All user reviews for the Fender Rhodes Mark I Suitcase Piano

What thing do you like most/least about it?
The best thing about the Fender Rhodes in my opinion is the tone. It is a very unique keyboard that's been a favorite of all kinds of musicians for decades. It's got a rich, fat sound that is different from an acoustic piano, mainly because the hammers strike tines instead of actual strings. The sound has more of a bell-like quality than a Wurlitzer. 

Did you try many other models before getting this one?
I didn't try any other models when looking for this. There's really nothing to compare it to unless it's replicating the sound of this instrument, in which case it's not worth it, because nothing I've heard does an accurate job. Lesser men will say that a Wurlitzer is better or that the Rhodes sounds like a Wurlitzer but the tone is so different in my mind that they aren't really comparable. 

What is your opinion about the value for the price?
Honestly, the instrument is the only one of its kind, so finding a good deal on it is definitely the way to go. There's not a whole lot of other options out there, and if you know you want the Rhodes, you have to get one eventually. I've seen them go for about $2,000, which in my mind is totally worth it. 

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice?...
I would absolutely make the same choice again if I had to. 

Precision and quality of the sound?
The sound is arguably my favorite keyboard sound; it's rich, smooth and "creamy". It's definitely got more of a ringing, bell-like quality than the Wurlitzer, and it usually is less dirty than that keyboard. This can change when it is played through an amp, which also gives it a great tone that's distinct from going through a DI. Through a Fender amp the tone gets a little crunchier, which some players prefer. It's definitely great for jazz (especially fusion and jazz from that era, mid-to-late 1970s), R&B, and even rock; Steely Dan used it a lot on their recordings. It's been used by Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and countless others. You've definitely heard it on many recordings, whether you realized it or not. I can't say enough about how great it is, it's one of a kind. 

I've been using the Fender Rhodes '73 electric piano for about five years. While not every studio or keyboard player has one, when I have access to one I will always try to use it when recording. Those who are familiar with this electric piano know its wonders and know what it can do. The Fender Rhodes is a classic electric piano, sought after by most when choosing an electric piano. The tone is unique and very rich. You can use the tremolo to get more of a wavy sound, or you can also get a bell like tone as well. The general sound is unique, but you can compare it to a Wurlitzer electric piano, but both have distant tones within the the electric piano setting. I have used this both for recording and for playing live, both with great results. It sounds great through an external speaker cabinet, but sounds fine when playing through the built in speaker, if your model has one. The price for a reissue of one of these is quite reasonable, but is comparable to that of a used vintage one, which I would recommend over the newer ones. It is built sturdy and has the Fender seal, which has become synonymous with making high quality instruments. It also looks great, and the keys have an awesome feel to them. It is easy to play, as the keys aren't too heavy and aren't too light. Whenever I play it I feel like I'm getting good results because of how easy it is to play and how great the sound is. If you are a keyboard player and you don't know about the Fender Rhodes by you should definitley try one out as you will fall in love! Great for all types of music including rock, pop, and jazz. The Fender Rhodes Suitcase '73 has become classic instrument in modern Western music and is used worldwide for all types of genres and situations.