Rhodes Mk.8 MIDI: A Classic Embraces Modernity – Review
5,0 / 5,0 | 
The Rhodes Mk.8 in itself was a glorious comeback of one of the all-time classic instruments. Now with MIDI, you may no longer need another keyboard on stage.
When Rhodes Music emerged in the heart of West Yorkshire, few people thought that they would recapture the glory of the Rhodes Electric Piano, an instrument so unique and revered that its very brand name has become ubiquitous with the electric piano.
The Rhodes Mk.8 Review
Key Highlights
- Exceptional build quality
- Fantastic on-board Pre-Amp and FX
- Superb MIDI Implementation
- The play and feel you only get from a real Rhodes piano
The Rhodes Mk.8 and Its Inception
Fronted up by Dan Goldman, a brilliant Rhodes performer as well as a dab hand at restoring old classics, some of us in the industry saw a glimmer of promise in the new Rhodes Music company and its lofty ambitions. If anyone was to resurrect this most sacred of brands, it had to be Dan.
We were teased with videos, tours of the factory, and details of how they were going about bringing this new, eighth chapter of this stalwart to life. I recall interviewing Dan for my own YouTube channel at the time, and the passion and enthusiasm dripped out of the screen.
Dan’s passion for the Rhodes and his deep-seated commitment to building the instrument in Leeds, supported by local businesses for many of the parts, was admirable. But if there wasn’t a manufacturer in Leeds for certain parts, such as the keys, they would source the very best from elsewhere. In that particular case, they went to the company that makes the keys for Steinway Pianos!
It was evident from the outset that this was going to be a premium product. Rhodes pianos are a bit like sports cars. Enthusiasts know all too well which models are the best ones. They can tell you which model of Rhodes has the crappiest keyboard, the sweetest tone, the most playable action, and so on.
What Dan and his team set out to do was to ensure that the Rhodes Mk.8 was going to be the best in every aspect. And having now been hands-on with one, I can say with a decent degree of authority that they have most definitely ticked every box.
Getting My Hands on the Rhodes Mk.8
The unit arrived with me by courier and it’s a good job I had a sturdy goods trolley to move it into my studio space. It came double boxed, incredibly well packed and took my son and me to extract it and set it up. It comes with a stand that is very simple to assemble but requires adjustment to fit your piano.
I found this out early on when we tried to place the Rhodes Mk.8 on the stand. I hadn’t fully extended the base width-wise and didn’t notice until I started playing. The lowest note made a concerning and highly audible rattle. At first, I thought i had broken it, and then realised that one end of the piano, the end where this key was, was sitting higher. It was at this point that I noticed my error and soon fixed it! Phew!
First Impressions
On first impressions, the Rhodes Mk.8 cuts a familiar figure. There is no mistaking what this thing is. The unit supplied for review had all the effects processors built in and came in the standard black and chrome finish. You can, of course, spec your Rhodes Mk.8 up with or without the FX and in a variety of colours and materials to suit your preference.
But the first thing that hits you about the Rhodes Mk.8 is that it is very much a highly engineered, premium instrument. It was designed and built to do its thing well. Incredibly well. Every aspect of the build is exquisite. The quality and attention to detail is instantly obvious. You definitely know where your money has gone.
The reason that I had been offered the opportunity to review the Rhodes Mk.8 was the introduction of MIDI. But before I explored that, I simply wanted to play with the piano as a standalone instrument. My keyboard playing chops are limited at best, but as soon as you lay your hands on the keyboard, you somehow feel empowered by the sheer class and feel of the thing.
Playing the Rhodes Mk.8
Exploring the nuances immediately delivers so many chuckles of appreciation. I am by no means a Rhodes player, but I do love instruments that facilitate and promote expression, and my word, getting familiar with the way you can make a Rhodes burble and then bark simply by how hard you play the keys is just pure joy. I’m even smiling about it now.
Playing around with the pre-amp, EQ and Vari-Pan adds further icing to the cake. Everything feels immediate, rewarding and hugely satisfying. It is very easy to dial in your sound and tweak where necessary. The controls are buttery smooth and the resolution is high enough to be very precise with your settings.
