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Messages - Electrickey

#1
Isn't that a 200 NOT a 200A with the speakers on the chassis not in the lid?

If it's a ground issue any green wire bolted to the points on the chassis should be taken apart and some cleaner and light sand paper to burnish the connection areas, (washer, nut, chassis) to get a better ground. There are also special connectors going to the amp and preamp that might need cleaning and tightening. If you don't trust yourself to work on things you might want to get someone who is rather than risk making more issues that will be a problem to get fixed.

How to remove hum from you Wurlizter guide.
#2
You might want to engage the services of a trained piano tuner. Someone who trained in Europe at the best piano makers. They know how to finagle the workings of a piano to possibly get what you want. I had my 200A overhauled by one such technician and he did things to the action I would never know how to do. Like make it so pounding the keys would save the reeds.
#3
The headphone out on my 200A and it's the original amp/electronics no mods, is somewhat distorted as well with some hum audible and is only one side of a stereo (left) field.

The AUX-out does not drive headphones for the unit I have. I used a Sony MDR-7506 studio set.

These instruments were not meant to be high fidelity and I've heard the electronics are not well designed. But then that's part of the character which is why it's been left stock. A 50 year old instrument will pale in comparison sonically to today's and we've become used to higher fidelity forgetting what the Wurli's limitations are.

Reason why amps for these models are being redesigned and sold as upgrades for those wanting a clearer performance.

When using it for concerts a dummy jack is placed in the headphone out to mute the speakers.

#4
Is there a headphone out? A regular 200A has an adjustment pot for the AUX jack.

https://www.vintagevibe.com/products/wurlitzer-200a-aux-out-pot-pre-wired-with-shielded-cable

#5
Ground loops are tricky. Could be something is not wired correctly (hot-neutral-ground) and it could be the outlet as well. There are plug-in testers for this. So you're plugged into the wall outlet with both plugs? Have you tried a single heavy duty power strip plugged into the wall with both amp and piano at the strip? At least with the Wurli, you're not going to be touching metal things to get a shock.



Is your piano power cord  wired correctly? I seem to remember an issue where the terminals got reversed at the factory on these.



https://docwurly.com/a-faq-in-process-pt-1-ac-power-cables-for-wurlitzer-electric-pianos/

"Instruments from the 200 and earlier 200A series, from 1968 through around 1978, used an oval connector with 3-round pins, plugging into the female end of an AC cable that was also used by Hewlett Packard.  The connector is called a PH-163.  It is a less than ideal component to the instrument.  The pins tend to get loose.  Many of the power cables Wurlitzer used resolved to an unpolarized two pin AC plug, and even some of the 3-pin plugs had a fake ground plug.  Polarity wasn't wired consistently in the instrument, and cables used were randomly either #17280 or #17952, as detailed here:"




There were TWO PH-163 power cord models used by Wurlitzer at the time (according to Doc Wurly's blog) and the wires were made reversed by the cable manufacturer. Wurlitzer did not check for polarity when sending pianos out the door. So depending on which cable came with your piano there would be a polarity issue.

Update:

Re-found this info:
For a Wurli, the correct cord is the "reversed polarity" version.  The proper Wurli cord has the hot on the left and the neutral on the right when you look at the connector from the end, with the ground contact above the other two.

According to the photo of the outlet above that would make the Wurli a standard wiring if you consider the plug's right lug (when plugged into the outlet) will connect to the "HOT" side of the wall outlet.


I have two Wurli AC cables. The one that came with when I bought it from the previous owner, a  brown VICTOR , and a Belden gray that I bought later. The VICTOR is wired HOT on the LEFT and NEUTRAL on the RIGHT (looking at the piano socket with the ground pin hole on top of the other two) but the ground does not appear to be connected to the ground pin from the piano's socket. The Belden's is the same HOT/LEFT NEUTRAL/RIGHT but the ground works.

Keep in mind with the above description of the socket end of the Wurli AC cable, AT THE PLUG END the right lug will be standard HOT and the left lug will be standard NEUTRAL. Whew...

