Rhodes rebrands for ‘new generations of artists’

The news was shared by the company’s new chairperson, Matt Pelling, in an online statement. Pelling said the company would aim to continue the mission of its founder, Harold Rhodes, by developing the highest quality musical instruments.

“The Rhodes brand exists because of the unmistakable sound of our keyboards and our incredibly loyal fanbase,” the statement reads. “Love for Rhodes electric pianos has created extensive online communities of passionate owners and enthusiasts, which we celebrate.”

The company will maintain Rhodes’ heritage while “future-proofing the Rhodes brand for new generations of artists, with an evolving suite of beautifully designed, lovingly made and inspirational music products.”

The new management has not revealed what new instruments and products it plans to manufacture. Its new website is currently inviting those interested to pre-register for early access and updates.

The Rhodes piano, also known as the Fender Rhodes piano after it was acquired by Fender, became popular in the 1970s. In 1987, Rhodes was sold to Roland, which manufactured digital versions of the piano without permission from Harold Rhodes, before he re-obtained the rights to the piano in 1997.

Meanwhile, Native Instruments has released Piano Colors, the latest addition to its range of Kontakt-based instruments. The new product “reimagines the sonic capabilities of a grand piano by combining a curated library of samples, recorded with a range of extended playing techniques, with truly state-of-the-art modulation features,” Native Instruments said.