Rhodes unveils the MK8/80AE, a limited edition for 80th anniversary

Rhodes has opened order books for the MK8/80AE, a strictly limited edition of its flagship electric piano built to mark 80 years of the brand. The order window opened on June 30, 2026, and will remain open for three months, or until all 80 units are allocated.

The instrument was designed by Chief Product Officer Dan Goldman alongside the Rhodes Custom Shop team. Specific aesthetic and specification details have been teased gradually across Rhodes’ social channels ahead of the launch, with the full product reveal expected later this summer.

The MK8/80AE follows the 75th Anniversary Edition, the MK8/75AE, which sold out shortly after its 2022 release. That instrument introduced a blacked-out keybed, gold-accented details and analogue effects as standard. The 80AE is similarly positioned as a collectors’ piece, with production capped at 80 units worldwide.

The piano builds on the heritage of the Rhodes MK8, which has become the centrepiece of the modern Rhodes lineup since its relaunch. Rhodes was founded in 1946 by Harold Rhodes, who hand-built the first instruments from repurposed aircraft parts for wounded soldiers recovering in hospital.

As part of the 80th anniversary campaign, Rhodes ran a global giveaway for one of the first MK8/80AE pianos. Donovan Allen was announced as the winner on June 29, 2026. For those who missed the giveaway, the Rhodes V8 Pro virtual instrument remains an accessible entry point into the Rhodes sound.

Orders can be placed directly at rhodesmusic.com.