Now how is the socket on  the back of the piano mounted? With the ground pin on the bottom?
#6
Try plugging both amp and piano into the same outlet source. Sounds like a ground loop.
#7
I would get what you can and see how it works on your piano.
#8
I would try a liquid rust converter with a toothbrush. Careful not to get it on anything else and remove the felt and then once the converter has turned the rust black maybe some fine sandpaper like 1000 grit and then some metal polish. If you use a dremel use a fine abrasive and take your time and then a polishing attachment. A wire might be too abrasive and score the pins. You want to kill the rust and polish the pin not reduce the diameter or shape if possible.
#9
It's been said that everything in a circuit affects the tone and that should include the pilot lamp/bulb/diode and some would argue negligible to none. If the original neon bulb is available I would opt for that and only change to another type if none.
#10
Other Keyboards & Software Synths / DAVE SMITH
September 05, 2022, 01:49:51 PM
Just a note for the record of the passing of synth pioneer Dave Smith.

You cannot view this attachment.

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/dave-smith-midi-prophet-5-dies-1235080789/


#11
If wanting the original tone and response of a Wurli the original amp is key.

I've found that re-flowing solder joints on the original amp in my 200A got rid of all the intermittent noise storms and the amp sounds fine with all original parts.

Many times some get overly concerned about drifting tolerances without considering that although  fixing the amp with new parts may look good on a tolerance sheet, what does it do for the tone?

It's like getting a face lift. You won't sound or look like you anymore.

The tone came from years of aging of the parts. Unless the amp does not work or is in danger of being a fire hazard, would I consider on changing parts without thinking. You won't find the original issue parts in new condition. You will however get reproductions which again will not react like the original.

Most of the character of a vintage electrical musical instrument is that it has old parts and f the parts are original, whatever parts the factory chose in the design, it was serendipitous that the sum of those parts ended up presenting the tone.

The amp may be a designer's nightmare from an electronic engineer's POV but then we're dealing with tone not how well the amp was made.

#12
The 200 has more warmth. The 200A is the more requested for use for back line pro stage.

As mentioned if you can try either model and see which captures your imagination.

Try and find  a Wurli that needs little work vs one that is a beater. These days with supply chain break downs and shipping you'll want to have any fix-er-upper projects behind you otherwise you'll end up doing less recording and more fixing and waiting for parts.

The digital clones pretty much have the sound down if you're just looking for representation of the sound in a mix, but the original has its analog charm and like playing guitar somewhat each player gets their own response out of the instrument that a digital sample won't.

My fave old Wurli recording is Joni Mitchell's Woodstock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3SjqGfe-yM
#13
Jerry Welch owner of Organ Service Company in Chicago, a source of knowledge and Hammond organ parts has passed at the age of 79.

Jerry took over some of the inventory when the Hammond Chicago factory closed.

ttps://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=jerry-j-welch&pid=197012958

http://organservicecompany.com
#14
I would try shielding the Clav and not change parts in the Wurli to retain its tone.

What year is your Clav? Is it a D6?

By around 1977, Hohner released a model that was shielded to address the noise problem.

So let's say the Clav is the issue not the Wurli.

But there are work arounds by shielding the Clav's amp.

This does not involve using "hiss" caps which ruin the classic Clav tone.

A copper box is made and connected to ground.

Shield the electronics or get a keyboard stand to lift the Clav further away from the Wurli.

May not be ideal but back when these were made no one thought about players stacking them one on top of the other.










#16
As an aside, when I dismounted the speakers in my 200A to check them for wear and vacuuming the cones of decades of dust, when installing them, I used some of that black mastic "rope" that some speaker suppliers have.

Looks like black licorice rope and lay this on the edge  on the gaskets to seal up the space between the speaker and the lid.

Keeps the sound focused out of the lid grills and helps a little in the dust and moisture department.

Don't use too much so you don't warp the frames.

(Only works on the 200A)

Note: if you plan to shop-vac your speakers you might want to avail of those tiny vacuum accessories that reduce a basic nozzle size down to a strong whisper of pull.



You don't want to have to hunt for your missing cones after you suck them off the frames with your mega horsepower vac. ???

#17
Quote from: DocWurly on June 29, 2019, 10:55:51 PM
The 200's had a lot of features that changed after the first run, approximately Sept 1968-Sept 1969.  Off the top of my head, and much of it brought to my attention by Cinnanon:


  • The "fake stereo" paired speakers
  • The "hairpin" slotted legs
  • Lettering _under_ the knobs on the faceplates
  • A different, bigger jewel bezel for the on/off light
  • Different grid pattern over the speakers (I think it was just the first year....?)

