The Chicago Electric Piano Co.: Recent Episodes
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We were recently contacted by Colombian singer Manuel Turizo to build a special custom Rhodes piano. After perusing our inventory, we selected a wonderful 1975 stage 73 piano. This one came to us without a case top, making it a prime candidate for one of our hand built walnut enclosures. In addition to the case, our custom shop also supplied […]
If you’ve been hunting for a wonderful Rhodes piano, look no further! Here is a rare opportunity to own one of our fully restored pianos – and skip the repair queue 😉. This piano is ready to ship! Our in-depth restoration includes replacing all aging rubber components, an action overhaul, voicing set up and more. 1976 is one of our […]
Here’s the latest from our custom shop: A whammy modified Hohner Clavinet D6, with some twists. We had a custom plexiglass top made, as well as an oak case with custom matching turned legs. To “tie the room together”, we searched long and hard for some quality turquoise felt for both function and aesthetic accent. The result is both stately […]
Here’s the latest out of our custom shop: A Helpinstill 64 Road Piano with a custom electronics set up, a fresh white paint job, added Wurlitzer legs, and a complete mechanical overhaul to boot. The Helpinstill pianos are fascinating instruments, with a design that features a folding keybed for transport. This is certainly not our first foray into […]
Celeste meets electric piano in this unique mashup of 1960s ingenuity. The late 60s were a special time for innovation in the world of music. Not just in the boundary pushing music that was being recorded, but also in the development of new instruments. Musser, a company known for mallet instruments, was no exception to that trend. Enter the AmpliCeleste. […]
He’s got a Clavinet because he’s got a band. Here’s a look at Page McConnell’s Custom Clavinet by The Chicago Electric Piano Co’s Custom Shop: Our wood shop has been very active the past few years, and these walnut cases have become a crowd favorite. For vintage piano owners with a beat up road worn instrument, our custom shop can […]
Here’s the latest from our Custom Shop, the “Dark Star” Yamaha CP-80B. Fit for Darth Vader’s penthouse, this Yamaha oozes Sith energy, but is a pure joy to play! Yamaha released the CP series in 1976, and the CP-80 (subsequently CP-80B, CP-80D, CP-80M) was the flagship model, boasting a full 88 key register, and additional bright switch on the […]
Our coveted ringer tee is back in stock, this time in black! Designed by Ryan Troy Ford and printed in Chicago at Jus Studio, order now while supplies last. Order here
Here’s the latest from the CEPCo Custom Shop: The Plexi-Blonde Rhodes Mark II Suitcase. Here at CEPCo, we have been going through a plexiglass phase, and we’re excited to share one of our new Custom Shop favorites with you. We hope you’ll enjoy The Plexi-Blonde Mark II Suitcase. Improvisation by Matt Blocher on this Rhodes, showcasing the lush stereo tremolo. […]
In celebration of the new Rhodes MK8 piano coming to our showroom floor we are opening our doors Saturday, May 11 from 3-7pm. We will have a wide range of vintage keyboards to play on our showroom and drinks will be provided by Pilot Project, Brewers Kitchen, Revolution Beer and Topo Chico. Tacos will be served off the grill. Hope you […]
The Rhodes is back! Introducing the MK8 Rhodes is back with the all new MK8. Announced in 2021, the Rhodes brand was reborn in the United Kingdom under the direction of the new CPO Dan Goldman. After years of anticipation, we are excited to finally share our first impressions of the brand new electric piano! Spoiler Alert! We are an […]
Our “Smart Chop” design get’s an update with this custom shop Champagne Sparkletop 206A Re-Introducing The Smart Chop Since our earliest years in business clients have been asking us for a Wurlitzer chop design that allows them to transport their Wurlitzer console model in two pieces like the Rhodes Suitcase design. Since you only have to remove a few screws […]
Mike Gordon’s Purple 106P: We were lucky enough to pick up a few 44 note Wurlitzer 106P’s this past year. These cute little gems are some of the rarest birds in the world of Wurli and prior to this past year we only had one other 106P for sale in over ten years! On top of their extreme rarity they […]
Please check out our holiday sale and help support your friendly Electric Piano Co! Shop here
Here’s to another one of a kind! The Rhodes Mark 7 is a really rare bird that was only produced for a few years around 2007. It was a rocky re-introduction of the classic instrument that was marred in lawsuits with the Rhodes family, companies using the Rhodes name on their samples, and suing suing fan/forum sites like The Fender […]
