Replacing a Tine on a Fender Rhodes Piano

This is something every Rhodes owner will have to do sooner or later, and it's not even so hard at all. Some directions and precautions might be handy for the complete beginner so here goes.



1. Opening Up
First remove the hood and inspect the broken tine. Most often the broken off part will have stumbled down into the keybed, but it might as well stick to one of the pickups. Little less rattle is always welcome.


2. Removing the Tone Generator Assembly
Unscrew the tonebar screws together, not one first the other after. As the springs put upward pressure on the tone generators, you might damage the screw holes. Take very good care so as not to drop the springs underneath into the piano, because then we're even further from spaghetti.






3. Removing the Tine from the Tone Bar.
If you're in US or UK you will find something in your toolbox to unscrew the tine. In European standards however the key to use is in between number 8 and 9, so you better use an adjustable key in order not to damage tine screw. It's a very good idea to clamp the tine into a bank screw to avoid bending the tone bar.

It might help to soak it in WD-40 for a night, which also has the advantage of attacking the rust somewhat.




4. Cutting the New Tine
Most often, you will have to cut the tine to size. There is a cutting chart available to do this, which really is helpful. You do have some margin as the exact pitch is determined by the tuning spring on the tine. Sliding it towards the keys will give a higher pitch, sliding it towards the back of the piano will give a lower pitch. Better to cut it too long than too short, of course. If you loosen the pickup screw you can back up the pick up if it's too close or too far from the tine.

The cutting guide is here: http://www.fenderhordes.com/org/manual/fig6-2.gif

Just snap it to size with a pair of cutters. However, if the one you're using doesn't seem to do it, look for one with longer handles before anything else.





http://www.fenderhordes.com


5. Mounting the Tone Generator
Tighten the tine to the tone bar and put the rubber grommets on the springs. Put them through the holes in the tone bar from the upside (where the number is stamped on). Mount the springs from below so they rest on the wood. Now you can gently tighten the screws each in turn a little bit.






6. Final Adjustments
Tuning: move the tuning spring on the tine towards the keys for raising the pitch, towards the end of the tine for raising it.



Volume: moving the pickup closer to the tine end will increase volume, backing it of will result in volume decrease



Overtone: In order to have proper Rhodes overtones (key to the sound) the tine ends should be a little above the pickup's center, as shown in the illustration