If you are new to the organ or just want to know more about them then join the Organ Forum and ask a question or two. The Organ List is a complete list of manufactures and their models, number of pedals, year(s) manufactured, and type of tone generation system- there were many ways an electronic organs got their initial set of chromatic frequencies. Hammond TW (tone wheel) is perhaps the most famous w/ drawbars, & even duplicated it w/ LSI electronics...I wish my Elegante could make Wurli tone!
I've uploaded both sides of the album 'Mr. Fantastic John La Duca at the Wurlitzer Organ'. This is a different album than the one someone posted a few songs from- Mr. Fantastic a the Wonderful World of Wurlitzer.
You will hear the vitality of a new Wurlitzer fully transistorized 4502 organ. I am going to change every can-capacitor with individual caps very soon. The Cans are very expensive, but replacing the the multi-pack cans w/ indv. saves big
@patsaxon I bought a Conn 427 Caprice (tiny home organ) at a goodwill store for $30. Turns out, the tubes alone are worth ten times the price I got the organ for. But would I sell them? NO WAY! It's not a theater organ by any means, but it's put a smile on many faces (including mine, almost constantly).
@Firepowerforfreedom According to the Organ List your Conn 427 is a 59' Conn Caprice. You know tubes rarely wear out, contrary to popular belief. In an organ they are not pushed as hard as in many devices, like certain tubes in old televisions. The capacitors, especially electrolytic capacitors are moisture filled components and will dry out over time. Mullard or Sprague 'can capacitors' will last 10-15 years beyond the 25 year limit, but changing out the low $ smaller elect. will sharpen tone!
This is fantastic!! Is this gentleman a former Wulitzer artist? I once heard Johnny Seng demonstrate in the Indianapolis store. David Ashby worked in that store,and went on to build the five-manual Wurlitzer in Chicago headquarters before moving to Florida where he passed. Dick Smith demonstrates what can be done with the 4520. My 4520 is nearly silent with bad amp caps.
@maplewoodsp Change all of the small electrolytic capacitors yourself or take the back off the organ then locate the two amp chassis- one is above the swell pedal, the other mounted on the floor of the organ and to the left side (facing from back) of the swell pedal. Unplug all of the octal plugs & remove the 4 screws securing chassis to plywood. Remove chassis. Now when you get this far send me a PM on my channel & I will give you the list of all capacitors. DYI or Morelock's $40 plus parts.EZ!
@patsaxon You sure can make a blanket statement. The organ as it was known during that boom of sales during the 1970's is the impression that so many people have of it. Very few people understand the inner workings. For some reason our new digital age has brought with it an ignorance of audio electronics even greater than before. Organs started out with pipes, then moved to various electrical designs- tone wheels, tubes, transistors.Look up the Orgatron patents from the 30's.
Such organs like these are not that worth to repair as the value of any organ depreciates as no one wants one. Would be easier to find one that is working as they are so cheap as they can not give them away. Lowrey is the last remaining manufacture of home organs left. If it were not for Kawai buying Lowrey, then Lowrey would not exist.
@patsaxon Allen still makes home theater organs. You seem to be confusing this organ to the junk they sold in malls in the 70s and 80s, and you obviously have no clue what you're talking about about replacing one.
@patsaxon Pat ANY 4520 is worth replacing parts in! It pays to learn even basic electronic troubleshooting if one is getting into organs and wants a sound like the one in this video. You won't get it on anything but a Wurlitzer of this vintage, or a Conn, Rodgers, or Allen. Who cares what the freakin' monetary value is? I was given a 4500 the day before it was to go to the dump. A 60's Wurlitzer is 10 times easier to troubleshoot & fix than a 70's-80's + it sounds better! Chassis use EZ plug ins
Yes! harrigan on a wurliTzer. you forgot a few Irish songs but thats OK. my unknown tune videoi might be irish, I thin its called "Good old ireland kust where my mom is from" Sorry harrigan had mistakes. y port dalhousie video of the wurliTzer playing harrigan.
Thanks for sharing a 4520! This was my first search for such a beast. My 4520 is nearly silent. I was told by Morelock that I need new capacitors in the upper and lower amps.
Order the parts from Morelock, it's easy to unplug and replug the capacitors or you can sent the amp to them and they'll do it. Parts are not expensive.
For anyone watching these Dick Smith videos, you can find him playing live at Philips in the Baltimore inner harbor and at Jay's on Reed in Baltimore on friday nights.
If you are new to the organ or just want to know more about them then join the Organ Forum and ask a question or two. The Organ List is a complete list of manufactures and their models, number of pedals, year(s) manufactured, and type of tone generation system- there were many ways an electronic organs got their initial set of chromatic frequencies. Hammond TW (tone wheel) is perhaps the most famous w/ drawbars, & even duplicated it w/ LSI electronics...I wish my Elegante could make Wurli tone!
paulj0557 4 months ago
Indeed. I'm planning to do that soon.
Firepowerforfreedom 5 months ago
Click on- John La Duca Wurlitzer 4500/4502/4300
I've uploaded both sides of the album 'Mr. Fantastic John La Duca at the Wurlitzer Organ'. This is a different album than the one someone posted a few songs from- Mr. Fantastic a the Wonderful World of Wurlitzer.
