How to buy a Wurlitzer electronic piano
Wurlitzer electronic pianos are some of the best keyboards ever made. But, because manufacture ended in the mid-1980s, the only Wurlitzers available are vintage. Buying a Wurlitzer can require a little initiative—no matter your budget. Even though we’ve made it our business to buy and sell Wurlitzers, our own keyboard availability is unpredictable, and a Wurlitzer that is here one day could be gone the next.
For this reason, we’ve put together a guide to buying a Wurlitzer, drawing on over ten years of experience buying, selling, and restoring these instruments. Explore the articles below to learn how to find and evaluate a Wurlitzer, negotiate a deal that fits your budget, and decide what repairs or restoration work your keyboard needs to look, sound, and play the way you want it to.
How do I find a Wurly?
Sometimes, we’ll have a fully restored Wurlitzer available, but more often you’ll be buying an unrestored instrument from a private seller on a platform like Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Reverb. If you’re wondering where to begin your search, our article Where to Get a Wurly explores the different ways people find these instruments.
Where to Get a Wurly →
Once you’ve found a promising listing, however, the more important question is what kind of Wurlitzer you’re looking for. If the instrument is competitively priced, you’ll also need to know how to make an offer that stands out from those of other prospective buyers. We’ll cover these questions and more throughout the guide, so keep reading.
If you’d rather leave the hunt to us, you can also explore our Wurlitzer sourcing service.
Choosing a Wurlitzer
Wurlitzer Electronic Piano Model Guide →
Not all Wurlitzers are alike. Explore the different models, their distinguishing features, and how the instrument evolved over several decades of production.
Wurlitzer 112
Wurlitzer 120/700
140 Series Wurlitzers
200 series Wurlitzers
A Field Guide to Unrestored Wurlitzer Electronic Pianos →
Whether it was a basement or a recording studio, a Wurlitzer’s previous home affects its restoration potential. Meet the different kinds of unrestored Wurlitzers you are likely to encounter during your search.
eVALUATING a Wurlitzer
What a Wurlitzer’s Appearance Can Tell You About Its Condition →
Cosmetic condition isn’t just cosmetic—it can tell you a lot about how the keyboard has been treated, and what you’re in for when you restore it. Learn to recognize the clues that distinguish ordinary wear from serious deterioration.
A Guide to Wurlitzer Repair Difficulty →
Not all Wurlitzer problems are equally difficult to fix. Find out which repairs are straightforward, which require specialized skills, and which might change your mind about buying an instrument.
How to evaluate a Wurlitzer from an online listing →
You can’t always inspect a Wurlitzer before making an offer. Learn what you can reasonably conclude from photographs, descriptions, and conversations with sellers—and what remains uncertain until you see the instrument in person.
Making an offer & buying a wurlitzer
How to Find a Wurlitzer and Negotiate a Purchase →
Finding a Wurlitzer is only half the challenge. Learn how to approach sellers, make persuasive offers, and improve your chances of buying an instrument that’s within your budget.
Understanding the Financial Risks of Buying an Unrestored Wurlitzer →
Although most problems can be repaired, a few can make restoration extremely complicated—and it’s not always possible to tell from listing photos. Learn how to price this risk into your budget in order to create an escape hatch if your Wurlitzer isn’t what you expect when you bring it home.
After you buy a wurlitzer
DIY Wurlitzer Projects →
If you’ve never repaired a musical instrument before, a Wurlitzer is a great introduction. Explore approachable maintenance and repair projects, along with more ambitious jobs for those ready to undertake more serious projects.
Wurlitzer Repair & Restoration →
Once you’ve found a Wurlitzer, what will it take to get it playing the way you want? Explore our approach to restoring vintage Wurlitzer electronic pianos, from mechanical adjustments to complete amplifier builds.
Wurly Hotline →
Interested in improving the playability of your keyboard, but not sure where to begin? Or, have you started a project that has you stuck? We’re happy to give advice and bounce ideas around at the Wurly Hotline.
Looking for a Wurlitzer?
Wurlitzer Sourcing and Restoration ServicE →
Let us handle all of the searching, negotiation, and repair for you. We’ll hunt for the type of Wurlitzer which works best for you. Once we find it, we’ll complete a full restoration on it.
Shop our current keyboards →
We don’t always have a Wurlitzer in stock, but we often have something just as cool. Check out our current keyboard availability.
Join the keyboard alert Mailing List →
We’ll notify you when a new keyboard is coming to the shop.