4 Reasons Why Rhodes Tines Break
The tine is part of the Asymmetric Tuning Fork, the “heart” of all Rhodes pianos tone generating mechanism. The Rhodes factory used to include a bag of spare tines with every Rhodes. The manufacturer realized this part is likely to break at some point.
What are the main reasons for tines breaking and can you avoid them?
1. Aggressive Playing
Hammers that hit tines too hard are the most common result for tines breaking. Make sure you have sufficient monitoring level, play comfortably.
2. Inconsistent Voicing
When some notes are lower in volume due to inconsistent voicing or defective pickups, players may try to compensate by playing harder. Consistent voicing is key to tines longevity.
3. Worn-out Tines
Tines that have been exposed to humid conditions are more likely to break.