CELEBRATING LEGACY
80 YEARS OF RHODES PIANOS
For 80 years, the Rhodes piano has left an indelible mark on music history, shaping genres and soundtracking the rise of generations of iconic artists. Born in the 1940s from the ingenuity of Harold Rhodes, who hand-built the first instruments for wounded soldiers from repurposed aircraft materials, the iconic tine piano quickly evolved through a legendary partnership, giving rise to the Fender Rhodes and into the era-defining Mark I and Mark II.
Today, that legacy lives on in the Rhodes MK8, and the MK8/80AE takes it one step further, marking eight decades of innovation and musicality in an instrument of striking beauty – entirely true to its origins, and worthy of Harold Rhodes’ vision.
“The MK8/80AE is a piano I feel deeply connected to- a unique fusion of eight decades of craft, innovation and unmistakable Rhodes character. It’s an instrument that honours our past, speaks to the present, and carries the spirit of Rhodes into the future- a piano we believe Harold Rhodes himself would feel truly proud of.”
– Dan Goldman, Rhodes Chief Product Officer.
LIMITED EDITION
RHODES MK8/80AE PIANO
To celebrate 80 years of Rhodes legacy, Rhodes Chief Product Officer Dan Goldman, along with the Rhodes Custom Shop team, have collaborated on the design of the exquisite new strictly limited 80th Anniversary Edition MK8 piano: The Rhodes MK8/80AE.
Limited to 80 units worldwide, the MK8/80AE offers performers, enthusiasts and collectors alike, the opportunity to own a truly once-in-a-lifetime instrument, marking eight decades of musical heritage, innovation and iconic design.
Following the immediate sell-out of the 75th Anniversary edition, demand for this release is expected to be equally exceptional.
Order books will open June 30th, 2026, and remain open for three months, closing earlier should all 80 instruments be allocated.
- 73-note Rhodes Custom all-black keyboard
- Gloss-varnished black oak case
- Gloss-varnished black oak legs with leg storage bag
- Black stand frame with chrome leg braces
- Transparent hood
- Chrome hood strip
- Black varnished tine and pickup rails
- Chrome tone bars
- Black nickel polished chrome front panel
- Black on chrome preamp and FX panels
- Chrome dial caps
- Black on chrome logo plates and side panels
- Black pedal with Chrome logo plate
- Bespoke 80AE serial plate
Rhodes custom stereo effect processor: analogue compressor, phaser, chorus, delay. True bypass. Expression pedal control of phaser speed, chorus speed, delay time, and delay feedback.
Preamp: True analogue signal path. Volume, drive, envelope controls. Expression pedal control of volume, mid sweep (wah), pan speed, pan depth. Rhodes custom analogue tri-band (low/mid/high) active equaliser (+/- 15db range). Sweepable parametric midrange. Rhodes custom vari-pan with variable rate/depth with 4 wave shapes and audio-rate modulation.
EIGHT DECADES OF
RHODES HERITAGE
Eight decades of Rhodes inspire the MK8/80AE, a tribute to Harold Rhodes’ vision and the generations of musicians who have brought his instruments to life.
Meticulously handcrafted in the UK by a dedicated team of Rhodes master builders, it unites precision, care, and a profound understanding of Rhodes’ heritage. Guided by the essence of the Oak Anniversary, a symbol of enduring longevity, the MK8/80AE’s deep-gloss black oak case and faceted eight-sided legs echo Rhodes legacy of innovation.
Each detail reflects the authority of Rhodes’ rich past, resulting in an instrument as enduring as the history it celebrates, while carrying the voice of Rhodes forward into the future. Beyond its exclusive finishes and unique commemorative details never before seen on a Rhodes piano, the MK8/80AE features onboard FX as standard, with an optional MIDI add-on for expanded versatility.
Key Features
REFLECTING A RICH MUSICAL HISTORY
Crafted in honour of a defining milestone, the MK8/80AE distils eight decades of Rhodes into a singular, uncompromising instrument.
The obsidian-black, gloss-varnished oak case and matching legs bring depth and substance, offset by a black-chrome front panel and crisp silver-chrome detailing across the dial caps, hood strip, and logo plates. A transparent hood completes the form, revealing the instrument’s heart – silver chrome tone bars set against an all-black varnished tine and pickup rail.
Each instrument is accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity and a unique MK8/80AE serial plate, marking it as one of the most exclusive and collectable Rhodes pianos ever produced.
- Rhodes Custom All-Black Keyboard
- Gloss-varnished black oak case
- Gloss-varnished black oak legs with leg storage bag
- Black stand frame with chrome leg braces
- Transparent hood
- Chrome hood strip
- Black varnished tine and pickup rails
- Chrome tone bars
- Black nickel polished chrome front panel
- Black on chrome preamp and FX panels
- Chrome dial caps
- Black on chrome logo plates and side panels
- Black pedal with Chrome logo plate
- Bespoke 80AE serial plate
CRAFTED TO ENDURE
Limited to just 80 instruments, the MK8/80AE honours the legacy of Harold Rhodes while demonstrating the full potential of contemporary artisan craftsmanship and sound design.
Equally at home on stage, in the studio, or within the most discerning collections, each instrument continues a lineage defined by invention, expression, and musicality.
A rare instrument that captures the essence of Rhodes – and defines where it goes next.
