Vintage Vibe Marquis 73: Matt Johnson’s Keyspace Dials Up a Modern Rhodes Rumble

Matt Johnson doesn’t mess about: the Vintage Vibe Marquis 73 nails the Mark I Rhodes vibe, from the hammer action right down to the pickup windings. If you’re after that ‘70s road-worn bark, this thing’s got it by the bucketload. But don’t think it’s just a clone—the champagne sparkle finish and built-in MIDI are clear signs this is a Rhodes for the present, not a museum piece.

Matt points out how Vintage Vibe have sweated the details, even giving the Peterson-style amp and auto pan a nod. Under the hood, it’s all familiar—tines, hammers, and the primitive but beloved mechanics that made the Rhodes a studio staple. The main thing? It’s as hands-on as ever, with a few clever surprises lurking inside.

The big flex here isn’t just nostalgia—it’s control. Matt dives in, screwdriver at the ready, showing how you can tweak the pickup distance for that extra bite or mellow out with a few turns. In the old days, re-voicing a Rhodes was a marathon of patience and tiny screws. Vintage Vibe’s answer? A movable harp, slid with a single lever, giving you instant access to everything from lush lounge to full-on gnarly funk.

This slider is pure genius—one swipe and you’re in a new sonic postcode. All the way left and you’re sipping cocktails; middle gets you classic, road-ready bark; push it right, and things get harmonically wild, almost like you’ve thrown an octave pedal in the chain. Try that with your granddad’s Rhodes. For live players, it’s a game changer—no more endless bench time, just quick, dirty results.

Here’s where the Marquis 73 kicks tradition to the kerb: battery power. No more crawling under stages looking for a plug—charge it up, and you’re free to roam. Matt’s blunt: the lithium battery lasts ages, charges fast, and will see you through a whole set, no sweat.

If you’re allergic to batteries, just yank it out and use a USB charger as your supply. It’s proper grab-and-go, which makes it a killer choice for street sessions, pop-up gigs, or anywhere you want the real Rhodes sound without dragging extension cables through puddles.

You can’t write about the Marquis 73 without talking tone. Matt runs through clean sounds, then punches things up with a Fender Twin sim—classic tines, sparkling highs, and plenty of growl when you dig in. The voicing lever flips the vibe fast, and paired with amp emulation, you get everything from smooth jazz to warehouse stomp. You really have to hear the transitions and nuances for yourself, so don’t skip the video’s demo sections—they’re where this piano shows its teeth.