1980 RHODES MARK 2 STAGE PIANO EIGHTY-EIGHT
REBUILT AND RESTORED

Sourced from the warehouse of a legendary East Texas instrument dealer, this keyboard came to me half functioning. This board had a handful of cigarette (or jazz cigarette) burns on the keys so you know it was played and loved back in the day. The plastic harp cover lid also has some small scratches and markings on it up close but looks great from a few feet away.

This is the real mama jama - a full eighty-eight key Mark 2 with wood keys, gotta love it! Looks like a mean keyboard from outer space with the ridged flat top hard cover. I love Mark 2’s because they look rad and the flat top is perfect for stacking synths or fx pedals on top of. A full sized one would be perfect in service of a studio, touring act, serious musician, or collector of vintage instruments. I did my absolute best to bring out the resonance of every note on this one. It plays very well and sounds great.

This boards largest issue was dying pickups due to improper storage (this was in non climate controlled storage hold for an unknown amount of time). All dead pickups were replaced with great condition Mark 2 white tape pickups for tonal continuity.

Additionally the gold-ish / yellow Zinc electroplating on the harp frame (the metal frame that holds all the tines, tone bars and pickups in place) had largely corroded, as it was intended to do. The Zinc corrodes first so the iron does not. I looked around for an electroplating facility in this neck of the woods with no luck. An engineering backgrounded family member had suggested powder-coating it at his buddies shop which would certainly halt any further corrosion. I sanded it smooth before powder coating it black. We left small strips of the frame raw for the aluminum tape grounding strips to contact and padded the contact point with strips of zinc to further reduce any galvanic reaction between the aluminum tape and iron frame. The gloss black looks very slick and no one will appreciate it because its hidden under the harp cover in use, but you’ll know its there and will not corrode into the future!

This keyboard has been torn down and completely rebuilt over the course of a few months. Service and restoration services performed include:

• Interior and exterior cleaning

• New black F-style tolex and case hardware

• Cabinet reinforcement with new staples

• Custom black powder coating of harp frame

• Polishing of legs and flanges

• Stretch tuning and voicing

• Key pin polishing

• Key leveling and lubrication

• Light key easing

• Replacement of 32 dead white tape pickups with period correct pickups

• Pickup and tone bar polishing

• Replacement of select dead tines with period correct tines

• Select new bridle straps

• Select new period correct hammers

• New tone bar screws and grommets

• New damper felts

• New pedestal felts

• New balance rail felts

• New front rail felts

• New rear rail felts

• New name rail felt

• Name rail shim

• Sourced a Mark II control dial name plate that looks brand new

• New RCA jack

• New Vintage Vibe control electronics and name plate

• New Vintage Vibe name rail logo and case logo

• Added keyframe support screws through bottom of case for durability and keyframe stability

• Includes reproduction Vintage Vibe sustain pedal and rod

• Includes hand stitched denim leg and pedal bag

See the video demo below for sound examples. Audio was captured directly off the passive preamp circuitry of the Rhodes straight to a Universal Audio Arrow with no further processing or unison preamp settings. Don’t judge my jazz notes too much as I’ve been playing way more guitar these days!

For inquiries about servicing or purchasing a Rhodes,
please contact me at rhodesrescue@geoffreymutchnik.com

1980 Rhodes Mark II (SN: 759538)

• Condition: Restored vintage

• Full cosmetic restoration, full internal restoration, miracle mod, updated electronics

• Original legs and cross bars

• Includes new reproduction sustain pedal, sustain rod, and cross bar knob

• Includes hand stitched denim leg bag and pedal travel bag

• This piano is being sold as-is and comes with no warranty as it is a vintage instrument

Shipping & Delivery:

• This keyboard is currently located in East Texas. I’m happy to hand deliver to the purchaser from Texas to Tennessee.

• Insured freight shipping can be discussed at buyers expense

• Piano will be shipped within 96 hours of payment clearing

• Seller is not responsible for any damages incurred during shipping

• Insurance is required for freight

Inspection and Returns:

• Buyer is encouraged to inspect and test the piano before purchase (local pickup only). I’ve done my best to take ample high quality pictures, video demo and describe the condition of this piano so as not to mislead any buyer. I want you to be happy with this new instrument!

• This item is sold as-is. No returns or refunds will be accepted. If something is not to your liking I will do my very best to remedy the situation at delivery.

Feel free to send this private listing to anyone who may be interested.

I also have a 1975 Rhodes Mark I Seventy-Three available.

Thanks for stopping by!