REQ: Toontrack EzKeys Soul Roads
Two classic electric pianos from the 1970s and 1980s
Handpicked from a meticulously restored and curated collection
Recorded at Toontrack Studio in 2023 using extreme attention to detail
Two sound libraries with one set of mix-ready presets each
Includes a collection of MIDI inspired by soul from the ‘60s through to today
MODEL: RHODES* STAGE 73 MK I
This is a very early Mk I from 1970, the year the model was launched. Equipped with the old famous silver tone bars from the ’60s models and the then-new Torrington tines, it has a beautifully sparkling upper tonal register. This piano also has an original StereoVibrato like the ones you’d see in the earlier Suitcase models, adding even more vintage character. This is the very instrument that started the absolute craze that made this piano a staple in most music productions during the ‘70s. If you’re looking for that classic bark, bite and edge you can hear in tons of riff-driven and funk-infused songs from the past – this is where it stems from.
MODEL: RHODES* STAGE 73 MK II
Launched in 1980, this Mk II is from the first series of the new model that came out after ten years of research, development and improvements of the Mk I. For this second generation of pianos, the keybed had been reconfigured, the tines swapped with those from a different supplier and aluminium and plastic had replaced much of the wood previously used for many of its parts. From a technical and engineering standpoint, this all resulted in a substantially better instrument. Sound-wise, it lacked some of the growl of the Mk I but, on the other hand, offered a much smoother, cleaner and lush timbre. If you’re looking for the perfect tone for a soul ballad, a neo-soul beat or a contemporary R&B track, this is your best bet. To add, the particular one sampled for this EKX is equipped with a third-generation StereoVibrato preamp, adding substantially to the depth of its tone.