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Description

The RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord was introduced in 1967 as a practical gigging instrument for rock and jazz pianists. The instrument is fully electronic and produces a sound using oscillators (similarly to a combo organ). The signal is run through a series of filters in order to produce an envelope resembling that of a piano. The Electra-piano also had an "organ mode" that allowed each note to sustain indefinitely instead of decay like a piano, and an "accenter" that added a percussion effect to the start of each note being played.

There were several different models within the the 300-series:

300A: introduced in 1967, 61 keys (F to F), wooden case covered in blue and black vinyl

300B: introduced in 1969, 61 keys (F to F), wooden case covered in black vinyl, new optional "warbler" vibrato feature

368: introduced in 1972, 68 keys (F to C), wooden case covered in black vinyl, added bass and volume sliders on control panel

368X: introduced in 1974, 68 keys (F to C), plastic case (most were black, a few were brown)

68X: made to order only, 68 keys (F to C), plastic case (brown), added touch-sensitive keys, very few produced

Other variations of the Electra-piano included the 400-series Electra-piano and Harpsichord, which were walnut-veneer console versions of the 300-series pianos, and the 600-series Electra-piano and Rock-Si-Chord, which combined the sounds of the Electra-piano and the RMI Rock-Si-Chord.

organ69

organ69

RMI electra-piano 368X demo [organ69]

Video thumbnail for RMI electra-piano 368X demo [organ69] by organ69

RMI electra-piano 368X demo [organ69]

organ69

organ69

Video thumbnail for Tuning & Servicing an RMI Electra Piano by This Old Jalopy

Tuning & Servicing an RMI Electra Piano

This Old Jalopy

This Old Jalopy

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Staple sounds from probably more of your favourite tracks than you realise

RMI managed to corner a market in the late 1960s and early 70s with a series of Electra-pianos that were as much a part of your favourite classic rock tracks as the ubiquitous Hammond, Moog, or Mellotron. This was largely thanks to the broad sonic palette demanded by Prog Rock. The most popular of the 300 Series RMIs were the 368 and the 368X which could be found in the gear rig of many a Prog act including Tony Banks (Genesis), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Ray Manzarek (The Doors), Edgar Winter Band, Steve Hackett, and so on.

Artist usage

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See how Paul McCartney uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Paul McCartney

Singer, Bassist

The Beatles

...
Verified via Photo

Paul McCartney is confirmed to have used the RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series) during his time with Wings. Notably, the RMI Electra 368 can be heard on the Wings debut album "Wild Life," particularly on tracks such as the title track and "Give Ireland Back To The Irish." During the ICA rehearsals for "Give Ireland Back To The Irish," Linda McCartney is seen playing the RMI Electra 368, and Paul McCartney himself is documented using it in live performances at university campuses in the 1970s. This is supported by photographic evidence available here.

See how J Dilla uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

J Dilla

Rapper, Music Producer

Soulquarians

...
Verified via YouTube

At 0:32 in this video, Dilla can be seen standing with the RMI Electra-piano in his studio.

See how Madlib uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Madlib

Rapper, Music Producer

Madvillain

...
Verified via Future Producers

Madlib mentions in this interview that he used the 'RMI Electra Piano'. Photos of him can also be seen with the Piano next to him.

See how Jean Michel Jarre uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Jean Michel Jarre

Keyboardist, Music Producer

The Dustbins

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Verified via Redbullmusicacademy

Jean Michel Jarre includes the RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series) among his favorite synthesizers, as noted by Red Bull Music Academy.

See how Ryuichi Sakamoto uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Keyboardist, Composer

Yellow Magic Orchestra

...
Verified via KeyboardMag

[Sakamoto reaches over and plays an RMI Electra-Piano.]

See how Rick Wakeman uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Rick Wakeman

Keyboardist

Black Sabbath

...
Verified via Photo

One from 1970 was used for The Six Wives of Henry VIII, as is visible in this diagram of Wakeman's setup and as specified in its June 2020 Reverb.com listing.

Featured on Rick Wakeman's The Six Wives of Henry VIII

See how Tony Banks uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Tony Banks

Singer, Keyboardist

Genesis

...
Verified via YouTube

From the 1976/77 "Seconds Out" tour, a clear shot of Tony playing the RMI during "Fly On A Windshield" at 8:35

See how Ray Manzarek uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Ray Manzarek

Singer, Keyboardist

The Doors

...
Verified via Photo

Ray Manzarek played an RMI Electra-piano 300A with The Doors on the West German television show 4-3-2-1 Hot And Sweet during their 1968 European tour. The Doors can be seen lip syncing "Hello, I Love You" in Romer Square in Frankfurt. This performance was filmed on September 13, 1968, and is available on YouTube here.

