FAQ
Q. What's a tropical fish?
A. We take our name from tropical fish capacitors, also known as Mullard/Phillips C280 capacitors. They are a type of polyester film capacitors manufactured in Holland in the 1960s and 1970s. Their nickname comes from their outer coating, which are brightly striped like a tropical fish. (We think they look like candy corn.)
Q. What kind of keyboards do you restore?
A. We work on Wurlitzer, Rhodes, and other analog keyboards that combine mechanical action with some sort of amplifier or electronic output. Some of our favorites are Whippany Melosonic and Selmer Clavioline. We are open to working on interesting rare keyboards of all types, but lead times may be longer. We commit time to study the electronic circuit and mechanical action before disassembling less-common keyboards, and it takes additional time to source their replacement parts.
Q. Do you restore tube amplifiers?
A. Yes. We specialize in rebuilding deteriorated point-to-point circuits, rather than troubleshooting or routine maintenance. We love projects that require problem-solving, modification, and substantial revision in order to make early designs interface better with new-production equipment.
Q. Do you sell replacement parts for vintage keyboards?
A. Yes. We have many parts in our online store, and even more that we haven’t listed yet. Our stock includes new-old-stock parts, used vintage replacement parts, and new replacement parts that we’ve sourced as substitutes for the originals. If you’re looking for a part and don’t see it on the website, contact us and we can check our stock or advise on a suitable substitution.
Q. How do I know if a particular part works for my Wurlitzer?
A. We are happy to help determine whether our parts are compatible with your keyboard. To inquire, use the Wurly Hotline, which has a feature for uploading photos if necessary.
Q. I have a keyboard that doesn’t work very well. How do I figure how what to fix?
A. If you’re interested in repairing your own keyboard, let us know your observations and we can help you get started on your restoration.
Q. Where can I learn more about how to repair my own Wurlitzer?
A. If you’re rebuilding your own Wurlitzer, or a similar instrument, you can ask us technical questions at the Wurly Hotline. We are happy to recommend parts and tools, and share methods we’ve developed for troubleshooting and repairing vintage keyboards. We also have a collection of thousands of Wurlitzer service manuals and technical documentation that we are digitizing at the Tropical Fish Archive.
Q. Can you look at this wurlitzer I found on Facebook Marketplace and tell me if it’s a good deal?
A. We have purchased dozens of unrestored Wurlitzers, and we’re happy to share some tips on how to evaluate an electronic piano to determine if it is a good candidate for restoration. In general, if the price is right and it seems to be in reasonably good condition, buying a Wurlitzer isn’t as risky as it might seem, since enough parts are available to bring flawed Wurlitzer keyboards back to playable condition. But if you’re not sure, send us some photos at the Wurly Hotline and we can take a look.
Q. I have a question about shipping, returns, or other store policies.
A. Please visit the Shop Policies page, or ask us here.
Q. I have a question about an item for sale.
A. Contact us! We’re happy to tell you more about any item on our website.