Wurlitzer 200a pop/crack when key struck hard

[garagebandking41]

Was wondering if anyone has experience with these EP's. I've had many Rhodes' but this is my first Wurli. Its in great shape, but has a noisy line out and in particular pop/cracks quite loudly when i strike just one note hard, the C an octave higher than middle C. it plays normally everywhere, i just cant hit that C too hard or TTTKTTTP!!! Does anyone know what might be the problem? Thanks!

[Rob A]

The typical culprit is crud in between the reed and pickup. You get that noise when the crud causes a momentary short to the pickup bar, which is at a high voltage. I had the same problem on mine, and blowing the area around the reed clear with some canned air was all it took to sort out.

Yours may not be that but it's the easiest thing to try first.

[pianotuner steveo]

That reed can also be in the slot slightly crooked causing the same noise. One way to tell is if you can see a spark when it makes the noise, if so, the reed is shorting.