Producing a sound that became inseparable
from the jazz, rock, and pop music of the
seventies, the Rd I is now practically
synonymous with the electric piano. Over the
years, the resonator used in this piano has
changed from stiff wire to rod or metal plate
as the hammer transitioned from felt to
rubber. Meanwhile, technological advances
in the circuits and other components used in
pre-amplifiers paved the way for many
different variations of this instrument, each
producing a sound that became symbolic of
the corresponding period. In addition to
recreating the ambiance of the Rd I pianos of
a number of different time periods, the CP1
also features two-band tone control in
combination with an auto-pan effect having
unique, natural-sounding modulation and
controllable speed and depth.
The latter half of the seventies saw remarkable progress in making instruments louder in response to the demands of the times. A child of this
period, the Rd II electric piano employed the latest advances in technology to realize a unique, brilliant sound that was free of distortion even at
high volumes. With plastic replacing wood in this instrument's action, furthermore, it was possible to achieve timbral colors that were brighter and
more suited to pop than those of the Rd I. Also in this period, piano sounds with boosted high frequencies also became increasingly popular, as
did the practice of customizing pre-amps in order to achieve this tone. In response, a number of modification kits appeared on the market. The
CP1 expertly reproduces both the clear sound of the Rd II and the brighter, harder sound achieved through Dyno-type customization of the original
pre-amp. Each of these two piano types also features two-band tone control, allowing the Rd II to sound more solid; the Dyno, more metallic.
71Rd I, 73Rd I, 75Rd I
Rd I
78Rd II, Dyno
Rd II
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