Frequently Asked Questions

I want to order some parts. What kind of piano do I have?

Click here. Look through our reference photos until you can identify your piano correctly. The Fender Rhodes Fansite and Electric Piano Forums are also great places to search.

How much does it cost to tune up my piano?

All repairs are different. What you might think it needs is probably just the tip of the ice berg; without us first seeing the instrument and discussing it with you we cannot say. Although ultimately we will perform only what you wish for. We will say that we do have a minimum charge of 250.00 for any job on a vintage keyboard. Our hourly rate is 95.00 plus parts in our shop. The average Wurlitzer or Rhodes repair is around 4-8 hours, sometimes more depending on the service it requires. This should give you an idea of what a general cost is. Refurbishing is a different story and will require much more time and thought.

Can I visit your workshop to purchase parts?

Absolutely! We ask that you contact us first so we can arrange accordingly.

When will you respond to my email?

We do our best to answer emails but due to the large volume we sometimes can't get to them all and keep our small business afloat.

What makes the Vintage Vibe so special?

Vintage Vibe has been the cornerstone of the electric piano world for 25 years. We have led the way in education, knowledge, and preservation through our innovation and business practices.

In 2022 our company once again reimagined what a tine electric piano could do by inventing and being granted not one but two patents. The first patent is for our key stick, the Dual Capstan Action or the Cap, and Jack, which incorporates two capstans for the ultimate adjustment capabilities that address all key bed setup procedures and customize the pianos feel. The second is a patent for our Variable Voice Control, which allows the user to instantly re-voice the piano without mechanical changes to the action. You can read about both of these inventions on our piano pages. Our lead designer/builder Fred DiLeone is the inventor of these pat- pending designs in conjunction with Vintage Vibe.

Our original 2011 piano was a groundbreaking watershed moment for its lightweight and compact size when introduced. Never before or since has anyone been able to achieve such a feat. No one has come close to our piano's size, weight, and ingenuity.

Not only does the vibe nail the best classic Fender Rhodes tones from the early 70s like no other piano can, but our piano is the most adjustable piano ever built. Every aspect of the vibe is adjustable, from our hard rock maple action rail and side supports which allows easy incremental escapement and strike line changes to stop lock changes without any drilling or resetting of the action rail. Individual damper arms and hammers that can be moved in any direction independently (something aluminum actions with damper and hammer combs cannot do), to our pat-pending key bed with dual capstan key stick action, which allows the manufacturer or end user to adjust key dip, hammer height\hammer throw, adjustable hammer break, to instantaneous tone shaping voicing with our pat-pending Variable Voice Control.

No other piano offers this innovation, tone and flexibility. Further, no piano is as stylish, compact and light, or affordable as The Vintage Vibe. Finally, with almost 100 years of combined experience among our technicians, no other team is as experienced in building pianos as the Vintage Vibe team. We have been building the Vibe for 12 years now, we would not still be here if it wasn't something truly spectacular!

Is it a Rhodes or Wurlitzer?

Neither, its a USA hand-made Vintage Vibe Piano! It is shaped similarly to a Wurlitzer but inside is a highly modified Fender Rhodes style piano with patented improvement technology.

What is the difference between Classic and Deluxe pianos?

Vintage Vibe offers two lines of world-class hand crafted electric pianos: The Deluxe and The Classic. Both lines implement the exact same internal parts in their construction and include, active Stereo Vibe preamp, legs, sustain pedal and sustain rod.

Our Deluxe model features a handcrafted, hand laid fiberglass lid made in the USA by artisans. Available in many different high gloss gel coat finishes including exotic sparkle and solid colors. The Deluxe offers added value workmanship in the form of matched tines and master crafted action regulation. This means that a master tech spends more time on the Deluxe model to ensure the highest possible standards.

Our Classic model offers the classic look, feel and tone that everyone is looking for. Featuring an impact- resistant, black textured ABS plastic lid that defines authenticity. The Classic piano is a high performance instrument that would satisfy the most discerning player. It is $2000.00 less than our Deluxe model by utilizing a less expensive lid as well as spending less time on articulating the pianos set up. The result is a more budget friendly piano with outstanding performance. The Classic is the best value for an electric piano, period!

