X

Chapter 17 Vintage Electric Piano 459
Hohner and Wurlitzer models
Not to be confused with the all-electronic RMI Electrapiano, the extremely rare Hohner Electra
Piano oers striking hammers like those of the Rhodes, but a stier keyboard action. It was
designed to resemble the look of a conventional acoustic upright piano. Led Zeppelin’s John Paul
Jones played it on “Stairway to Heaven,” “Misty Mountain Hop,” and “No Quarter.”
Wurlitzer, best-known for manufacturing music boxes and organs, also built electric pianos that
helped write pop and rock music history. The 200 series, notably the 200A and 240V, Wurlitzer
pianos are smaller and lighter than the Rhodes pianos, with a keyboard range of 64 keys (A to C)
and an integrated amplier and speakers.
The velocity sensitive hammer action resembles that of a conventional acoustic piano. The
Wurlitzer sound generation system is based on spring steel reeds that can be tuned with a solder
weight. The Wurlitzer has electrostatic pickups: The reeds are supplied with a 0-volt current and
move between the teeth of a comb, connected to a 150-volt current. The tone of the Wurlitzer,
which was rst manufactured in the early 1960s, features a number of odd harmonics.
The Wurlitzer is best known as the signature piano sound of the band Supertramp, as heard on
their “Crime of the Century” album. You might also recognize the Wurlitzer sound when listening
to Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” or “I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles.
Note: The Vintage Electric Piano Funk Piano model oers a special synthetic piano engine sound,
with an exaggerated bass. This is not based on any real-world Wurlitzer instruments, but it can be
a very useful sound nonetheless.