You will hear the vitality of a new Wurlitzer fully transistorized 4502 organ. I am going to change every can-capacitor with individual caps very soon. The Cans are very expensive, but replacing the the multi-pack cans w/ indv. saves big
paulj0557 6 months ago
@bphutchins It's true—$10 a tube x 40-something tubes. Do the math.
Firepowerforfreedom 7 months ago
@patsaxon I bought a Conn 427 Caprice (tiny home organ) at a goodwill store for $30. Turns out, the tubes alone are worth ten times the price I got the organ for. But would I sell them? NO WAY! It's not a theater organ by any means, but it's put a smile on many faces (including mine, almost constantly).
Firepowerforfreedom 7 months ago
@Firepowerforfreedom umm ok
bphutchins 7 months ago
@Firepowerforfreedom According to the Organ List your Conn 427 is a 59' Conn Caprice. You know tubes rarely wear out, contrary to popular belief. In an organ they are not pushed as hard as in many devices, like certain tubes in old televisions. The capacitors, especially electrolytic capacitors are moisture filled components and will dry out over time. Mullard or Sprague 'can capacitors' will last 10-15 years beyond the 25 year limit, but changing out the low $ smaller elect. will sharpen tone!
paulj0557 5 months ago
This is fantastic!! Is this gentleman a former Wulitzer artist? I once heard Johnny Seng demonstrate in the Indianapolis store. David Ashby worked in that store,and went on to build the five-manual Wurlitzer in Chicago headquarters before moving to Florida where he passed. Dick Smith demonstrates what can be done with the 4520. My 4520 is nearly silent with bad amp caps.
maplewoodsp 9 months ago
@maplewoodsp Change all of the small electrolytic capacitors yourself or take the back off the organ then locate the two amp chassis- one is above the swell pedal, the other mounted on the floor of the organ and to the left side (facing from back) of the swell pedal. Unplug all of the octal plugs & remove the 4 screws securing chassis to plywood. Remove chassis. Now when you get this far send me a PM on my channel & I will give you the list of all capacitors. DYI or Morelock's $40 plus parts.EZ!
paulj0557 5 months ago
@patsaxon You sure can make a blanket statement. The organ as it was known during that boom of sales during the 1970's is the impression that so many people have of it. Very few people understand the inner workings. For some reason our new digital age has brought with it an ignorance of audio electronics even greater than before. Organs started out with pipes, then moved to various electrical designs- tone wheels, tubes, transistors.Look up the Orgatron patents from the 30's.
ALL ARE ACCEPTABLE
paulj0557 1 year ago
Such organs like these are not that worth to repair as the value of any organ depreciates as no one wants one. Would be easier to find one that is working as they are so cheap as they can not give them away. Lowrey is the last remaining manufacture of home organs left. If it were not for Kawai buying Lowrey, then Lowrey would not exist.
patsaxon 1 year ago
@patsaxon Allen still makes home theater organs. You seem to be confusing this organ to the junk they sold in malls in the 70s and 80s, and you obviously have no clue what you're talking about about replacing one.
bphutchins 1 year ago
@patsaxon Yes your forgetting Kawai, roland, yamaha and several other home organ brands that are alive and doing well.
Lowrey doesn't come close in comparison to Allen in theatre sound. I dont consider Lowrey organs really for professional use.
Brandotuomikoski 1 year ago
@patsaxon Pat ANY 4520 is worth replacing parts in! It pays to learn even basic electronic troubleshooting if one is getting into organs and wants a sound like the one in this video. You won't get it on anything but a Wurlitzer of this vintage, or a Conn, Rodgers, or Allen. Who cares what the freakin' monetary value is? I was given a 4500 the day before it was to go to the dump. A 60's Wurlitzer is 10 times easier to troubleshoot & fix than a 70's-80's + it sounds better! Chassis use EZ plug ins
paulj0557 10 months ago
@patsaxon Roland currently has a home organ line as well.
almeisam 10 months ago
Yes! harrigan on a wurliTzer. you forgot a few Irish songs but thats OK. my unknown tune videoi might be irish, I thin its called "Good old ireland kust where my mom is from" Sorry harrigan had mistakes. y port dalhousie video of the wurliTzer playing harrigan.
anglerfly 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing a 4520! This was my first search for such a beast. My 4520 is nearly silent. I was told by Morelock that I need new capacitors in the upper and lower amps.
maplewoodsp 1 year ago
Order the parts from Morelock, it's easy to unplug and replug the capacitors or you can sent the amp to them and they'll do it. Parts are not expensive.
bphutchins 1 year ago
For anyone watching these Dick Smith videos, you can find him playing live at Philips in the Baltimore inner harbor and at Jay's on Reed in Baltimore on friday nights.
bphutchins 1 year ago
This is one beautiful Wurlitzer !
Very, very, very well played by Mr. Smith.
Outstanding performance !!!!
One word of advice to make these video's even more attractive is to use a stand for the cam. Other than than this video is a treat ! SUPERB
Kind Regards from the Netherlands
Silvester Huisman
W W W . O R G A N P O R T A L . C O M
Have a great St. Patricksday tomorrow
Éirinn go Brách - Sláinte
SCN1974 1 year ago
Thanks, I'll pass on the message to him. Yeah, the stand is probably a good idea, looks like he's playing on the titanic lol.
bphutchins 1 year ago