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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.
Videos
organ69
RMI electra-piano 368X demo [organ69]
![Video thumbnail for RMI electra-piano 368X demo [organ69] by organ69](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cMI9brWq_kw/mqdefault.jpg)
RMI electra-piano 368X demo [organ69]
organ69
Tuning & Servicing an RMI Electra Piano
This Old Jalopy
Reviews
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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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In this photo, Dragon can be seen playing a RMI Model 300A Electra-piano and Harpsichord with The Beach Boys at the Whisky A Go Go in November 1970 in Los Angeles, California.
The musical gear used by Paris is mentioned in this mixonline 2016 interview
The list of keyboards and synthesizers that the Radiophonic Workshop had in 1985.
In this photo, Don Preston can be seen playing an RMI 300A Electra-piano and Harpsichord with the Mothers of Invention in London, 1969.
Rancifer playing a RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord on The Flip Wilson Show (season 3, episode 6) with the Jackson 5.
At 2:44 in this live performance on "Old Gray Whistle Test" Greenslade can be seen using an RMI Electric Piano
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In this photo, Horace Silver can be seen playing an RMI Electra-piano 300A. The still comes from a 1972 television performance, which can be viewed on YouTube here.
Silver featured the Electra-piano throughout his 1972 album, Total Response. Extended piano solos can be heard on “What Kind of Animal Am I?” and “I’m Aware of the Animal Within Me.”
In this photo, Jones can be seen playing an RMI Electra-piano on the Partridge Family television show.
Paul DeFiglia shared a photo on Instagram featuring his RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series), capturing its distinctive "Sun Ra sounds."
In this photo, Rose Stone can be seen playing the RMI Electra-Piano and Harpsichord 300A. This performance was at the Harlem Cultural Festival and was featured in the 2021 documentary "Summer of Soul."
This photo shows Barclay playing an RMI Electa-piano with Fanny. An RMI was also used on the band’s hit song “Ain’t That Peculiar.”
In this photo, Halligan can be seen playing an RMI Electra-piano & Harpsichord on stage with Blood, Sweat & Tears. Other color photos from the era show that the RMI he toured with was a blue 300A model. Dick's RMI can be best heard during the piano solo on Blood, Sweat & Tears cover of "And When I Die."
Album Usage
The RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series) has been featured on the following albums:
Fly on a Windshield (2025 Remaster)
Genesis (2025)
Hello I Love You
The Doors (2018)
Live in Japan
The Edgar Winter Group (2011)
Ark
The Animals (1983)
Seconds Out (Live)
Genesis (1977)
The Golden Scarab
Ray Manzarek (1974)
Propaganda
Sparks (1974)
Kimono My House
Sparks (1974)
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII
Rick Wakeman (1973)
Total Response (The United States Of Mind / Phase 2)
Horace Silver (1972)
John Barleycorn Must Die
Traffic (1970)
Entrance (Expanded Edition)
Edgar Winter (1970)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
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.
Similar
Add recommendation1 alternative for RMI Electra-piano and Harpsichord (300-Series), curated by the Equipboard community.
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.
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