Hohner and Wurlitzer models

The extremely rare Hohner Electra Piano (not the similarly named all-electronic Electrapiano from RMI) offers striking hammers like those of the Rhodes, but a stiffer 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 amplifier 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 zero volt current and move between the teeth of a comb, connected to a 150-volt current. The tone of the Wurlitzer, which was first 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 offers 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 useful sound nonetheless.

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Hohner and Wurlitzer models