They also had not-great amps, a fuse on the knob/pot housing, and dangerous AC incoming wiring that should always be fixed.

I think the red and forest green colors were more widely available in that first run, too.

That said, I personally prefer the sound of the 200 over the 200A.

The thing about amps is the technical on one side and then the ear on the other.

Over time we will notice many errors in design with anything humans make.

But in those errors lies some revealing qualities. :)

It is those qualities we might want over the spiffy-ness of the design.

#18
How many decades did it last?

Compared to many things made today, that would be a lifetime.  :)

The plate on my 200A is still on there with no signs of backing off anywhere. :D
#19
Quote from: cinnanon on June 28, 2019, 11:44:15 AM
The original nameplates look to have used an adhesive tape

It would be worth knowing what they used then and what would be a modern version of that.

With the reissue plates, what is recommended to adhere these?
#20
I would test an inconspicuous spot on the Wurli's vinyl to see if the cement will melt the finish before committing to a blitzkrieg glue-fest.

Today's cements may have things in it that does not agree with the vintage vinyl.

Keep in mind unless one knows the exact brand and batch mix used at the Wurli factory during the assembly days, even if you get the same brand and type, the formula may have changed since the 70's.

Vegetable oil might be safer to use to remove old goop.


#21
Excellent, Tim, and thank you for providing this information!


Bass side

https://postimg.cc/YL7WmrPD/3f5a200b


Treble side

https://postimg.cc/8JXCT1Sr/da227e72

Couldn't figure out how to post larger photos of Tim's speakers.

#22
Thanks for the information Tim. :)
#23
Quote from: Tim Hodges on June 26, 2019, 12:12:36 PM
Yep normal 200 series amp, no separate preamp like the 200a. The speaker cones on the bass seemed to have ridges where the treble didn't. Both were original cones.

Would be nice to see photos of these for documentation purposes.

To see EIA codes.

Does anyone know who made these cones for Wurlitzer over the years?
#24
Quote from: Tim Hodges on June 26, 2019, 03:23:40 AM
I had a 200 from '68 in for servicing a while back and it had the 2 original speakers but each had a different model code. Rather than it being "stereo" each speaker was designed to accentuate the sounds of the treble and the bass.

Can't remember much about the wiring to them though.

Interesting.

Was the amp the normal 60's era mono 200 amp and preamp?
#25
Quote from: pianotuner steveo on June 25, 2019, 04:04:31 PM
I don't think that is true about the stereo effect, but then again, maybe it was something they tried in 1968 only.  Anyone can add a cap to filter out some bass from the right speaker, but I don't think I would do that. An external stereo effect pedal would be better.

I was wondering about the use of the word "stereo" but I took it to mean there was a different sound from "two speakers" and not really a true stereo effect. That would mean there would need to be 2 amp channels going, to get stereo, not a single-channel mono.

There was no mention of the piano having a special amp for 1968.

For Wurlitzer to go the length of having different speakers designed and made to achieve the bass/treble side effect is interesting. That would mean reinstalling such speakers, one would need to have this information or install the cones in backwards.

Wurli amp designers: now you have some ideas for an upgrade amp/speaker unit.

Stereo vibrato? Reverb? Delay? Chorus? Distortion? Sky's the limit.

As far as experimenting, anyone is free to do that, adding blocker caps. It would take some time and effort. YMMV.
#26
Quote from: pianotuner steveo on June 25, 2019, 06:59:40 AMwill it change the sound that much?


Depends on how critical one is on how the piano will sound with other than original speakers. The size of a speaker is not the determining factor by itself. It will be a number of factors, the way the speaker was made, the materials used in assembly.

Case in point, the Yamaha NS10 studio monitors that started out as cheap bookshelf speakers, use a special white cone material that is not made anymore, which is why original NS10 speaker (raw frames) go for a lot of money because the sound is not the same and there are those who can tell.

Even speakers of the same make and model, manufacturer sound slightly different from themselves.

Not sure if this is accurate but according to a "docwurly" site history:

On the 1968 issues of the 200:

Quote"The speaker at the bass end accents the bass notes and the one at the treble end stresses the highs, to give a stereo effect." This seems to have been achieved through cone design."

https://docwurly.com/wurlitzer-ep-history/wurlitzer-electric-piano-models-a-list/

Again, being a custodian of a prized vintage instrument comes with some responsibilities.

