Fender Rhodes LA

Fender Rhodes Piano Service in Los Angeles, CA






Why Do Fender Rhodes Piano Tines break?

The Rhodes piano tine is part of the Sound Generating Fork. New Fender Rhodes pianos sold in the 1970's-1980's were usually shipped with a bag of spare Fender Rhodes Piano Tines. The manufacturer was aware that this is the most common part to break.

One reason the tines break is because of aggressive playing. A Hammer that hits the tine too hard will eventually break it. A Fender Rhodes Piano that is not voiced properly will have a difference in sound, timbre and volume for different notes. When a note is lower in volume, the player will unconsciously try to compensate for that, resulting in some keys being hit too hard. It’s important to keep a well-tuned and voiced piano in order to avoid breaking tines.

Another reason for Tines to break is oxygenation and rust that sometimes weakens the material.

An important tip for stage performers especially is to always have enough stage level to be able to play comfortably. If you feel you need more volume, increase the volume as needed, and avoid breaking tines.