The same can be said for the effects section. You get a compressor, a chorus, a phaser and a delay, all with dual controls for rate and depth, or in the case of the delay, time and feedback and for the compressor, blend and ratio. Once again, it brings a huge smile to the face to be able to very quickly dial in the right setting to deliver that specific tone.
The Rhodes piano was, at the outset, designed to be an affordable alternative to real pianos, but it very soon became its own instrument, delivering something so pleasing to the ear that a real piano can’t achieve. It carved its own niche and has remained a stalwart and unique instrument ever since. The Rhodes Mk.8, with its built-in FX and sound-shaping, it the ultimate Rhodes piano. It truly transcends every previous version.
MIDI
But of course, the rather unique feature of this version is the introduction of MIDI. A strange addition to such an individual instrument, but when you think about it, a stroke of genius. I grew up watching people like Stevie Wonder and Mike Lindup playing Rhodes pianos with Minimoogs or Prophet 5s precariously sat atop the lid with its gentle but noticeable camber.
If the Rhodes is an essential part of your rig, it should be able to live within a wider number of instruments, and this is exactly what the inclusion of MIDI brings. Now, you can leave your hardware in a much safer stand and play them directly from your Rhodes, benefiting from its exquisite action and weighting.
Furthermore, in a world where computers and plugins are now as ubiquitous on stage as they are in the studio, you can set up an entire Mainstage set list, and simply bring your Rhodes Mk.8 as your sole controller. No more wobbly, top-mounted synths and a far better playing experience.
But it isn’t just the convenience of using your Rhodes Mk.8 as a controller that comes from the fitting of MIDI. Because the MIDI connectivity is delivered over USB, as well as a separate 5-pin MIDI out, the communication is two-way. The supplied application is able to monitor key positions with a high degree of resolution. You even get polyphonic aftertouch!
And yes, you can now control almost all of the front panel FX and pre-amp settings from within the application. One of the very few things you can’t do over MIDI is have something else trigger the Rhodes note on/note off. No Wild West punch-card style piano playing here! But to be able to control as much as you can, via MIDI, is a real bonus, not least in a studio environment.
I’m not a gigging keys player, but if I were, and the Rhodes Mk.8 was a core part of my rig, I could see the MIDI functionality being incredibly beneficial. However, if you don’t require MIDI, which does add £1,299 to the price, you can specify your Rhodes Mk.8 without it.
My Thoughts
There is no doubt that the Rhodes Mk.8 is the ultimate expression of everything a Rhodes could and should be. It is, first and foremost, a premium quality instrument. It is also a big commitment, both in terms of its physicality and its cost. But at no point did I ever feel that it didn’t justify the investment. The love, care and workmanship that has been invested in it is self-evident. You are buying the Ferrari of electric pianos. No question.
The sound is unique. There is nothing quite like playing a Rhodes because a plugin will never give you that immediate and visceral feedback you get. You feel the vibrations, the control is detailed and instant and hearing the mechanics is all part and parcel of the Rhodes experience, and you just don’t get that in software.
That said, I am not a player. I am not a gigging musician nor will I ever be, so I won’t be buying one of these for myself. But I do miss that physical bond and will jump behind one at any given opportunity. And for those of us who crave the sound, but lack the playing skills, budget and/or space, Rhodes does a fantastic plugin version!
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The unique sound and feel you only get from hardware
- Exceptional build quality
- Superb MIDI implementation
- Fantastic on-board FX
Cons
- It’s a heavy beast. Roadies beware!
- Can be perceived as cost-prohibitive
- Care required when moving and setting up
- Did I say it was heavy?
Price and Availability
You can order your Rhodes Mk.8 direct from Rhodes Music. Lead time is, at the time of going to press, around 3-6 months. Enough time for you to clear a space and pacify your bank manager/significant other! But when it does arrive, you will not regret one single penny that you handed over. Prices start at £7,999 for custom versions, but pre-configured units are also available from our affiliate partner!
Software versions are also available!
*Note: This article contains advertising links that help us pay for this site. Don’t worry: the price for you will always be the same! If you buy something through these links, we will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!
This might also interest you
One response to “Rhodes Mk.8 MIDI: A Classic Embraces Modernity – Review”
Who’s paying that amount for a Rhodes, midi or not… ? Totally ridiculous imho.