News:

Shipping now! "Classic Keys" book, a celebration of vintage keyboards  More...

Main Menu

Wurli 140B amp apaears to work...but no sound

Started by johnnysavant, July 08, 2017, 07:48:10 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

johnnysavant

Hi All,

I'm new here. I just got my hands on a 140B Wurli. It powers up and the amp puts out sound (I can hear it idling through the speaker). All the connections seem good, but no sound comes out when I hit the keys.

Any idea where I should begin my search for a fix?

Thx,

Johnny
Hammond A100, SK1
Yamaha CP4, P250
Wurlitzer, 120, 140B, 200A
Korg analog CX3, BX3

pianotuner steveo

If you are not experienced at repairing electronics, I suggest that you find a local amp tech.
That amp is over 50 years old and it could be a number of things. Don't just randomly start replacing parts. I believe the schematic is available her to give to a tech.
1960 Wurlitzer model 700 EP
1968 Gibson G101 Combo organ
1975 Rhodes Piano Bass
1979 Wurlitzer 206A EP
1980 Wurlitzer 270 Butterfly Grand
2009 73A Rhodes Mark 7
2009 Korg SV-1 73
2017 Yamaha P255
2020 Kawai CA99
....and a few guitars...

DocWurly

When it is off, do all the keys play?  It could be as simple as a reed, broken or unbroken, bridging the pickup.

johnnysavant

Quote from: Paleophone on July 09, 2017, 12:16:40 PM
When it is off, do all the keys play?  It could be as simple as a reed, broken or unbroken, bridging the pickup.

Thanx,

I can repair tube amps. I don't like to work on SS amps, but I've done it before. I know I can rebuild the entire amp with a Vintage Vibe kit, if I need to. I'm just hoping I can find someone who has had a similar problem who can help me narrow down the issue.

QuoteWhen it is off, do all the keys play?  It could be as simple as a reed, broken or unbroken, bridging the pickup.

All the keys play when it is off. Where would I look for something bridging the pickup?

Thanx again, guys.
Hammond A100, SK1
Yamaha CP4, P250
Wurlitzer, 120, 140B, 200A
Korg analog CX3, BX3

pianotuner steveo

I seriously doubt that is it, especially if all keys make sound.  When the pickup is shorted, it usually crackles but still works at least intermittently.

It could be bad caps, transistors, too many things to just guess. I believe that model has an aux input- you can try to put a different signal through, ( phone, iPad, iPod) but double check that there is no voltage across the terminals of the input Jack first.
1960 Wurlitzer model 700 EP
1968 Gibson G101 Combo organ
1975 Rhodes Piano Bass
1979 Wurlitzer 206A EP
1980 Wurlitzer 270 Butterfly Grand
2009 73A Rhodes Mark 7
2009 Korg SV-1 73
2017 Yamaha P255
2020 Kawai CA99
....and a few guitars...

Alan Lenhoff

Simple things first: Before you start re-building the amp, check the voltage on the reedbar pickups. It should be about 170 volts DC.  If you aren't getting that, maybe the reedbar is shorted to ground.  (That's quite easy to inadvertently do during re-assembly if you've had things apart.  Don't ask me how I know that...)   ;-)

Alan
Co-author, "Classic Keys: Keyboard Sounds That Launched Rock Music"

Learn about the book: http://www.classickeysbook.com/
Find it on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1574417762/

1965 UK Vox Continental;1967 Gibson G101 organ; 1954 Hammond B2; Leslie 21H; Leslie 31H; 1974 Rhodes Mark I Stage 73; 1972 Rhodes Sparkletop Piano Bass; 1978 Hohner Clavinet D6; 1968 Hohner Pianet N II; 1966 Wurlitzer 140B; 1980 Moog Minimoog Model D; 1983 Roland JX-3P; 1977 Fender Twin Reverb; 1983 Roland JX-3P synth; Vox AC30CC2X amp.
(See the collection: https://vintagerockkeyboards.com/ )