Should I go with a Classic or Deluxe?

Seriously, either piano is a winner. If you want excellent quality and a classic look without compromising feel and tone, go for the Classic. On the other hand, if you want to personalize your piano with a color that fits your personality and expect nothing but the very best, then the Deluxe is for you.

In the end, a side-by-side recording, you probably would not guess which was which the Classic and which was the Deluxe. Luckily Vintage Vibe offers a choice for different budgets and models.

What is Matched tines?

Matching tines is just as it sounds, we look for similar qualities in each tine so that they uniformly match performance in a piano. Tines that do not live up to a certain standard are removed and replaced.

Tines are an imperfect part and often offer inconsistent performances when 73 tines are put next to each other in a piano. This can be part of the charm in a real tine piano, remember real pianos are not a sterile digital experience, they live and breathe with character. With that being said, our Deluxe and Concert pianos undergo close tine scrutiny, the result is a piano with unrivaled evenness.

What is the weight on a Vintage Vibe piano?

The Vintage Vibe 64 note piano is a featherweight 53 lbs.

The Vintage Vibe 73 note piano at 60 lbs. is by far the lightest electric piano of its size ever made.

What are the dimensions for your pianos?

73 Model 44.5” long x 21.5 deep x 7.75 tall

64 Model 39.75 ” long X 21.5 deep x 7.75 tall

How do I tune a VVP?

Here at the shop we simply use a phone app strobe tuner to tune our pianos. Tuning a Vintage Vibe piano is incredibly easy, so much so, that anyone without any experience can easily tune our pianos. Just remove the lid, remove three screws from the harp frame and you are ready to begin tuning. Strike a note and see if it is sharp or flat, then lift the harp about 6 inches enough to fit your arm under and reach in to gain access to the tine you are tuning. Each tine has a tuning spring, pull the spring closer to you to raise the pitch or push the spring closer to the pickup to lower the pitch. It is that simple!

Alternatively, you can stretch tune your piano but going forward you will be a slave to keeping up with that type of tuning. If at any point a note or two or more goes out you cannot simply tune it straight with a tuner. There is a formula to stretch tuning that must be adhered to, otherwise your piano will play out of tune. If you are not a piano tuner, this method will cost you money to keep your piano in tune. The results of stretch tuning an acoustic piano are obvious and necessary. In our opinion, stretch tuning a Vintage Vibe Piano or a Rhodes piano is neither necessary or worth the time and money. Your personal ideas may be different and that is fine and up to you how you handle your tuning.

What is the key range for your pianos?

73 Key Compass E-8 to E-80
64 Compass A-13 to C-76
In respect to an 88 note piano

Can I have MIDI installed in a Vintage Vibe Piano?

Yes, MIDI installation will cost $1800 and is available as MIDI out only.

We offer the QRS PNOScan for more info- www.qrsmusic.com

Is the Stereo Console compatible with Classic and Deluxe pianos?

Yes, our Stereo Console will mate perfectly with any 64 or 73 note Vintage Vibe tine piano when ordered together. It will not mate perfectly with a Rhodes piano.

You can add a console at a future date but, please let us know when you order a piano if you think you may add a console at a future date. There are custom procedures needed to ensure the two parts mate in the future. There will be a small fee associated with adding the necessary parts.

What is the difference between active and passive electronics?

Passive Electronics: The output level of the piano is limited to that of the piano’s magnetic pickups; there are no gain stages nor effects. The output level is comparable to that of a guitar and for most all uses will therefore need to be amplified by another device such as a preamplifier, mixing console or PA. The provided controls are also similar to those found in electric guitars. They are comprised of potentiometers and capacitors that cut frequencies from the piano’s signal which allows you to achieve limited tone sculpting. We have included controls for both the bass and treble frequencies. The volume control sets the overall output level at the mono ¼” output jack.

All Vintage Vibe Pianos are active.

