“The Masterpiece” Vintage Rhodes Chroma

via this auction

SN 21030828

"This beloved, historically significant keyboard has been carefully upgraded in 1986 at the CBS Fender Rhodes factory where they replaced the power supply and new eproms, and again in 2009 by Steve "Doc" Hickerson, a factory authorized Chroma technician who put in a brand new, completely redesigned power supply and brought the keyboard to like new spec. Doc has worked on Chroma's since they were introduced. He has a reputation for experienced, knowledgable, excellent work and has been trusted by a list of famous performers, to include Eric Clapton.

This is my 2nd Chroma. I purchased the first in June of 1983 at Music Sound World in Tulsa, Oklahoma where I was writing music for the soundtrack of “The Masterpiece” (Called Toymaker’s Dream back then).

In 1984 CBS/Fender sent me a brand new (improved edition) Chroma, with the latest version of their upgrades and fixes. This is the one is the one being sold here.

Back then, the Rhodes Chroma was a REVELATION! It put million dollar sound technology at the touch of our fingers for a mere $5600. Amazing.

By today's standards it's still well specified. It was the only open architecture, multi-voiced, portable synth commercially available with a weighted keyboard and a programmable Expander (not included) that allowed for layering performances and sequencing those performances on a computer (before MIDI). I ran this one on an Apple IIE for awhile with MasterTracks 8 channel software and it performed perfectly.

We finished the soundtrack for “The Masterpiece” and I recorded a solo album with it 1985.

The rapid fire changes in keyboards caused by the introduction of MIDI made the Chroma an instrument better left to my home studio. That’s exactly where it has remained operating as the master keyboard in my suite through a Chromaface MIDI interface, for years (also being sold on eBay). The sheer weight of the Chroma (142 lbs. in the anvil flight case) made it impractical for the road. When it wasn't in use it was cased and carefully taken care of."