A poorly regulated keyboard will have notes that play at slightly different volumes despite being hit with the same amount of force. Regulation is very important to the playability and touch-responsiveness of the keyboard.
This is accomplished by adjusting the capstan screws, the damper screws, and adjusting the paper shims beneath the keys. Regulation involves adjusting the position of the keys and mechanical action to ensure that, whenever a key is depressed, the entire assembly not only moves consistently but returns to its original position once the key is released. In this case, the damper felts often must be replaced. This causes the dampers to become less effective at muting the reed, so that the note continues to ring even after the player has released the key. Over time, repeated contact with the reeds can wear a groove into the damper felts. These small pieces of debris can dislodge and find their way to the reed bar, shorting it or otherwise becoming a source of noise.ĭamper felts. We also check the felts for loose fibers, and brush splinters from the wooden parts. Before re-assembling the keyboard, we lubricate the action centers of the hammers, whips, and dampers.
In other cases, the wood has swollen and the keys do not move freely during ordinary use. If the keys show significant left-to-right motion, we replace the key bushing felts. Finally, we polish and lubricate the balance rail pins. We may also replace the balance rail felts if the original felts are very compacted. In that event, we remediate any lingering evidence of moisture and replace the balance rail felts. It is not uncommon for the keybed to display water damage, since liquids can easily be spilled there. Below, we’ve listed some common issues for various parts of the mechanical action. Mechanical restoration varies from keyboard to keyboard. This includes hammers, whips, and dampers, as well as felts and grommets across the keyboard. If a component is largely functional and shows only minor signs of wear, we leave it original. We evaluate the mechanical parts at many points during the restoration, but this step is our first and best opportunity to give them a visual inspection. We take note of missing wooden components, third-party modifications, non-original screws, and concealed areas of damage. In many cases, just the process of unscrewing and removing parts highlights hidden problems. Once the Wurlitzer has been cleaned and emptied of all mechanical parts, we can locate and address any structural issues. Because any piece of debris that lands on the reed bar can create noise problems, it is important to reach behind and underneath components to eliminate as much dust and grime as possible. This includes the keys, the keybed, and all mechanical parts. We remove everything from the case of the Wurlitzer in order to reach every crevice. This is an important first step because a good deep clean allows us to perform the rest of the work in a non-hazardous, dust-free environment. These are the steps that we follow when servicing a Wurlitzer.Ĭleaning.
Even the oldest Wurlitzer keyboards have the potential to become highly playable, reliable instruments with a unique and musical voice. The good news is that Wurlitzers were built to be serviced. We will undertake everything from a fault-finding service to total restoration.Īll of our work is carried out with the upmost care and dedication backed by over 40 years' experience.Restoring a vintage Wurlitzer keyboard is a detailed process that requires both mechanical and electronic fixes. Our Chief Engineer is the most experienced in this field in the UK and was the official authorised engineer for most of the leading manufacturers of classic keyboards and vintage synths. Make your Hammond Organ and Leslie scream, and make that Moog play and sound better than ever. Tune, balance or restore your favourite Fender Rhodes or Wurlitzer Piano to sound better than new! Breathe new life into your Clavinet. With over 40 years’ experience in the repair, maintenance and customization of the mighty Hammond Organ, Vintage keyboards and classic synthesizers, we use our unrivalled experience and our ears to make them sound the way they should.īased at THE ZOO, we have a dedicated workshop facility and demonstration room where our experienced engineers undertake all your service and repair needs.Īll work is done in a temperature controlled environment. Service, tuning and repair "WE DON'T JUST REPAIR THEM WE MAKE THEM SING"