News:

Follow us on Twitter for important announcements and outage notices.

Main Menu
Menu

Show posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.

Show posts Menu

Messages - pianotuner steveo

#51
1. No

2. No

3. Maybe, but probably not
#52
Teflon bushings in acoustic pianos ended up being a nightmare.
Not recommended.
#53
The Wurlitzer Reed bar can not operate with the 150vdc. It cannot be made passive.
#54
IMHO, I know the shape is supposed to affect the tone a bit, but lack of sustain could be related to how/where the Reed mounts to the Reed bar. The washers are concave, and the hump side goes up. Also, cleaning around the mounting holes and the end of the Reed with a light oil sometimes helps. Dirt/corrosion here affects the sustain.

Also, the 270 isn't known for having great "bark"
The non A 200s allegedly have the best "bark"
#55
Is the pickup itself not working and be amplified by the F's pickup?

Does the E tine have the correct tuning springs on it?
#56
I use TuneLab every day to tune acoustic pianos. I have tried it with a Rhodes, and didn't care for the results. I use a Korg chromatic tuner for tuning a Rhodes, and adjust the bass and treble to suit my ears. I do stretch the treble a little so that the notes don't sound flat.

My 2 cents. No pun intended. Lol
#57
I thought so, but this thing is really low volume.
#58
I don't think the temp will affect the reeds as far as tuning goes. That is more of an issue with stringed instruments and humidity.

Changing the Reed screws is not as easy as it seems. There may be an issue with the concave washers, but, it is easy to break the head off of an old Reed screw, plus, aligning the reeds perfectly to prevent shorts is a pain too...

You may want to experiment with just one or two before changing them all.. the washers get installed hump side up.
#59
Also, I think this may be one of the earlier versions of the VV amp, he said the piano was in storage for a couple of years.
#60
Hey Chris, yeah something seems to be wrong then. It works well, no noises or hum or distortion, it's just very quiet.
Maybe I should have turned the trim pot... it sounded like a Wurli at between 1/4-1/2 volume even with the volume control all the way up.
#61
Are these amps supposed to be as loud or louder than the original amps? I worked on my first 200 with one this morning (it only had mechanical issues) and the amp was pretty low volume even when turned up all the way. The owner didn't know any different because the previous owner installed the amp. The amp looked like it was installed professionally. I didn't want to mess with the trim pot, because it looked like it had a dab of glue on it to prevent turning and I didn't want to be responsible if it broke.
Any idea how many watts these are? I think the original amps were somewhere between 15-20 watts...
#62
You want to buy preformed white keytops, but be prepared to sand the sides with a table top sander. These generic tops will be a little larger than Wurli keys. Glue them on with contact cement. Clean any drips with paint thinner.
They are not expensive. Try Vandaking or Howard piano (Howardpianoindustries.com) if you no longer have a Schaff account
Howard has better prices and I think more choices.
#63
As long as you are sure where to put the extra ground wire, that should be fine, but the Jack may need replacing too. Rare, but possible.
#64
I would ask VV what to look for since it is their preamp.
#65
Vinegar removes rust from old car bumpers, so I assume it would work here. Why don't you remove one tone bar and try it as an experiment to see if you like the results?
#66
Wow! I knew Duke endorsed Wurlitzers, but I've never heard this. Thanks for sharing. The high treble sounded almost like an acoustic piano on the early models.

Does anyone have access to (and can post) a decent quality version of the ORIGINAL Jetson theme song featuring a Wurli? In the 80's, they redid the song with a Rhodes. Just not the same...

#67
Do all of the notes have about the same volume or are some louder than others?
If some are ok, but others barely work, there could be some dead pickups.

Also, as a simple test, have you tried moving any pickups closer to the tines? It's possible they are too far away, or maybe the tines are raised too high? (Voicing)
#68
But why bother?
It just seems silly to me...
#69
To me, that sounds almost exactly like when a Wurli reed is crooked and shorting against the pickup.
#70
A broken wire or contact going to that Jack maybe?
#71
Ok, it's definitely not a B. I may be interested in it after all.
Thanks Alan!

#72
I believe it's aluminum, I wouldnt waste the time,effort and money trying to chrome it...especially since nobody will ever see it except you..
#73
The Wurlitzer Electric Piano / Re: Action Question
November 10, 2021, 04:08:11 PM
The only real way to tighten the bushings is to replace them with thicker felt. It's not super complicated, but can be daunting to a newbie. I don't trust the tool that is supposed to tighten them, it's too easy to break the wood.
#74
Any ideas? Anyone?
#75
The Wurlitzer Electric Piano / Re: Action Question
November 08, 2021, 06:43:13 PM
Good points Jenzz...didn't think of those.
#76
The Wurlitzer Electric Piano / Re: Action Question
November 07, 2021, 08:25:55 PM
No, you can't over lube, and there isn't much of a way to tighten the resistance other than bushings. There may be an issue with key dip or Letoff. More likely dip.(That may explain clicking noises) Maybe your key bushings are too loose. Do the keys wiggle side to side more than usual?


