1982 Fender Rhodes 73 Black

Offered for sale;

Used Fender Rhodes 73 electric piano serial number K797202. Our guess is it was born a Stage piano flat top and was put into an older suitcase cabinet.

There are a couple of details we haven’t sorted out. It is dated 1982 and has a flat top cover. But the control panel is from the curved top era. I’m sure a few Rhodes aficionados will have much to say about this. We’re listening.

What’s important is this piano is in very good condition recently serviced and fully functional.

Some background:

“The Rhodes piano (also known as the Fender Rhodes piano or simply Fender Rhodes or Rhodes) is an electric piano invented by Harold Rhodes, which became popular in the 1970s. Like a conventional piano, the Rhodes generates sound with keys and hammers, but instead of strings, the hammers strike thin metal tines, which vibrate between an electromagnetic pickup. The signal is then sent through a cable to an external keyboard amplifier and speaker.”

“The instrument evolved from Rhodes's attempt to manufacture pianos while teaching recovering soldiers during World War II. Development continued after the war and into the following decade. In 1959, Fender began marketing the Piano Bass, a cut-down version; the full-size instrument did not appear until after Fender's sale to CBS in 1965. CBS oversaw mass production of the Rhodes piano in the 1970s, and it was used extensively through the decade, particularly in jazz, pop, and soul music.”

“In 1987, the company was sold to Roland, which manufactured digital versions of the Rhodes without authorization from Harold Rhodes. In the 1990s, the instrument experienced a resurgence in popularity, resulting in Rhodes re-obtaining the rights to the piano in 1997. Although Harold Rhodes died in 2000, the Rhodes piano has since been reissued, and his teaching methods are still in use.”

Rhodes Mark II & III (1979-1983)

As a new decade was approaching, and at the height of the piano's popularity, CBS decided to put a new face on the Rhodes product line. The Rhodes Suitcase Piano was updated with a sleek black design, a removable music rack, and a flat harp cover for supporting an additional keyboard. Aside from these cosmetic enhancements, the "new" Suitcase pianos of 1979 were identical to the previous "Mark I" version.

This is a good example of a storied but clean, well-cared for Rhodes. Here you go!

“We carefully inspect every instrument when we buy it and bring it up to our standards before we offer it for sale.”

*Please note: we do our best giving descriptions of used pieces. We have found it impossible to describe every mark on an instrument or amp that is not in the "mint" category. Also, what's important to you may not be important to someone else. For example, you may say, "I don't care what it looks like as long as it plays or sounds well." Another person may say, "Body cosmetics are very important to me so tell me about every scratch, nick and blemish." So, please ask the questions that are most important to you. If you ask they will be answered. They are free and there's no limit. Additional photos can also be made available.

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