Active Electronics: The output level of the active model is much hotter than that of a passive model due to the onboard preamplifier. A switchable FET gain stage can impart a tube like characteristic to the tone. The eq circuit is capable of not only cutting bass and treble frequencies, but boosting them as well, which allows for expansive tone shaping possibilities. The built in tremolo circuit has controls for depth and speed and can produce a ping-pong effect when used in stereo via the ¼” left and right output jacks. As a visual indicator, an LED on the front panel pulses in time with the tremolo. In addition to the preamplifier, the active model also boasts a stereo headphone amplifier accessible by a ¼” jack.

The active model needs to be plugged into a grounded wall outlet of between 110 – 240VAC in order for the preamplifier and controls to function.

Who do I contact in the EU to help with placing an order?

Vintage Vibe deals directly worldwide, but our EU dealer EP Service is more knowledgable about the EU systems and should be able to help you with an all-inclusive price, and they are based in the Netherlands outside of Amsterdam.

Marcel Groot is the owner and has handled Vintage Vibe Piano sales for over a decade to the EU. EP Service not only handles Vintage Vibe pianos but parts.

https://www.ep-service.nl/

How much is shipping?

Shipping is a commodity that changes daily and therefore we do not give exact quotes. The best we can do is offer estimates from what recent shipments globally have run.

As of 5-28-22 Shipping averages worldwide- Door to Door Service $600-800.00 Economy Service- $350-550.00 For non-common out of region locations, shipping can be more.

How do you ship your pianos?

We ship our pianos double boxed on a pallet by air freight, and we offer door to door for US residents and commercial business international customers. We also offer Economy shipping ( least expensive) where pickup at the closest service center, which is often next to your nearest airport, is available.

How Long does it take to receive my piano?

Our shop consists of a ten-person team, and we split our duties between building Vintage Vibe Pianos and offering full restorations and repairs on vintage pianos. We usually have 20 to 40 Vintage Vibe pianos at any given time on our build board and an equal amount of vintage pianos in for work. This pace keeps our build time around three months.

Factors like a heavy build schedule or supply chain issues can increase lead times. The good news is that Vintage Vibe pianos in 2022 and beyond are the best pianos we have ever designed and built. So what are a few months for a piano that will be with you for life?

How to place an order?

Would you like to put a deposit down and get on our build list? If so, we would require a minimum of $1,000.00 down to secure your piano in our build schedule. You can send a deposit with Paypal to orders@vintagevibe.com after confirming with Vintage Vibe, or we can take a credit card payment over the phone. (973) 989-2178
Once the piano deposit is made, Vintage Vibe will send a paid receipt with the piano invoice.

(International customers only ) The final payment is through bank wire transfer only. Once a deposit is received, we will confirm by sending you an invoice with a paid deposit receipt.

Once the piano is completed, what are the next steps?

(International customers only ) The final payment is to be made through a bank wire transfer. We do not accept any other forms of final payment.

Once the piano is finished and ready to ship: Vintage Vibe will notify you that the piano is complete and ready to ship with a valid and timely shipping quote.

We will arrange and prepare the shipping to you and supply you with all tracking details.

( Local Customers) Pickup in person at our facility is always welcome.

Returns or Cancellations

Vintage Vibe Pianos are custom hand built to order therefore there are no returns. You have 48 hours to cancel an order, deposits are non refundable. You have 5 days to change your mind about color choice once order is placed.

Import Duties and Fees

Import duties and fees- They differ from country to country, it's best if you contact your local officials to inquire if it is a concern. Try a google search for info.

Sales Tax

Sales Tax- In the USA, we do not charge sales tax on any out-of-state or country purchases. This can change at any point in the future without notice depending on laws

Once you receive the piano

Our pianos are shipped safely and securely and should not need anything once they arrive, including tuning. With that being said, we cannot guarantee tuning due to the nature of a mechanical instrument. Our pianos will rarely need attention, but If and when they do, you can contact us for advice or a repair technician in your area.

What voltages does the Vintage Vibe accept?

The Vintage Vibe piano utilizes a switching power supply, that means it is ready to plug in and play anywhere in the world!!

What kind of protective case do you offer?