Wurli's and Rhodes are apples and oranges. Wurli keys are very light weight and shorter.
Yours is a 200, non- A?

The whips and keys are different in A's and non A's.

Did the other piano have key weights added to the keys?
#77
No, I don't own it, but I did work on it once about 6 years ago. (Cleaned it, and freed up a sticking key or two)

Just curious- it's almost like brand new, complete with bench. I don't have pictures, but the owner called and asked me the other day what it could be worth. He knows it has value, so no, he won't sell it for a few hundred ( I tried... lol)
#78
Close up photos would help to determine the issue.
#79
The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: The Rhodes Mark 8
November 03, 2021, 07:14:56 AM
:-)
#80
The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: New Rhodes?
November 01, 2021, 07:14:36 PM
Almost $10k.
Yikes.
No thanks.
#81
He likely used a suitcase, probably his own. I know the photos show a stage, but that may have belonged to the studio.
#82
I'm sorry, but I tuned a piano for Ray Manzarek in 1999, and got to hang out with him. It IS a RHODES. We talked about it. He TOLD ME it was a Rhodes. That is my evidence!
Aside from the fact that it is very easy to tell the two instruments apart. Wurlitzers do not have the "chime" of a Rhodes. You can't duplicate the descending part on a Wurlitzer. There is not enough sustain. ( "The rain part" as Ray says)

I've never heard a Wurlitzer sound like a Rhodes, but have heard some Rhodes sound a bit like a Wurli, especially the early felt hammers or felt tips, which is what you are hearing. I have no explanation for the vibrato.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3deQXzV-qTk&t=1s


#83
The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Non tech person
October 29, 2021, 08:36:13 AM
Also sustain issues are usually damper issues, it sounds like some dampers are not working at all, and others need adjusting. Are you sure some keys are ringing an octave higher? That does not sound possible unless someone put in incorrect tines or tuning springs are missing... but even with missing tuning springs, I doubt it would be a perfect octave higher...
#84
The Fender Rhodes Electric Piano / Re: Non tech person
October 29, 2021, 08:32:16 AM
No, the miracle mod does not help with the bouncing, it helps with the touch. Bouncing has to do with tension of the bridle straps on the dampers. Some people add the back check kit for this but I have never done that.
#85
No, it is a Rhodes. He only used a Wurlitzer on 2 or 3 tracks over the years. I can't think of any other tracks with Wurlitzers other than the tracks I mentioned above.

The vibrato may sound like Wurlitzer vibrato, but the piano is a felt hammer Rhodes. The pianos sound almost nothing alike
#86
Yes I agree, do not work on this piano, sell as is. The 4 sticking keys are a very simple repair to most buyers. I personally would much rather see a piano that needs simple repairs than a piano that was repaired by an inexperienced person. This piano may be pretty valuable, especially since nobody has messed with it.
#87
Generic keytops will work but do not fit exactly like the originals. The color won't match perfectly either.
I'm sure there is at least one person on here that may have some originals to sell. Wurlitzer EP keys  (keytops) are smaller than most acoustic piano keys.
#88
No, the 4102 is not for this or any of the later models. Also, Schaff only sells to working technicians. The general public isn't even allowed to view their website.
#89
As far as the broken white keytops go, you should see if anyone on here has any original replacements. Generics won't be a perfect size match, and replacing the all is a pain if you have never done it before. Generics will be larger and a lot of sanding and filing would be required. Unfortunately, I have sold all of my originals.
#90
You need to heat the hammer tips at the base with a soldering iron to loosen the glue.  Heat, wiggle, heat, wiggle.

New tips can be glued in with titebond

Do not attempt to cover the worn hammers with felt or leather, just replace them through VV.

#91
Nope- I just listened to both and I only hear a Hammond on both.
#92
I'm pretty sure he used his Gibson G101 on Texas Radio and the Big Beat. I have to listen to Hyacinth House again, I barely remember it.
#93
Did you try cleaning the contacts under the strips with a quip and rubbing alcohol?
#94
What is it? I've never heard of a seiko keyboard
#95
Just adjust the strike line of the reed bar. It should be a simple fix.
#96
Be careful tuning that! They are very difficult to tune and very easy to break strings. If you ever break a bass string do NOT throw it out. You will need the old one to have a duplicate made.

That piano is very inharmonic. The bass especially is difficult to tune! You need to tune bass notes FLATTER than you expect, don't make them sharp or they may break. $$$ to replace bass strings.
#97
The hammer and damper both appear to be working. It sounds like either loose screws or loose glue joint(s) on some part on that key. A loose hammer head or hammer flange screw are the first 2 things I would check. I do not see the damper falling down right away. It seems to be staying up.
#98
I really think it's cold solder joints. They are not always obvious from visual inspection.
Carefully resolder the amp board. Don't do this if you aren't sure what to do. In that case, find a local tech.
#99
Thanks! Glad you found the problem.
#100
That is going to be tough to find. I've only seen ONE in the last 45 years. Is it to complete your piano, or to actually use? They arent the sturdiest benches for adults. But you probably know that! Lol