The two Rhodes MK8 designs draw inspiration from winter landscapes and brutalist architecture—and are only available until 9 January 2025.
Rhodes has launched two striking Custom Shop editions of its MK8 electric piano, each hand-built in Leeds by Rhodes Master Builders. Glacial and Monolith represent opposite ends of the aesthetic spectrum while delivering the same expressive sound that’s made the MK8 a modern classic.
Catch up on all the latest news here.
Available exclusively through the Rhodes Custom Shop until 9 January 2025, both pianos are built to order and won’t be reissued once the window closes. It’s a truly limited run.
Glacial
The MK8 Glacial channels the quiet intensity of frozen landscapes through its hand-engraved transparent hood. Etched with a frost motif that recalls early-morning ice fractals, the hood refracts light across the Arctic White harp beneath, creating a sculptural visual language that extends throughout the instrument. Arctic White dominates the front panel, cheekblocks, tolex base, and matching sustain pedal, while Frostline Blue accents adorn in the inlays, dial caps, and silver-on-Frostline Blue logo plates. The result pairs the MK8’s warm tones with a crisp, reflective aesthetic that lives up to its name.
Monolith
Where Glacial embraces clarity, the Monolith leans into texture and weight. Drawing from brutalist architecture’s focus on materiality and structural honesty, this model centres on a hand-painted, distressed concrete-effect hood with tonal variations that mirror weathered stone and poured concrete. That textural approach continues across the concrete-effect base and cheekblocks, giving the piano the appearance of a single cast form. Grey Stone-effect finishes on the front panel, cross braces, and hood strip reinforce the industrial aesthetic, while Machined Silver inlays and slate dial caps provide subtle contrast. A matching stone-coated sustain pedal completes the unified identity.
Both models pack the same tonal power under their contrasting exteriors. Each piano features a 73-note precision-manufactured Kluge keyboard, Rhodes stereo-analogue effects (compressor, phaser, chorus, delay with true bypass), and the MK8 analogue preamp with EQ, drive, envelope control, wah, and vari-pan.
Whether you’re drawn to the elegance of the Glacial, or the Monolith‘s texture, both represent Rhodes’ commitment to bringing together visual design with their classic, sonic quality.
The order window runs until 9 January 2025 through the Rhodes Custom Shop.
