For sale, a 1973 FenderRhodes Mk I Suitcase 88 Super Satellite in excellent condition, complete with the speaker cab pair, sustain pedal and legs. Fully serviced by Synapse Audio Systems, this is the rarest of the Mk I Fender Rhodes iterations. The Super Satellite system is essentially a Stage 88 outfitted with the Peterson active preamp and paired with two 2x12 speaker cabinets (one Master, one Slave), for an ideal stage or studio setup.

Fresh from Synapse Audio Systems, servicing on this Rhodes includes all new grommets and hammer tips as well as a full recap of the electronics. The keys are level, with escapement and strike line ideally set. The sound is warm, dynamic, and the perfect blend of midrange fullness and top end chime. This piano has been professionally voiced, with smooth transitions from the lower, growly bass octaves to the bell-like notes in the highest registers.

The original key bushings are in excellent shape, and the keys have a smooth, responsive action. The earliest 88 key Mk I pianos have the wood/plastic hybrid hammers that were retired by mid '75. These hammers strike with more authority than the later all-plastic style and were a significant upgrade in terms of longevity over the earlier all wood hammers, while still retaining the feel and overall purpose of their predecessors.

The Peterson preamp is freshly serviced and the stereo vibrato is lush and smooth, with a nice range in the Speed/Intensity stacked knob. Widely considered to be the best of the three Rhodes designs, the Peterson preamp boasts gain and EQ controls which add additional tonal flexibility, while the tonal color of the preamp is central to the Fender Rhodes Mk I sound. The piano has been paired with a pair of Rhodes Satellite cabs from 1976, The power amp has a very low noise floor, and the Schumacher transformers date between late 1975 and early '76. The piano comes with a brand new long 4-pin cable and speaker cabinet for connecting the Master and Slave cabinets.

The harp itself is clean with some light oxidation on the tonebars and frame, retaining the original pickups, tonebars, and tines. The gold Rhodes label is intact, along with the 1973 date stamp in the upper right corner of the harp. The original stacked knobs are intact on the control plate, and both the small "Fender Rhodes" logo on the namerail and the "Eighty Eight" raised text on the rounded plastic harp cover are present, along with the larger Rhodes badge on the back of the piano which shows some scuffing.

The piano retains its original smooth black tolex which is remarkably clean, and there is a small piece of wood missing on the back left corner of the piano. The curved black plastic harp cover is also original. Stock hardware includes the handles, latches, corners, leg flanges and sphinx glides (feet), all of which show light surface patina.

This Fender Rhodes Mk I 88 Super Satellite piano was the flagship of the Rhodes line, boasting an active preamp, stereo vibrato and a dual speaker cabinet complement. The piano is complete with its original legs and sustain pedal.

This description was from the previous seller. Nothing has changed and the unit has not been un-packed, set up or used since received.