Want a quick rhodes fix?

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airloom
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Want a quick rhodes fix?

Post by airloom » Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:54 am

I've had a rhodes for a long time, and I've just recently gotten sick of the action, and how bad it hurts my damn hands between songs.

What I did was put teflon powder on the felt bushings (3 of them), and on the key pedestal felt (the felt on the end of the key that pushes the hammer up.

This is where I got my teflon powder:
http://www.spurlocktools.com/id39.htm
The dudes there were very nice, and shipped it that day.
I purchased my brushes at the local art supply store.
I got one broad brush, and one finer brush, but I really only used the fine brush. Make sure to get natural hair brushes instead of a brush made out of synthetic polymers.

Also, a SAFETY PRECAUTION: I wore gloves and a face mask AND had an air purifier running right next to me. Inhaling particulate matter is always nasty, and the fact that it's teflon is no better.

Once you take off the name rail, the keys just lift right out.
Just lift the key at the front, and pull it out being careful not to hurt the hammer/damper assembly.

This is what it should look like.
I took off the harp, but you don't really need to.
Image

This is the bushing under the key:
You don't need to put as much teflon in these bushings as you do the key pedestal.
Image

This is the key pedestal:
Image
I coated it liberally with the teflon powder.
I probably should have replaced the felt on these, but the teflon improved the action significantly.

All in all, this probably took me 2 hours.
It greatly improved the action of the piano.

Next, I'm going to adjust the timbre of the piano.

I hope someone finds this shit useful.
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i am monster face
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Post by i am monster face » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:19 am

Wow. Thank you very much. That's really cool.

Ian

Alex Netick
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Post by Alex Netick » Sun Dec 30, 2007 10:19 am

Cool. Thanks for posting.

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rongineer
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Post by rongineer » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:27 am

very cool. It's time for me to do some maintenance.

dirtdog
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Post by dirtdog » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:38 am

You want to come do that to my girlfriend's two pianos?

airloom
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Post by airloom » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:53 am

I think it would be important to evaluate the need for new felts.
If there is very little felt left, you should re-felt because the teflon is worthless without felt to get into.
In regards to dirtdog's question: no.
Her rhodes with the white tolex is badass.
I wouldn't change anything about it.
Maybe I'll do it to her mark 2.
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rjd2
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Post by rjd2 » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:34 pm

thanks for this. on the subject, i have had good results from also:

1-take flathead screwdriver
2-stick it in the felt bushing hole, flat side against the felt
3-rub back and forth on both sides

one of my wurlys was really gummy, this helped.

question for you-do you know if there is a liquid that could do the same thing? cause i encounter this issue on synth bushings, which are rubber, and i would love a solution that wouldnt make me really paranoid about particles and shit.

airloom
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Post by airloom » Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:03 pm

I don't know about a liquid on the rubber.
I wouldn't think it would be an ok deal.
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lg
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Post by lg » Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:30 pm

this is excellent. thanks.

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b3groover
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Post by b3groover » Thu Jan 03, 2008 8:29 am

I've used a silicon spray with similar results. Test it first to make sure it doesn't react with the plastic hammers (if you have plastic hammers).
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japmn
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Post by japmn » Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:59 pm

b3groover wrote:I've used a silicon spray with similar results. Test it first to make sure it doesn't react with the plastic hammers (if you have plastic hammers).
+1 but use a lot.

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