Doppler Audio

Wurlitzer EP200A gets a custom finish on request from a customer - Fender ‘Dakota Red’ with 70% gloss level to get that original ABS plastic look!

Very occasionally this digital organ would make a sudden ‘bang’ through the speakers … chasing it down was tricky because it never happened when I was there, so I pulled the power supply and both amplifiers.

This is what I found inside one amplifier … seriously degraded lead-free solder joints on a 5-watt 12v Zener that helps regulate a mute voltage line also linked to the -38v amp rail...methinks it was spitting!

This Wurlitzer had a lot of bent reeds - a dozen or so - some really bad that barely sounded at all.

Gentle use of heat and judicious hammer and dolly technique brought most of them back to life inside the customer’s budget. Only one fatigued and broke after playing a few hard strikes on the key.

Metal is clay.

Picked up a non-working Optigan this morning to learn how to repair these old things, reportedly made by the Mattel toy company in the early 70s.

Thankfully I already had the service manual and some test discs and since taking over Metropolitan Organ Service it looks like I might have a couple of spare parts, maybe…and when this one is up and running I’ll call Barry Morgan to come over for a Campari Spritz or two!