### CHAPTER TWO

### THE RHODES MODULAR ACTION

DAMPER RELEASE BAR

The Damper Release Bar (Figure 2-1, 22) provides a foot-activated mechanical means of disengaging all Dampers allowing all Tines to vibrate freely.

REFERENCE DESIGNATION

Front Guide Pin Felt Front Guide Pin Key Cap Key Balance Rail Felt Harp Support Tone Bar Assembly Mounting Spring Tone Bar Assembly Mounting Grommet Tone Bar Assembly Adjustment Screw Tone Generator Mounting Screw Tone Bar Tone Generator Assembly Tine Hammer Tip | Hammer Bridle Strap Damper Module Damper Felt Tuning Spring Pickup Assembly Pickup Adjustment Screw Damper Release Bar Damper Release Bar Pivot Pin Damper Release Bar Pivot Pin Locking Screw Damper Release Bar Felt Multiple Hammer Flange Key Pedestal Felt | Action Rail Mounting Screw Action Rail Harp Support-To-Action Rail Mounting Screw Damper Module Mounting Screw Push Rod Assembly Top Felt Push Rod Assembly Push Rod Assembly Balance Pivot Push Rod Assembly Bottom Felt Action Rail Mounting T-Nut Keybed Felt Key Pedestal

Figure 2-1. RHODES Modular Action - Single Key View

The Damper Release Bar is locked in place by two Pivot Pins (Figure 2-1, 23) which slide into two bushed holes provided in the aluminum Harp Supports (Figure 2-1, 6). These pins are held in place by two locking Screws (Figure 2-1, 24).

DAMPER PUSH ROD ASSEMBLY

The Damper Push Rod Assembly (Figure 2-1, 33) is a short length of wooden dowel capped on each end with felt and held in place by a sleeve built into the back structure of the Piano housing. Forced upward by the thrust of the Sustain Rod, it, in turn, pushes upward on the back surface of the Damper Release Bar causing its leading edge to bear downward on all of the Dampers thus disengaging them from the Tines. With the Dampers thus released, all Tines are now free to vibrate sympathetically with the struck tones as is the case with an acoustic piano. The difference becomes apparent when a comparison is made between the resultant sound of a chord where only those Dampers involved with a particular chord are released and then the sound of the same chord when all Dampers are released.

1. The Damper Push Rod, in its rest position, should bear solidly against the back surface of the Damper Release Bar. An ideal setting would be that where all play between the Damper Release Bar and the Damper Arms is removed. This can be accomplished by adding felt either to the top of the Push Rod or to the mating surface of the Damper Release Bar. Extreme care should be exercised to avoid possible disengagement of the Dampers. Conversely, it can be seen that excessive play or lag in the linkage will result in a loss of touch sensitivity by the foot.
2. SUITCASE PIANO ONLY:
   In its rest position, the bottom surface of the Push Rod should be reasonably flush with the outer surface of the bottom of the Piano. There is a slot on the top surface of the Sustain Rod providing screwdriver adjustment on the top of the Amplifier Enclosure.

DAMPER MODULE

The Damper Arms are now provided in fixed multiples of twelve known as Damper Modules (Figure 2-1, 17). This change was made to preclude the possibility of side shift in shipping and is the epitome of simplicity. It consists of tempered aluminum stamped into Modular configurations to accommodate the Damping requirements in Bass, Mid and Treble ranges (Figure 2-2).

Figure 2-2. RHODES Damper Modules - Bass, Mid & Treble Configurations

The Bass Damper Module is shortest with full width Arms to provide the strength and tension needed to properly damp the long Tines in the Bass area. Progressing up the Keyboard to the Treble, the Tines become shorter and therefore the Damper Modules are designed to provide graduated strength and tension according to the need throughout the range of the Keyboard. In keeping with the various damping requirements, the Damper Felts as well are designed to accommodate the three areas - the Bass with long, wide Felts; the Middle with Felts of medium length and width; and the Treble which uses short, narrow Felts.

ACTION RAIL

With the Damper Release Bar and the Damper Modules removed, the new Action Rail (Figure 2-1, 29) is revealed to be a sturdy, extremely accurate aluminum extrusion.

HARP SUPPORTS

The new Harp Supports (Figure 2-3, 9) are fabricated from heavy aluminum extrusions sturdy enough to hold the assembly in place undamaged by a direct six-foot drop.

MULTIPLE HAMMER FLANGE

The Hammer Flange (Figure 2-3, 18) is molded in multiples of twelve. This also was redesigned in this manner to preclude the possibility of side shift in shipping.

It should be noted that the Multiple Flanges are molded of a hard A. B. S. material with a 15% teflon content, thus providing lifetime lubrication.

REFERENCE DESIGNATION

Keybed Cheekblock Cheekblock Rear Mounting Screw Harp Support Mount- ing Screw Keybed Mounting Screw Captive-Washer Mount- ing Nut Harp Support-to-Action Rail Mounting Screw Washer Harp Support Nylon Pivot Bushing | Damper Release Bar Pivot Damper Release Bar Pivot Mounting Screw Damper Module Mounting Screw Damper Module Damper Felt Hammer Flange Mounting Screw Multiple Hammer Flange Hammer Hammer Tip | Action Rail Key Nameboard Mounting Screw Nameboard Key Cap Guide Pin Guide Pin Felt Cheekblock Front Mounting Screw

Figure 2-3. RHODES Modular Action - Exploded View

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