We offer a professional touring road case custom designed for our piano. The case has a lift off top and a trap door compartment at the bottom for legs pedal, rod and stackers. It is constructed of 3/8th plywood and heavy duty 6 inch roll caster wheels. This is the type of case the big boys use for touring.
Alternatively we offer a semi soft clam shell case made for light weight local gigs.

Why a Vintage Vibe over a vintage Rhodes?

This is an excellent question; ultimately, it would be great to have both, but not everybody has that luxury in life. At Vintage Vibe, we have been servicing vintage Rhodes pianos for over 25 years now. We are experts in our field with a master's understanding of the inner workings, design limitations, and genius. Without question, a new Vintage Vibe piano captures all of the most outstanding qualities of the best Fender Rhodes pianos. Not only does the Vibe capture these remarkable qualities, but our piano goes beyond any Rhodes, new or old, in our advanced technology and pat pending designs. To play a Fender Rhodes in good shape is a joy to experience both sonically and viscerally. Now play a 2022 Vintage Vibe piano, and you will quickly come to realize and have that ah-ha moment. It is a whole other level of feel and precision, and tone. Think of driving a 1965 Corvette Stingray; very cool, right? Looks great, and it is as cool as it gets, but you soon notice that it's loud and does not handle all that well, and frankly, it's not that comfortable. Next, you hop into a 2022 Corvette, an ultra-quiet, smooth corner-hugging pleasure drive with a cranking 12 speaker stereo made for the road. It is the same analogy with a Vintage Vibe compared to a Rhodes.

How do I mate a Stage piano with a Suitcase cabinet amplifier?

1. Change the sustain dowel to a longer pin. Vintage Vibe sells them-( link)- remove the sustain guide cup.

2. Install a Vintage Vibe Stereo Vibe pre- amp ( link) add 4 or 5 pin cable to cart.

3. Place top piano on top of speaker cabinet, mark where guide cups are located, then add glides to the underside of top piano to hold in place better.

4. You may or may not want to remove your leg plates.

I ordered a reed and its not in tune. What do I do?

Wurlitzer Reeds unless pre tuned do not come in tune. Mostly they will come flat, from 1/2 note to two full notes. In which case you will file the Reed with a file or if it is very flat you can use cutters to nip or a utility blade to cut larger amounts off.

Maintain a pyramid shape to the lead, meaning smaller on top than the base. This allows for clearance through the pickup.

If you go too far and you end up sharp in pitch you will need to add solder with a soldering iron and solder.

Go slow until you get the hang of tuning reeds, check your tuning often.

The reed I ordered is not the same length as the original. Is this normal?

Since reeds are hand cut, this can be normal but more than a 1/16 of an inch could affect the over all character of the note.

I ordered a pre-tuned reed but when I put it in, it was not perfectly in tune. What do I do?

When installing reeds there is a +\- range of tuning that can be accomplished by adjusting the Reed forward or backwards when the Reed screw is loosened. At Vintage Vibe we pre tune reeds with a professional Peterson Strobe tuner. When you install the Reed push or pull the Reed until desired tune with your piano. Your piano may not be in tune with 440hz.

How do I polish the chrome legs on my Fender Rhodes / Wurlitzer piano

We recommend using some Mothers and a rag to help shine up your chrome legs.

How do I clean the tolex on my piano?

Using windex and a scrub brush will help you make the exterior of your piano shine brighter than ever!

How do I know which tool I need, an awl or a key-bushing tool?

The answer is you should have both. If you examine a slow or sluggish key and try to find out why it is being affected you will look at a couple different causes and effects.

1. Lift the hammer so there is no weight on the key, next push the key down in front by the pedestal and see how it returns. It should return freely. If it does not return freely, look at the front rail bushing and ease if necessary.

2. Now let the hammer down and lift the opposite key end up a half-inch and see how it drops, again it should drop freely. If not examine the Key pin hole or either bushings.

3. There are a total of three points you will look at- two key bushings, one on each side of key, one is under the key at the front called the front rail bushing and the other is on top of the key at it’s center, called the balance rail bushing. This red felt is what helps keeps the key in alignment with a good feel. In conjunction with the key pins a properly working bushing allows the pins to enter and leave the bushing without friction but snug enough to keep side-to-side movement to a minimum. The third is the key pinhole, which is under the center red key bushing facing down on the balance rail.

