Wurlitzer 700 & 120 Replacement Reeds
The Wurlitzer 700 (and its portable cousin, the Wurlitzer 120), is one of the best models of electronic piano ever made. Its tube amplifier is basically a Fender 5E3, it has a 12” speaker for serious bass response, and its one-of-a-kind sound is distinct from the more common later models.
Unfortunately, Wurlitzer 700 and 120 replacement reeds are unavailable. (Same for the Wurlitzer 112 and Wurlitzer 140.) The best way to obtain them is to find another Wurlitzer 120 or 700 and use it for parts. This is sad because it removes a potentially fully-functional 120/700 from the ecosystem and turns it into a donor model.
If you’re like us, you probably want to spend your time playing and recording cool functional keyboards, rather than maintaining the electronic piano version of the boarding school in Never Let Me Go. If we can obtain a source for new reeds, we can ensure that all of the 120s and 700s can be preserved as functional instruments with working tone generators.
We’ve done some preliminary work investigating the possibility of manufacturing 120/700 reeds, and we’ve concluded that it is possible but expensive. But, if we have enough interest, maybe we can make it happen.
Join the club
If you own a Wurlitzer 112, 120/700, or 140/145/720 and would purchase replacement reeds or other parts if they became available, join the club. We’ll use the list to gauge demand and let you know if the project moves forward.
The Wurlitzer 700 Club
The Wurlitzer 112, 120, and 700 are hard to love. The action is clunky. The mechanical action is difficult to access. Compared to a Wurlitzer 200/200A, they are all really heavy.
However, these instruments are very special because they provide the mechanical and tonal foundation for all subsequent models. And, of course, they sound very cool. There is a lot to appreciate.
In contrast to the 200/200A, early Wurlitzer models will fight against the player if they are not in excellent working condition. (And, often, they will continue to fight even if they have been serviced.) They are less like a tool and more like an extremely finicky and temperamental member of the band. But, if you learn your instrument’s quirks, it will give you a sound that you can’t find anywhere else.
If people are using these keyboards, it is important to keep them working. Although fabricating parts for one keyboard is very expensive, ordering replacement parts in quantity can be more doable. Knowing the demand for these parts helps us plan and prioritize.
What about the Wurlitzer 140/145/720?
The Wurlitzer 140 (and its related models) is in a class of its own. It is a transitional release that links the clunky earlier keyboards with the more piano-like 200 and 200A. Although it has an improved action, it does have a few quirks that justify its grouping with the earlier models. (Note that this covers the 140/145/720—not “A” or “B” models, which can use 200/200A-style reeds.)
Most importantly, although it is nominally a member of the 140-series, the 140 has its own style of reeds. Because the keyboard was only produced for a very short period of time, finding a donor keyboard is particularly difficult.
The Wurlitzer 112 is the very first model of electronic piano that Wurlitzer released. Once the 112 went into production, Wurlitzer started revising the design. First, the 112A was released, which moved the sustain pedal connection from the left side of the damper assembly to the center.
The Wurlitzer 120 was a substantial redesign. The form factor is more compact than the 112, its amplifier is less overbuilt, and it addressed a few design flaws, such as the 112’s tendency to become unseated from the hammer butt.
What is the difference between a Wurlitzer 112 and a Wurlitzer 120?
Why can’t I use Wurlitzer 200/200a REEDS IN A 700?
The Wurlitzer 700 uses an earlier style of reed that is not interchangeable with the later 200-series reeds. Even if you could somehow make the reed fit in the 700 pickup, it will have a different timbre and volume level than the other reeds.
In general, these are the different generations of reed:
112/112A
120/700
140/145/720
140A/140B/145A/145B/720A/720B/200/200A (and student/teacher/console model variants, etc.)
What is a Wurlitzer 700?
The Wurlitzer 700 is the console version of the Wurlitzer 120. It was apparently designed for consumers who wanted more of a traditional furniture look, and it came in a couple of different colorways.
The coolest part about a 700 is that it has an enormous wooden cabinet that can house a substantially bigger tube amplifier than its stock amp, which is the same as the 120. The 120/700 amplifier is very cool, because it has the same phase inverter as a Fender 5E3. It has a little more drive and harmonic distortion than a typical keyboard amplifier, which contributes to the 120/700’s unique sound. We regularly use our M-series and custom tube amplifiers to provide a clean reed bar output, for a slightly different tone.
Every Wurlitzer is a great keyboard, and they all have a slightly different tone and feel that makes them good for different purposes. Although the Wurlitzer 200 and 200A have the most playability, the earlier variants are valuable because their tone generators are slightly different.
Why should i HAVE A wURLITZER 700 WHEN i COULD HAVE A wURLITZER 200 OR 200A?
Tropical Fish maintains the Tropical Fish Archive, a collection of Wurlitzer factory documentation dating between 1946 and 1985. The Archive contains valuable technical information that can be used to keep Wurlitzer electronic pianos and organs operating for decades to come. Browse the Archive here.