The Fender Rhodes 88 key Suitcase and Stage Models were first introduced in 1970. The Rhodes pianos tone is generated by an asymmetrical tuning fork - with a stiff wire (called a "tine") struck by a neoprene rubber-tipped hammer acting as one side of the tuning fork, and a counterbalancing resonating tone bar above the tine acting as the other side. This tone generator kit's vibrations are then picked up by an electromagnetic pickup (one for each tine), and amplified. The result is a unique, fat sound with a bellish attack and good sustain.