We were excited to welcome fellow Chicagoan, Noble Bautista to our workshop, who floored us with an intimate live performance of his original song “Husk of a Man,” performed on our custom purple sparkle Wurlitzer! Learn more about Noble’s music here: / anobletone Brought out the Pentax for a few behind the scenes shots on B&W film: “If you would […]
Join us as we dive into the Lynchian world of Twin Peaks, CEPCo style. Garrett “Killer Bob” Spoelhoef – 1977 Rhodes suitcase Keegan “Krazy” Meuris – ARP Solina String Ensemble and Freeman string symphonizer Mike “Hurley” Novak – baritone guitar Matt “the Giant” Blocher – cymbal and introducing Max Brink as the Log Lady. Video shot and edited by Max […]
Another gorgeous one-of-a-kind Rhodes restoration leaves the workshop! One-of-a-kind for now, at least… This Mark I Stage 73 was restored by our workshop inside and out including the new custom designed plexiglass flat top, Walnut case, and mirror name rail. As with all our other custom shop Rhodes restorations, this beauty includes our most detailed level of restoration services making […]
Chicago/Cincinati band, FLOCKS, performs live at The Chicago Electric Piano Co! Straddling the gap between jazz and electronica, the Cincinnati/Chicago based trio FLOCKS brought their signature meditative soundscapes to CEPCo. Here they are performing a new song called “Luna” In their second performance, FLOCKS performs “jexqjex” off their latest record “You Were Probably Younger Then” Check out FLOCKS here: https://flockstheband.com/ […]
The Walnut 140B This 140B came into the workshop painted black and looking like it could tell a story or two… In addition to the restoration of the instrument’s mechanics and voice our Custom Shop gave the instrument a breathtaking facelift with a walnut body and black top with gold flake. If you’re interested in a custom Walnut 140B […]
Just in time for Barbenheimer… This custom Wurlitzer 206A was originally inspired by neon colors of Miami and 1980’s design, but by some cosmic coincidence it was completed just before the release of one of 2023’s biggest blockbuster weekends… Here’s the Pink n Teal Wurli 206A: Update: We were lucky enough to have this beauty out on the showroom floor […]
As usual photos are going to speak for themselves on this one… Our promise is that it always plays as good as — or better than — it looks: If you’re interested in a custom Clavinet D6 restoration please contact info@chicagoelectricpiano.com.
It’s common for us to match a Pantone color when painting an instrument. Sometimes we reference a classic guitar or car finish… but this is the first time that someone has ever sent us a pair of denim jeans for a Custom Shop restoration that we’re calling… The “Jhodes” …and the rest speaks for itself.
Here is a special performance by Joe George Shadid showcasing his new ambient project Minor Image. –This piece features a Helpinstill 64 piano restored by CEPCo and effects pedals. Stick around for the string quartet! “Sangamon” by Minor Image Filmed live at Chicago’s Audio Tree studio in Chicago. Joe George Shadid – piano and composition Rudy Rubio – director […]
As we close in on the end of the year, we would like to wish you all a happy and safe holiday season! Please enjoy this arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”, performed by our in house CEPtet. Matt Blocher: Wurlitzer 200a Garrett Spoelhof – Helpinstill Roadmaster 64 Kellen Boersma – Jenco Celeste Keegan Meuris – Rheem […]
Daniel Villarreal and band stopped by for an intimate in-shop performance of Farfisa forward psychedelic and vibrant jams. Here is “Ofelia”, off his new record Panama 77 out now on International Anthem! Daniel Villarreal – drums Cole DeGenova – Farfisa organ Nathan Karagianis – guitar Danjuma Gaskin – congas and perc Gordon Walters – bass Rudy Rubio – director of […]
To showcase this one-of-a-kind custom build, we brought the piano back to the wood shop where our carpenter Josh Truman built the case. In addition to our comprehensive mechanical restoration, this Rhodes also features a glossy white top, resurfaced key tops, a stunning hand built walnut case and turned legs. The legs were particularly challenging as they also required fabricating […]
Custom shop builds don’t stick around long, so when we had three pastel Wurlitzer pianos wrap up at the same time, we knew they had to be properly documented! Baby blue has become our most requested Wurlitzer finish, but Seafoam green is not far behind. This was our first time doing the Periwinkle paint job, but I’m guessing probably not […]
The Nigel Hall Trio performs an arrangement of Eddie Kendricks’ “Intimate Friends”. Featuring Erick “Jesus” Coomes on bass, Adam Deitch on drums and Nigel Hall on electric piano. Nigel is playing Mavis Staples’ 1976 Rhodes Suitcase Piano, fully restored by CEPCo. For more info on Mavis’ piano please click here. Recorded live at the Chicago Electric Piano Company in 2021. […]
