Sometimes you gotta take apart the Wurlie

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Wurlitzer 200A Electric Piano

I picked this one up a while ago. It’s a solid state version of the 200 Electric piano, heard on so many records. About two years back, one of the reeds in the harp shorted to the pickup. It makes a very distinct sound. When this happens, you have to switch it off really quick (before the transistors short) and find the bad note.

It turns out there was some oxidation buildup on the frame near the harp, and some dust had gotten between one of the reeds and the pickup.

This gave me an excuse to open it up, give it a good cleaning, touch up the tuning and install a set of hum shields from Vintage Vibe.

Stripped back to the keybed
Mark everything, and keep it in order.
Keep everything in order!

It only took about 2 hours to get everything taken care of.

All Done!

Tape Machine Rebuild

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The Tascam 34 is a 1/4″ quarter-track format machine with 4 channels.  This one arrived with brake issues, so it would spill tape when stopping from fast wind mode.  There’s also some shipping damage, a burned out meter #2 lamp, a bad REC indicator, and dirty relay contacts.

First order of business was to strip it back to the chassis and begin work on the brake mechanism.  Then to get the reel back tension just right (change the capacitors on the motor control board)

Mechanical and electrical alignment is now complete and the dress panels have been straightened out. Now it’s time to rack it up and wire up to the line amplifiers with military-style cotton looming.

Since the incandescent lamps are no longer available, it was time to design and build some LED replacements…

At this point, it can join its half-track counterpart in the studio.

Thanks for looking!

It’s been a while since my last post…

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A lot has gone on since the last time I’ve posted here. If you follow me on Facebook and Instagram, then we’re probably caught up. But here’s a string of photographs of more recent shenanigans. I promise to keep this site more up to date.

A random editing session
Cleveland Jazz Orchestra – Christmas 2016 Concert
CJO 2016 – Backstage
Cleveland Jazz Orchestra – Oct. 2019 – Bop Stop
West Shore Chorale – March 2019 – Cathedral of St. John, Cleveland
Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra – 2018
“Backstage” of the National Marionette Theatre “Peter and the Wolf” stage. To be performed with CPO in Oct. 2018
Mic Shootout – #EarTrumpetLabs
CYO Christmas Concert 2015 Rehearsal
Cleveland Chamber Symphony 2015 – Kulas Hall, Baldwin Wallace University

Maria Jacobs tomorrow night!

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Maria Jacobs, vocals;  David Strieter, keyboards;  Jim Kiroff, Guitar;   Brian Wildman, bass;  Rob Ticherich, Drums.

I am proud to be working with this outstanding combo tomorrow night at the Kennedy Theater on Playhouse Square.

Visit mariajacobsand4getthegirl.com/ for more information.

WCSB Cleveland: New Microphones

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After the addition of the new Omnia 11 FM processor, we decided to upgrade the main air studio microphones. 

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The Electrovoice RE family was selected because of its signature sound and the reduction in proximity effect offered by the Variable D design.

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Listen in to WCSB at FM 89.3MHz or online at www.wcsb.org/listen

Debbie Gifford and Maria Jacobs

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Last night we were privileged to work with the fabulous Debbie Gifford, Maria Jacobs, John Trzcinski, David Strieter, Brian Wildman, Jim Kiroff at the Kennedy Theater.

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This will certainly be an event to remember even if it was the snowiest day of the season. Special thanks to Bob Reiland for his work.