If it were mine I would keep it as original as possible.

#27
Quote from: pianotuner steveo on June 25, 2019, 06:50:30 AM
where do you get that brass pad solder cleaner?

Amazon sells them if you like to use them.

https://www.amazon.com/Soldering-Cleaner-Wire-type-Holder-WYCTIN/dp/B076V14SRC



When it gets full you just open the bottom cap and there will be the balls and bits of solder.

Just jab the tip of your solder pencil into the ball several times.

It leaves the tip thinly tinned and ready for use. Works like a charm.

Tip: the balls are smaller than the container so use two to fill the cup properly to make it easier to jab the solder tip in. You can also use stainless steel wool balls to help fill the cup using the brass balls as the cleaner pad and the SS balls for support.

#28
Quote from: Abraham on April 02, 2019, 10:11:55 AM
Quote from: pianotuner steveo on April 01, 2019, 08:17:56 PM
Speakers aren't going to fry your amp

Thank you!

But if you don't use the proper impedance your amp is looking for, you won't get the same volume response out of your piano's amp if the impedance is different from the original.

The original impedance seen by the 200A amp is 8 ohms, with two 16 ohm speakers wired in parallel.

Also keep in mind that speakers are part of the character of the piano.

• If you don't use the originals or replacements that have been designed like/close to the originals, you won't get the classic sound and any aftermarket speaker may have frequency responses that don't bring out the proper sound of the piano.

Then again that may not matter to you.

With any speaker/ speaker replacement, it's a gamble as to how any one speaker will react in any instrument.

Be prepared for this gamble on the tone.

What are your priorities?





#29
QuoteMy tech just screwed up those even if I warned him about this.

Owning a vintage instrument needs a tech that is sensitive to that whole game.

• Don't assume that the next guy (tech) is going to be on the same page with you as far as how rare the instrument is he's working on unless he happens to repair that particular instrument as part of his daily business.

You have to be on guard that at any moment, someone will do something wrong to the instrument. And be ready FOR THE PITFALLS OF THE TYPICAL MISTAKES, just anyone would recreate simply because they have no idea what the instrument is or how hard and expensive it is to get parts.

Quoteit's just the nature of the beast when importing goods.

Amen!

If authenticity is your goal, better get them now before things get worse for shipping.

Insurance on ships is going to go up, 400% (courtesy of what's been happening lately), so that's going to mean shipping costs are going to go up.

As has been suggested, find some large flat head screws at your hardware store, preferably black if your Wurli is basic black or paint the ones that you find.

Flathead carriage bolts would look similar from 50 feet. :P





But using a carriage bolt would mean there is the square nut shape under the head which is typical of a carriage bolt because it does not have driver slots. YMMV and short of grinding off the edges to remove the corners of the built-in nut, you may have to allow the nut to embed itself into the vinyl of your piano.

These are not bad for the hex slot.






If you're going to restore a vintage, not made anymore instrument and you're not living in the country that made it, then be prepared to take on a rich-man's hobby.
:-\
#30
Quote3% import taxes + 21% VAT + customs agent payment,

Where is as is.

Owning a vintage musical instrument comes at a price.

Be glad you don't live on the moon...

What happened to the original speakers in your piano?

Find what you can in your area that is close and make or have someone make a thin sturdy adapter out of wood, metal or plastic.





#31
Quote from: Argi on June 15, 2019, 01:07:02 AM
Hi from Spain.
Thanks for your answer!
  My soldering iron and my welding skills are basic so I will take the amplifier to a technician to check the welds.
I've worked a lot on this piano and I have to try to make the noise disappear, it's the most important thing!
I will also check the ground points.
Thanks for everything.

You may want to impress upon your technician that you would like each solder joint reflowed. It would be best that you do not assume the technician will think to do this. It will take some time to do each and every weld point.

What we are explaining to you is a repair procedure that we've discovered as owners/service people on these instruments and may not be part of your technician's habits.

If your technician understands the complete reflow procedure we've described on this instrument, then no problem.

Before you leave your instrument at the technician's shop, you would want to know that they have repaired a Wurlitzer electric piano before.

If not, try and find a technician, or another musician-hobbyist like yourself with more experience with a solder station and on complex circuit boards.