A long time vision finally realized, this piano is truly a show stopper. This is an idea we had been kicking around for a while: a Rhodes that is equally a studio caliber instrument and a furniture grade conversation piece. When our client approached us with the idea of rehousing their 1974 Fender Rhodes MK1 88 into a walnut case, […]
We would like to wish all a happy holiday season! Please enjoy this live performance by our “in house” trio doing an arrangement of “Christmas Time is Here” by Vince Guaraldi (and Charlie Brown). Recorded live onsite at the Chicago Electric Piano Co: Matt Blocher – 1973 Fender Rhodes Super SatelliteKellen Boersma – 1968 Fender Rhodes Piano Bass + Vox […]
Are you completely sick of “All I want for Chrismas (is you)”? Do you hollar at the very mention of “Frosty The Snowman”? Well, you’re in luck. —The CEPCo sleigh is about to leave the station, and there’s a seat with your name on it! Currently clocking in at just over 4 hours, ‘Cruisin in the CEPCo Sleigh’ is our […]
Looking for a unique gift for the vintage music aficionado in your life? The CEPCo 2022 wall calendar checks all the boxes! Featuring lush photography of some of our favorite restorations from the past year and elegant design, this baby is available in limited quantities now! Check our shop page here for ordering info!
Rare Organ: The Philips Philicorda The 49 note Philips Philicorda was first launched in Holland in 1961. Early versions feature tube preamplifiers and tube oscillators, followed by a transitional period with transistorized oscillators and tube preamp. An all-transistor version was finally implemented around 1967. Along the way there were various export models and slight changes in the circuit that don’t […]
Green with Envy: 1976 Chevy van and 1977 Rhodes Suitcase One of our favorite Rhodes custom builds, this Suitcase piano from 1977 plays like a dream and sounds even better than it looks. Following our clients cosmetic vision, we embraced the 70s vibe with forest green tolex, cane grill cloth, oak cheek blocks and a metallic white lid. Our top […]
Have a look and listen to the latest from the CEPCo Custom Shop: the “Metallic Bronze” 200. This Wurlitzer has been restored from top to bottom with over 30 hours of dedication and our highest seal of approval. With our “Top Shelf” restoration process every part of the instrument is evaluated to be in excellent to mint condition or is […]
Class is in session! Imagine walking into a piano lab in the late 70s, then picture this beautiful Wurlitzer piano at the head of the classroom. With the attached Keynote Visualizer, the instructor can easily demonstrate music in either standard notation or on a keyboard layout – or both – with incandescent lights akin to a Pinball machine! Through onboard […]
Ostrich tolex accented by shades of brown give this custom Fender Rhodes a distinct and classy look. Our client selected this show stopping finish with leather in mind. The ostrich tolex, in both appearance and feel, has a remarkable “leather” quality. The walnut cheek blocks, deep brown lid, cane grill clothe and polished steel legs (a CEP first!) tie together […]
New road case for this Road Master – a stunning finish for this portable acoustic/electric piano. As you can probably imagine, an instrument this heavy has seen some bumps in the road. In fact, we have heard a first hand account of this very piano literally falling off the stage. Scratches and dings are one thing, a giant hole on […]
It’s been a while since we’ve had a 106P at the workshop… Here we go again! The 106P’s were originally sold as a unit of eight pianos mounted on a giant folding cart that shares a common power supply. When they are split up each unit requires a new power supply and amplifier in order to drive the onboard speaker […]
Here’s a rare and groovy piece that looks and sounds pure 60’s. The Contempo Organ is one of the lesser known combo organs manufactured by Fender in the mid to late 1960’s. How does it sound? Well, pretty much how you’d expect a combo organ of this era to sound. It features silicon transistors, but gets a fatter tone by […]
This probably isn’t the first Whammy E7, and it’s definitely not the first (Castlebar) to feature plexiglass, but it’s the first and only Plexi-Topped-Whammy-Clavinet-E7 that we’re aware of! The Clavinet is a rare and beautiful bird, often seen in captivity and hard to come by in the wilderness in modern times due to the pollution of the digital world. This […]
Look at that! CEPCo is on the TeeVee! We are absolutely honored to get a feature on Chicago’s ABC 7 News’ “Localish.” Hope you enjoy a glimpse of the workshop: Here’s a link to ABC7’s original article. And more from Localish Chicago.
