentals.net