• It is important that when reflowing each weld, that the solder does not connect outside of each weld's circuit, not touching other welds, that should remain separate from the other and that the solder iron does not burn the board or overheat the components. This is why a proper solder station unit is needed to quickly apply the right amount of heat in the quickest amount of time and that one's solder skills are good enough to do this.

• The 200A's circuit boards are now 50 years. They may need a better modern solder station.

I used one of these on my 200A's amp and preamp and purchased it just for reflowing the Wurli's electronics. It measures the amount of heat needed at the weld and applies just enough heat to melt and flow the solder.

This is not the type of station using a manual heat control knob or button.



The Jovy iSolder 40 is a copy (somewhat) of the Metcal smart solder, but made in China. 

Metcal makes many models and they started in Silicon Valley making equipment for the military. They are pricey and come from different parts of the globe.

See video below for the Metcal.

https://vimeo.com/200519529



Suffice it to say my Jovy lasted just a little longer (about 2 years) after reflowing the welds on the 200A. Something happened within the pencil itself and getting a repair response from Jovy was a dead-end. The way the base unit is made, it can't be opened as it is sealed and the pencil is hard-wired to the base, unlike others that are dis-connectable.

It served its purpose at $100.

Video for the iSolder 40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yl3BaCRzBk

No solder kit is complete without one of these:

Forget that wet sponge. This brass wool pad is the way to go to clean tips without using water and a plastic sponge.
There are other versions of this same system using the brass wool ball.
#32
Quote from: David68 on May 06, 2019, 12:07:19 PM
I have inspected solder joints.

As has been mentioned a number of times in other threads, reflowing ALL the solder joints is key to finding static and thunderstorms even before replacing parts.

How sure are you that replacing the resistors was actually the problem and not that the solder joint was just reflowed in the process?

Inspecting joints does not always present the problem. The joint can be defective underneath the solder where the part connects to the board and can't be seen.

Figure a 50 year old electronic instrument, things can get iffy from age and oxidation of connections.

Hence doing a complete reflow job on both the amp and preamp will at least narrow things down.

I did this with my 200A, it would sit on for an hour and then all of a sudden cough and wheeze until I did the total reflow job. Has not made a peep since.

I did use good solder though and a heat adjustable computer controlled soldering station reflowing every joint.

I hesitated assuming the parts were at fault off the bat losing tolerance as I didn't want to change the tone of the piano, preferring to keep everything as original factory parts as possible.

#33
Rather than assuming changing the amp because others are doing it, ask yourself what you want out of your vintage Wurlitzer?

Do you want the classic sound heard on countless albums?

If so, then hang on to your amp.

The reason you won't see the original amps up for sale is because not every one wants to change the character of the original just to gain a few cents of a db in hum control.

There are people who "upgrade" just for the sake of upgrading. But is changing the character of an instrument an upgrade?

In the end, changing the original parts of a vintage instrument devalues it. That's something else to consider.

Ever hear the Wurli/vocal version song Woodstock by Joni Mitchell?
#34
Might it not be more practical to invest in a flight case that you can use and resell than investing in a crate that needs to be torn down and rebuilt, adding to the "iffy-ness" of the structural integrity of the enclosure holding the piano?

A flight case is easier to grab, and will lessen the tendency to throw the package around for it's human-friendly box, corners and edges and HANDLES.


In fact you could rebox the flight case with cardboard if you don't want to advertise.
But insurance for over the replacement cost will be your friend.

Or, join uShip and have someone hand deliver your prized piano to the tech.

Many other ways to go on this.
#35
This has come up before.

I would try getting a good heat adjustable solder station and reflow the solder spots on the amp and preamp if you have basic soldering skills and see if that fixes the noise problem before assuming there's something wrong with the components. Unless it's apparent that there are  bad parts, sometimes reheating the solder holding the components to the circuit boards will reconnect anything that has become intermittent over the decades.

I did this to my 200A and no more thunderstorms, or static.

Changing components in a vintage amp, note that the tone will change as well.
Just because a part has drifted from spec, use your ears. If the piano sounds good then why change the components off the bat.

Isn't the sound more important than if the caps and resistors are at tolerance.

Of course if there is any danger the parts will burn and cause a fire, then by all means change it.

But a vintage sound is usually the vintage parts having settled to a particular state that gives the instrument the desired character.

Make sure the ground lugs around the inside of the piano are clean and tight.