Harking back to the classic 50’s Fender amps, the tweed look has become timeless – and a CEPCo favorite. Although it was never a stock Rhodes finish, it sure looks right on a piano. Along with our top shelf mechanical restoration and electronic restoration, this piano sounds and plays as good as it looks! Have a listen: Leon Russel/Donny Hathaway […]
Our buddy Woody Goss recently came by the shop for an in depth look behind the scenes at CEP. Along with an approachable description of how these instruments work, the good professor also demonstrated some serious chops showcasing the sound and playability of some of our unique restorations. Check out the video below!
It doesn’t get more classic than this: a full 88 keyset with suitcase amplifier from the very end of Mark I production. In addition to receiving a top shelf mechanical and electronic restoration, this Rhodes also has fresh black tolex, aged silver/blue grill cloth and shiny new hardware. Thanks to the powerhouse Janus amplifier this baby sings with lush tremolo […]
It’s no secret that Seafoam Green tolex is one of our favorite finishes here at the Chicago Electric Piano Co. Our clients seem to like it as well, and it’s easy to see why. There’s just something timelessly cool about this classic color. Here we have a lovely 1979 Rhodes Suitcase, from the very end of Mark I production, spruced […]
The Fender Rhodes Piano Bass is THE model that introduced the Rhodes to the world. This 1971 is a prime example of the highly regarded early Fender Rhodes era tone. It came to us from the original owner, who used it for gigs in the 70s and has kept it safely stored ever since. The instrument underwent our “top shelf” […]
After the iconic “Jetsons” pianos of the late 60’s, Rhodes introduced a new education series. These pianos were housed in a more subtle walnut veneered cabinet and featured an on board metronome and connections to a teacher module. The student can monitor with headphones or a built in 10 inch speaker. Under the hood, the tone producing components are the […]
Baby blue has been a popular finish for us lately and it’s no secret why: they look stunning! As with our last “Carolina Blue” Wurlitzer build (click here), this one is also commemorating a special occasion: graduation! The blue top is complimented with an off white base and sustain pedal. That, paired with all the chrome accents you’d expect on […]
This build is certainly one of the most ambitious we have attempted, and we couldn’t be happier with the results! The Clavinet D6 is an iconic instrument, and one of the few classic electric pianos to feature a decorative natural wood element. Originally, the top and side panels were made with teak veneer over plywood. Unfortunately, as with many vintage […]
We hope everyone is staying safe and keeping their communities safe during this global pandemic. We’re currently working from home and feeling optimistic that we’re finally going to get a real web store up and running! Until then you can still see a partial list of our upcoming inventory restorations here. For now we’ll just go ahead with an old […]
A sublime combo that sounds just as good as it looks: 1973 Fender Rhodes Mark I in Ivory tolex with accompanying Stereophonic Satellite speaker cab! Ivory tolex has become a shop favorite. Bridging the gap between bright white and blonde, Ivory provides the perfect contrast to the black keytops, cheekblocks and vinyl lid of a Rhodes piano. For this particular […]
A Classic Rhodes get’s a Custom Shop Overhaul. This Mark II Suitcase 88 was manufactured in 1980 and is a prime example of one of the last great pianos the company made before shutting down production in 1983. The Mark II is known for their slightly darker overtones and more bell like tones and this 88 key is an excellent […]
Here’s a new variation on a past favorite from the workshop: Baby Blue Wurlitzer 206A. This custom baby blue Wurlitzer 206A was commissioned as a wedding gift and we are honored to be part of such a special occasion! Happy wedding day to Carli and Jesse! We wish you many more years of love, music, and creative inspiration! In addition […]
Crimson Red and Crushed Velvet – a tantalizing combo! Happy holidays from CEPCo! Here we have a beautiful 200 model Wurlitzer from 1974 featuring a Retrolinear three knob amplifier and a stunning crimson red top. Inspired by the original red Wurlitzer 200s, our version is just a little deeper and darker. This instrument is now in the NYC home of […]