Building a splitter for a Fender Rhodes

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Torea

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Hey all, this is my first post here.

I'm in need of advice for building a splitter for a Fender Rhodes keyboard.

A bit of background, my dad has a Fender Rhodes Stage 73 electric piano from 1972. Although he got a few mods quite a while back, he never got stereo outs, to allow for panning and vibrato tricks like the later models of Rhodes. So, instead of splurging for a pro mod, we decided we'd like to have some fun and experiment with making our own splitter.

So basically, we'd like to make a split from the normal mono out into stereo (easy enough with a Y) and then be able to do panning and/or vibrato types of effects (I have no clue how to do that). Also, we'd like this to be an external box/mod so that we don't have to risk damaging the piano.

Thanks for the help
 
I built a crude splitter box - it's the same thing as a Y cable... maybe a little more rugged. What do you want to be able to do that a Y cable wouldn't be good enough for?

Also, I have an Ibanez stereo chorus stomp box that is mono in stereo out. It sounds good to me. That's another way to split the signal. Stereo chorus would probably be the main effect most people want on Rhodes.

If you split the signal you'll have two identical mono signals and of course it won't sound stereo until one is different than the other.
 
I'm looking for the ability to plug into two speakers and pan between them. For example, taking two speaker cabs and having the signal pan between them in that bouncing, vibrato-ish sound.

I did consider a stereo chorus effect box, saying as my dad really liked the sound of the chorus on the Rhodes. But it'd also be nice to have a clean vibrato sound too.

Now that I think about it, I guess what I want to make a stereo tremolo or vibrato unit. I could buy one, but I'd like to try to make one =/
 
I think the easiest solution would be to make a stereo pedalboard. You could even make all the stompboxes if you want.
 
guitarplayr82 said:
I think the easiest solution would be to make a stereo pedalboard. You could even make all the stompboxes if you want.
Click to expand...

Any tips on where to find info on making stereo effects? I've looked around and found a lot of stuff but nothing really stereo, except for people just making two of the same signal.
 
Torea said:
Any tips on where to find info on making stereo effects? I've looked around and found a lot of stuff but nothing really stereo, except for people just making two of the same signal.
Click to expand...

Hmm... this is the closest thing I've found, but this looks like you'd just be mixing the output to stereo... http://www.tonepad.com/project.asp?id=8

It might just be best to buy your stereo pedals and make your mono pedals.
 
guitarplayr82 said:
Hmm... this is the closest thing I've found, but this looks like you'd just be mixing the output to stereo... http://www.tonepad.com/project.asp?id=8

It might just be best to buy your stereo pedals and make your mono pedals.
Click to expand...

Actually, I just dug through their Build Reports and someone mentioned a way to keep the stereo output on even when the chorus effect is off. That might be helpful, unfortunately no one posted how to do it.
 
if the Rhodes is an old mono model you're not really gonna be able to 'split' it into two signals.
So basically you're looking at using any stereo fx that will take a mono signal.
And the stereo Rhodes weren't really stereo either. The simply had the vibrato taking the Rhodes signal and 'making' it stereo exactly like you'll get using any stereo fx pedal or rackmount.
If you want to try and duplicate the Rhodes tremelo you'll be talking about something like a VooDoo Labs Micro Vibe or any Univibe type clone.
There's lots of sites with info on building your own so you can go that route.
As for modding the Rhodes ..... I'm a piano tuner so I know how they're built and I don't see any way to do that .... they have a single magnetic p'up per tine.
 
Lt. Bob said:
if the Rhodes is an old mono model you're not really gonna be able to 'split' it into two signals.
So basically you're looking at using any stereo fx that will take a mono signal.
And the stereo Rhodes weren't really stereo either. The simply had the vibrato taking the Rhodes signal and 'making' it stereo exactly like you'll get using any stereo fx pedal or rackmount.
If you want to try and duplicate the Rhodes tremelo you'll be talking about something like a VooDoo Labs Micro Vibe or any Univibe type clone.
There's lots of sites with info on building your own so you can go that route.
As for modding the Rhodes ..... I'm a piano tuner so I know how they're built and I don't see any way to do that .... they have a single magnetic p'up per tine.
Click to expand...


Ok, thanks for the info. I'll keep an eye out for stuff like that while digging through the web. I never really thought of using the Micro Vibe even though I almost bought one for my guitar a few years back haha.
Just for clarification, by modding the Rhodes, I meant adding an output on the front, not messing with the pickups.

Thanks again for all the information from everyone. I don't really think I knew exactly what I was asking for in my first post but I feel like everyone's input has guided me in the right direction :D
 
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