If your solder skills are not up to it, have someone who is good at it do the work. You don't want to mess anything up turning your vintage Wurli into a guinea pig experiment.

Respect the instrument.

#36
If it's vintage and with power company irregularities and lightning strikes more common I would unplug these not made anymore instruments just to keep lightning from making a toaster out of it.

#37
The Wurlitzer Electric Piano / Re: Harp ringing in 200As
February 24, 2019, 06:30:47 PM
Just a thought, try to adjust the left screw that holds the metal music rack and see if the metallic overtone disappears. If it's the same problem I have, I find just turning the screw to tighten the lid onto the chassis makes the errant sound go away. Check if your rubber grommets on those screws are full and pliable.

#38
Quote from: sean on February 02, 2019, 01:46:05 AM

keep your fingers off the high voltage while working inside the Wurly.


How does one bleed the stored voltage in a Wurli?

#39
I bought my 200A in 2013 for $600. Bostonian moving to Las Vegas did not want to bring it with.

Had a flight case made for it.

#40
I couldn't view any of the dropbox clips. They all 404'd.

Anyway, interesting thread and lots of ifs ands or buts technical mullings.

I decided to let a piano technician fiddle with the Wurli. Too many geometry specs for me to try and get right without years of piano experience.

When one issue gets fixed, another crops up. Did not want to deal with that and end up more problems than before.

As long as the middle of the keyboard gets that Wurli tone, without being expected to play like a Bosendorfer, I'm content.

Hope you come back with some takeaways for us landlubbers who did not sail the 7 seas in a sail boat.  :)
#41
If the sound and feel are comfortable with the old parts then just go with that. Otherwise the expense and work of changing those parts will undo all the years of the piano settling into a good playing response. Unless you've got a lot of years at your disposal to get the new parts to wear in, I'd just play the thing and make music.

My 200A I had worked on by a trained grand piano tech. He adjusted the action so the keys could be played harder without the reeds getting beat up, but the keys clack a little on the lower end. But when playing the piano, it is amplified and the clacking isn't heard.

Yet this piano is one of those where the lower keys get this warm Wurli sound.

Trade offs on a mechanical device never designed to be perfect in all aspects.

But one can still collect new or used replacement parts while they are still available so that a repair could be made in the future.
#42
Best to scour Youtube clips on the two models and see which one you are more attracted to as far as sound. I've got a 200A but prefer the sound of the 200. But then again I provide backline and riders call for the A version more than not.

If you have the opportunity to demo both, then that will be your guide as far as what speaks to you best.

The amps are different, the speaker mountings on the A are attached to the lid whereas the 200 the speakers are attached to the piano. The sound of the speakers attached to lid is more directed.
#43
Yes some mold is not affected by bleach and some types even thrive. Ever open a shower head and find black mold in it even if the city water has bleach added?

Vinegar or even baking soda will also take care of mold.
#44
Amps, Effects & Recording Techniques / Re: Eq pedal
November 10, 2018, 12:55:26 AM
Quote from: d-rock on October 18, 2018, 06:44:56 AM
Anyone have experience using a guitar EQ pedal - 100hz to 6.4k - as opposed to a bass EQ pedal - 50hz to 10k?

You might fare with a bass eq pedal as the frequencies are closer to a piano's wider range.



#45
Class...

#46
Quote from: Tonewheel on November 05, 2018, 05:43:52 AM
Just an opinion.

That is too nice a relic to do this to.

There will be a day when those student pianos will be rare. Primarily because they get chopped, or, because of their weight and size, get dropped down the stairs or out the back of a van for a gig. And it might just be that you could regret the chop in the future.

I have an old B3, a Rhodes and a Wurlitzer, and the one keyboard that I think can't take the "oops" is the Wurlitzer. The board is delicate. The reeds are an accident waiting to happen. The old solder joints will fail when you need them most (because one jolt back a few weeks ago weakened a solder). What would make me take them to a gig is pure pride, plus the multi-sensory experience of playing the real thing with fellow musicians and an audience that appreciates the nuances of the keyboards (rare).

Again, just an opinion, and if you do go ahead, it would be great to see how it looks cosmetically.

What Tonewheel well said!

The solder joints, get yourself a good heat tracking adjustable solder iron and carefully reflow all the joints on the amp/preamp and you should be good to go for another few decades as far as that is concerned.

But yeah why does everything need to chopped and not just taken for what it is?