So far what I have described are points that cause friction and drag from moisture and thus sticky keys. Having the right tool is the difference between correcting an issue quickly and correctly or frustration and mutilation of your piano keys.

Do I have a Stage or Suitcase Piano?

If your piano has 4 legs and flanges, you have a stage piano. If your piano has 2 front legs and sits on top of an amplifier, you have a suitcase.

Why don't I have a tracking number?

If you don't have tracking there are three possibilities, your order hasn't shipped yet; the tracking didn't update when it was shipped which can be fixed and emailed again; or it has just been picked up and hasn't started hitting scan check points.

I paid for 3 Day Shipping. Why is it taking 5 days to arrive?

Shipping days are based on business days, which doesn't not include Saturday or Sunday. Any order with 3 day delivery ordered on Wednesday night will go out on Thursday and arrive on the third business day which is Monday. Please make note that holidays effect shipping days.

How can I track my order?

You can see all the important information regarding your purchase under Orders on your My Account page, including order number, payment method, shipping address and method, and tracking number.

Is international shipping free?

No, international shipping is not free. We ship with UPS WorldWide and USPS for select orders.

Why does international shipping take so long?

When an order is going to another country it is estimated to take 8-12 business days because the package goes to multiple check points as well as passing through customs to make sure the package is safe and headed in the right direction. Once through customs the delivery will be finished by your countries postal service.

Will there be customs fees when I receive my order?

It is possible that you will be charged duties or fees for an international order by customs. We do not have any control over this, nor do we have a way to predict the amount. We will not be able to put the order description as a gift to try and avoid this. For information on what causes these fees or how much they could be please contact your country's customs office.

My product arrived with damage?

Please send detailed photos of the product and the box it came in to orders@vintagevibe.com along with your name and order number. This will help us determine if it is a shipment issue or a shop issue and we can proceed accordingly.

Can I pick up an order / piano if I'm local?

Absolutely! Please call us so we can plan accordingly.

Can I have an order shipped to a hotel?

Yes we do ship to hotels. Please provide the name of the hotel as well as you room number and the dates you will be there so we can make sure the package will make it in time.

The website is not working so how do I place my order?

If you are unable to place an order through our webstore, please send us an email with the list of parts you would like to order, and we'll get back to you within 24-48 hours.

Is it easier to place an order over the phone or online?

We can take orders over the phone, but it is better to use our site to make sure you can see the information is correct. The order will be dropped into our timeline of orders as soon as you get your confirmation email.

How do I edit my account info?

Click “Edit My Account” under “Sign-In Email” on your My Account page. From there, you can create a new password, update your email address and change the name on your account.

How do I add/edit a credit card?

You can add a new credit card during the checkout process when you place an order. Within your account, you cannot add a new credit card or edit an existing one. You can only delete the credit cards used for previous purchases.

How do I create a password?

You create a password when you first sign up for an account. Your password needs to be a minimum of eight characters long, and include at least one number and one special character, such as !@#$%^&*()+[ ]

How do I reset my password?

Simply click “Forgot Password?” on the Login page, then enter your email in the following page, and we’ll send you instructions on how to reset your password.

Do I need an account to make a purchase?

No, you can check out as a guest at any time. Click the cart icon in the top right corner of the website. When you click “Proceed to Checkout” in your cart, you have the option of checking out as a guest or creating an account.

By creating an account, you can shop faster and more efficiently with us. We save your credit card profile and shipping information for a seamless checkout experience.

Where can I view my order history?

Right on your My Account page under Orders. Every purchase that has shipping within the U.S. is visible. (Returns, however, are not reflected.)

How do I return an order?

Follow these easy steps:

1. Contact our customer service at orders@vintagevibe.com
2. Tell us your original order number and which item(s) you'd like to return.
3. Mail us back the item(s)
5. Once the return is received and processed, we’ll contact you to confirm that a refund has been issued. (This usually takes about 5 business days from receipt of the return.) Your return may be subject to 25% restocking fee. Please note: The order history on your My Account page does not reflect the return status.