One week earlier on September 6, 1968, the Doors performed at the Roundhouse in London. At this concert, the same RMI Electra-piano 300A can be seen on stage next to Manzarek's Gibson G-101. Based on available footage from the show, it appears that the Electra-piano was never actually played.

Ray was said to dislike the RMI Electra-piano, and he quickly returned to the Gibson G-101 for all performances. Despite that, Manzarek is believed to have played an RMI Electra-piano on the song "Shaman's Blues."

See how Elton John uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Elton John

Singer, Keyboardist

Eric Clapton & His All Star Band

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Verified via Photo

In this 1975 photo, Elton John can be seen playing an RMI Electra-Piano and Harpsichord.

See how Steve Winwood uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Steve Winwood

Singer, Guitarist

The Spencer Davis Group

...
Verified via Photo

Steve Winwood played a RMI Electra-piano 300A with both Blind Faith and Traffic. It was Winwood's primary on-stage keyboard with Blind Faith, and he can be seen playing it at the band's famous 1969 concert in Hyde Park. The photo above comes from a recording session at Olympic Studios in London. Interestingly, I do not think the Electra-piano was played on any songs from the band’s first and only studio album. Additional photos of Winwood with Blind Faith here, here, here, here, here, and here.

With Traffic, Winwood’s Electra-piano was featured on "Empty Pages" from the 1970 album John Barleycorn Must Die.

See how Jon Lord uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Jon Lord

Keyboardist

Deep Purple

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Verified via YouTube

At 5:51 the RMI can be seen next to the Hammond organ.

See how Bernie Worrell uses RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series)

Bernie Worrell

Keyboardist, Composer

Talking Heads

...
Verified

Used with Funkadelic, according to the following sources:

Rock's Backpages audio, June 1978, "AUDIO: Bootsy Collins (1978)", interview with Cliff White

Bootsy Collins: And Bernie is goin', you know, Bernie is goin' solo.

Cliff White: I heard he's got an album planned for— on Eris.

Collins: Yeah, we just finished his album.

White: Oh, that's great.

Collins: Yeah, so uh, he's next. And, let's see, uh... [unintelligible]

White: He's always struck me, of all the other guys, that you and George and Bernie are the three sort of kingpins, sort of...

Collins: Oh yeah, oh yeah... I mean, Bernie is def—, he's uh...

[...]

White: I don't normally like synthesizer. On a lot of records, I think it's, uh... it's just an excuse for somebody who can't really handle keyboards, so they just fiddle about, but Bernie [unintelligible]

Collins: Yeah, yeah. See he, he was doin' that type of stuff with the RMI, you know, it's a different sound [, back in the days of the Funkadelic, you know, [unintelligible]... he was gettin' some [????] sounds then, I mean, he was... you know, so when the synthesizer came out, it was, it was, you know, that was Bernie, you know what I mean?

*White: Right.

Red Bull Music Academy, 2013 Red Bull Music Academy lecture

TORSTEN SCHMIDT

Speaking of the Clavinet, who was first playing that through phasers and stuff, you or Stevie [Wonder]?

BERNIE WORRELL

I don’t know. On the track that you played with the strings, my first string, everybody thinks it’s Clavinet, but it’s the RMI piano. And Stevie had gone to, it’s called Wonderlove Music, music store in Detroit. I had gone the next day, but they told us at the store: “Stevie was at the store yesterday and got one,” and I was the second person that got one. So I don’t know. Who did what first, and “blah blah blah blah.” Who cares? We’re doing it.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series), it is most commonly used with the following gear.

1 alternative for RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series), curated by the Equipboard community.

RMI Rock-Si-Chord

 

Vintage or Discontinued similar sound

The RMI Rock-Si-Chord was the predecessor to the Electra-piano. While the Rock-Si-Chord was more or less limited to harpsichord-like sounds, the Electra-piano expanded on its capabilities with additional piano-like sounds.

More RMI Vintage & Electric Pianos

Community setups

  • Added to Equipboard on by

    haas123
    haas123

    Gear IQ 21966