It will never be an original 200/A and after the vivisection, an original 206.

And if it was acquired wearing a halo effect, more so should it remain intact.
#47
Leave it in one piece.
#48
Quote from: Paleophone on October 28, 2018, 12:46:56 AM
the necessity of removing the rust may be overrated.  The place you most want to worry about is where the reed contacts the reed bar.  You certainly want full contact between the surfaces there.

Keep in mind that the hammer doesn't want any random chemicals on it, so reeds should be clear of any oils or chemicals before being reinstalled.

Good point for oil on the hammers but then the same could hold true for getting rust powder on the hammers as well. And rust spreads to other parts and then makes a mess of everything if not caught in time.

Hindsight IMO would be to avoid getting involved in a piano that has rampant rust. The same way one would avoid buying a car that was rusty not unless you're an experienced repair person with unlimited, time, funds and facilities and don't mind taking on the task of restoring something that is filled with rust and problems.

Rust converter if done right works to bring the rust to a controllable state. And here again YMMV is king.

I was asked one time to help a backline company source a Fender Rhodes. They brought out several units. Looking inside, there was rust on most everything. When they were told how much it would cost to restore the piano they got cold feet, and rightfully so.

As I tried to imply, finding an instrument that is not a victim of the ravages of time, says something for the build of the piano and IMO would be the best start rather than to take arms against a sea of troubles.

For some reason there are units from any one company that survive getting rust. Those are the units to consider purchasing. Granted not everyone has that choice and makes do with what they find if they really want an instrument and are willing to go through the hassle of restoring it.

Note that replacement reeds are for some reason presently 'out of stock' and hence not always available. And there is some risk in using newly made vs the old stock made by Wurlitzer getting the whole piano to sound congruent across the keyboard.

Par for the course of having and using an instrument that is no longer made.

If you have a rusty instrument sourced from your area, you might want to consider also that your weather conditions are not friendly to your piano. And you may want to weigh the pros and cons of owning it.

I know of a hi-fi dealer selling audiophile level stereo gear. He had two dehumidifiers running 24 hours a day in his shop including an isolation transformer filtering his AC to his stock.

These extra precautions are part of taking care of gear in unfriendly climates.

I purchased a Minimoog that came with the Moog supplied flight case. The case hardware was rusty. Fortunately the D series was clean of bad rust unlike its case. I just bought new 1/4 inch jack washers and replaced those and put converter on some of the screw heads. The inside of the synth is clean. Just turned out that way and had the D been badly rusted, I would've passed on it. Luckily I was able to source the gummy key actuators to fix a broken contact. And I got the D for a really good price. A father was liquidating his son's studio and just wanted the gear to disappear.

Armed with a wire brush chucked to a drill wearing a dust mask, I took off the rust on the case hardware and then added rust converter. Then sprayed it with clear epoxy. The rust is gone for years now and the hardware looks clean. The foam inside the case had seen better days as did the velour material. So new foam and velour were added.

Just takes doing right and it's not easy.

Sometimes the converter kills the rust without needing any oil afterwards. Again, it's hit and miss. And you have to monitor to see if the rust is coming back. But if you store your instruments in climate controlled rooms, then you'll have an easier time with it. But building and powering the climate controlled room is another matter altogether.

That, or move to Arizona where many car collectors store their vintage rides.

#49
Quote from: pablotiburcio on October 26, 2018, 02:55:54 PM
Guys, thanks for all the advice.
I am testing anti-rust products that I found in my city but they are all deteriorating the material.

I'm trying to import evaporust but I can not.  :-\

Then dilute the chemical with water and brush it on rather than soak the reeds, leaving it on for a few minutes and then rinse with water, dry the parts with a clean cloth. You will have to guess how to use the chemical as the composition might be different from other brands of rust-converter which is what these chemicals are supposed to do.

Different countries have either chemical/liquid import restrictions or government red tape to import.
#50
Since many times forums tend to be self-help venues, it should go without saying that the YMMV or try at your own risk are understood. Short of bringing/shipping an instrument to an experienced repair person, we are left to our own devices, levels of skill and basically, luck. Accidents do happen. And depending on where we are on the planet, certain issues do crop up that are not the case in other areas of the planet.

QuoteI just bought a Wurly and it came with several broken reeds (28  :o) and the rest rusty.

Caveat emptor could have prevailed...