Quote:

How is it that the DX7 piano is considered to be naff (does "naff" translate ok?) but the Rhodes piano, which is just as ubiquitous, is still cool?

Just wondering ...

ROG.



Cuz da Rhodes be FUNKY.

And, there is not just one Rhodes sound.

First there is the "when". The knowledgable and accomplished Rhodes player can tell you which era the piano was built and marketed by the sound of the doggone thing. They are different.

Then there is the mods and customization, as well. Studios still will tout that they have a certain era Rhodes that is either full stock or modified, and there have become more accepted mods over the years, as well as one particular mod, the good "Dyno-My" mod, with the harp shifter, that is getting rather pricey if you are looking for such.

And then there's the hammers, the original rubber covered hammers have one sound, think vintage Ray Charles, the same era piano can be made to sound a LOT different simply by changing over to Rosewood or Maple hammers. Ditto for each era model of the Rhodes, as well.

Ray Charles

George Duke

Richard Tee (!)

Chic Corea

Donald Fagen (who famously always uses an MXR Dyna-Comp between his Rhodes and amp)

Virtuosos of the Rhodes piano, yet each gets a completely distinctive and instantly recognizable sound, something that I think is the epitomy of the Jazz player, regardless of instrument.

Consider that all of the above would sound rather identically bad on a DX7, in comparison.

It is simply not a very rich sound, and that sound is rather static. A DX7 driven through various effects units still sounds like -- a DX7 piano.

Klang, Blang, Klang...

Expressionless.


--Mac

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