Bristol Rhodes

This instrument does not require much introduction. This emulation is
the DX-7 voiced synth providing a few electric piano effects. The design is
a Mark-1 Stage-73 that the author has, and the emulation is reasonable if not
exceptional. The Rhodes has always been widely used, Pink Floyd on 'Money',
The Doors on 'Riders on the Storm', Carlos Santana on 'She's not There',
everybody else in the 60's.

The Rhodes piano generated its sound using a full piano action keyboard where
each hammer would hit a 'tine', or metal rod. Next to each rod was a pickup
coil as found on a guitar, and these would be linked together into the output.
The length of each tine defined its frequency and it was tunable using a tight
coiled spring that could be moved along the length of the tine to adjust its
moment. The first one was built mostly out of aircraft parts to amuse injured
pilots during the second world war. The Rhodes company was eventually sold to
Fender and lead to several different versions, the Mark-2 probably being the
most widely acclaimed for its slightly warmer sound.

There is not much to explain regarding functionality. The emulator has a volume
and bass control, and one switch that reveals the memory buttons and algorithm
selector.

The Rhodes would improve with the addition of small amounts of either reverb
or chorus, potentially to be implemented in a future release.

The Rhodes Bass was cobbled together largely for a presentation on Bristol.
It existed and was used be Manzarek when playing with The Doors in
Whiskey-a-GoGo; the owner specified that whilst the music was great they
needed somebody playing the bass. Rather than audition for the part Manzarek
went out and bought a Rhodes Bass and used it for the next couple of years.


	<< prev Fender Rhodes Stage-73 (-rhodes\|-rhodesbass) (1965\|1959) next >> This instrument does not require much introduction. This emulation is the DX-7 voiced synth providing a few electric piano effects. The design is a Mark-1 Stage-73 that the author has, and the emulation is reasonable if not exceptional. The Rhodes has always been widely used, Pink Floyd on 'Money', The Doors on 'Riders on the Storm', Carlos Santana on 'She's not There', everybody else in the 60's. The Rhodes piano generated its sound using a full piano action keyboard where each hammer would hit a 'tine', or metal rod. Next to each rod was a pickup coil as found on a guitar, and these would be linked together into the output. The length of each tine defined its frequency and it was tunable using a tight coiled spring that could be moved along the length of the tine to adjust its moment. The first one was built mostly out of aircraft parts to amuse injured pilots during the second world war. The Rhodes company was eventually sold to Fender and lead to several different versions, the Mark-2 probably being the most widely acclaimed for its slightly warmer sound. There is not much to explain regarding functionality. The emulator has a volume and bass control, and one switch that reveals the memory buttons and algorithm selector. The Rhodes would improve with the addition of small amounts of either reverb or chorus, potentially to be implemented in a future release. The Rhodes Bass was cobbled together largely for a presentation on Bristol. It existed and was used be Manzarek when playing with The Doors in Whiskey-a-GoGo; the owner specified that whilst the music was great they needed somebody playing the bass. Rather than audition for the part Manzarek went out and bought a Rhodes Bass and used it for the next couple of years.
Bristol is in no way associated with the original manufacturer, neither do they endorse this product. Bristol is free software. Bristol carries no logo.