Wurly 4520....

[Nullifier]

I fell in love with this organ when I saw it in a lady's living room a long time ago. I've not seen another one since and I wonder if someone has got one and if so how do you like it?

[paulj0557]

I fell in love with this organ when I saw it in a lady's living room a long time ago. I've not seen another one since and I wonder if someone has got one and if so how do you like it?

If you look below my post you'll see a lot of great organs. In this collection my favorite is my Wurlitzer 4500- it is identical to the 4520 internally. The tone is very up front and professional. Wurlitzer used a real Wurlitzer pipe organ to voice this first fully transistorized model. It was not only the first fully silicone transistor organ that was a console from Wurlitzer ( full 61 keys X 2 & 25 pedals...incidentally the 4300 is the identical organ in a spinet cabinet- 43 keys X 2 and 13 pdeals), but the 4500 was Wurlitzer first electronic theater organ (ETO)...of course the 4520 looks like a theater organ with it's horseshoe shaped console, but in actuality the 4500 with it's straight cabinet preceded the 4520 by 2 years. Don't know if it was a conscious decision on Wurlitzer's part to hold off from making a theater model later, or if there was some other reason. They made lots of 4500's and I see several for sale each year on Craigslist. I never see 4520's, but plenty of 4500's. The 4500 was introduced in 1964-65', the 4520 in 66', the 4502 had a legless straight cabinet and was introduced in I believe 66'- it's more rare,the 4300 in 64-65, the 4300D (deluxe) was a model that came in 68' and had several manually played via. the pedals and the lower keyboard ( maybe upper) rhythm sounds. In 71' they introduced the 4500R and 4300R. These had eprom chips for automated rhythms. All in all these were and still are astoundingly versatile organs. Very few, if any organs can play Popular music, theater music, jazz, church, cathedral, and combo organ sounds convincingly- These organs can!

Right now I have both a 4500 and a 4300. I'm considering selling my 4500 because my 4300 produces the same tone, albeit slightly less deep, but with an external cabinet I don't miss that lower octave or the 25 pedals. The 4500/4520/4502/4500R consoles have 8 internal speakers- 2 12", 2-4" on the rotating fully crossed over Spectratone ( which has louvers on the side AND the top of the organ for excellent player sound!), a 5", a horn, and 2- 6x9's. There are two amplifiers so you have a fully crossed over, professionally voiced stereo organ in the 4500 series. Oh' how I love Hammond organs, but none have organ contained sound systems like this in them until the Elegante.

There will be a 4300 Wurlitzer undoubtedly show up in your area before you would ever need to travel very far for one. Wurlitzer is one brand that for all intents and purposes is still alive and well for parts and service. The former employees of the factory bought out the entire Wurlitzer inventory and have parts and service for 170 models of pianos and organs. They sell their parts cheaper than anyone else, are guaranteed, and can also repair your chassis. The chassis in a Wurlitzer 4500 that typically need attention are the two easy to get to and remove amplifier/power supply chassis. These only weigh about 4-5 lbs. each and come out by removing 4 screws and unlugging impossible to mix up octal plugs ( like what Hammond and Leslie use). Wurlitzer - or Morelock's Wurlitzer Parts in Mississippi recommend changing all of the smaller capacitors on the two amp chassis. They can do it, or send you the parts. They are skilled folks and only charge $40 plus parts to rebuild each chassis. It amounts to about $200 total for parts/repair/and shipping for both chassis to be rebuilt. Owning a few of these organs I can testify to how sturdy and dependable they are. Wurlitzer used high end parts and really all that goes out are the electrolytic capacitors, which go out in any organ. The ones on these two chassis for some reason are all that usually go out. The tone generators can sometimes need a little bit of looking at, but it's not difficult for a good tech. The tone generator chassis can also be mailed to Morelocks and is not difficult to remove as I recall.

Here is Morelock's contact info and two video's of an album with ONLY a Wurlitzer 4520 ( no other musicians or instruments)
MORELOCKS WURLITZER PARTS
37A Main Street
Rienzi, MS 38865
(662) 462-7611
Fax Number:*
(662) 462-7611
email:
morelocksorgan@frontiernet.net
Web Address:*
http://mitatechs.org/morelock




Also look up Mr. Fantastic and the Wonderful World of Wurlitzer

[Nullifier]

Thanks for taking time to reply. Now I'll be on the lookout. There was one organ I always liked but had better sense ( I think) than to buy. It had tone wheels turning similar to a Hammond but had a celluoid material on the tone wheels like a movie projector. The organ sounded real good for it's time but I felt the celluliod materail won't last. I think ( but am not sure) the organ was a Lowery.

Anyways, thanks again.

[Jan Girardot]

Nullifier;

Lowrey didn't build any mechanical generator instruments. I suspect you were looking at an Optigan: BTW, how many manuals and pedals did it have?

. . . Jan
the OrganGrinder

[Nullifier]

The best I can recall it had two 61 note keyboards and 25 note pedals. I recall that the saleman told me that Hammond had sued them over the tone wheels. IT really did sound good, though and I only played one!

[Jan Girardot]

That somehow rings a bell: was that organ from somewhere in Europe?

. . . Jan

[Nullifier]

It could have been European but I'd be willing to bet they put a familar name on it when they imported it to America. I don't recall the organ having a European sound though. I have tried to contact the owner of the shop where I played it but his shop is long gone and the restaurant he played is closed.

Does anyone on the forum know how to contact Jim Fountain?? Maybe Jay999? I'd be glad to ask him

Al

[paulj0557]

I believe Electrovoice made an optical organ, for some reason I think I saw it in my Sams-Electronic Organ Servicing Guide 1971 Robert Middleton and worth every nickel!

Don't rule out considering getting a Wurlitzer electrostatic reed organ. Since I have so many organs I have to make some conscious decisions ( unlike the one I made when getting them lol, no I love organs and no regrets!)...about pairing down a little and keeping the best of the lot. Unfortunately they are all great organs. At this point, and this is not off subject, I need to decide what Wurlitzer sound is my favorite to live with- out of 5 Wurlitzers. Now I also need to factor in which organ that is not Wurlitzer brand sounds enough like a Wurlitzer to maybe 'cancel out' needing that particular Wurlitzer. It's tough because not much sounds like a Wurlitzer except a Wurlitzer and when you have 5 of them it just reinforces that signature sound. So maybe someone can jump onto the thread who has had experience with all of the Wurlitzer varieties- electrostatic reed,vacuum tube,transistorized, and finally LSI ( large scale integrated circuits). Maybe you can fill in some gaps here and help describe what it is exactly that makes up that beautiful Wurli tone. It will help our Newbie figure out what it is he might want to get and it will help me figure out what it is I can part with while keeping the best elements of the Wurlitzer sound

In terms of what styles of music can be played with all of these Wurlitzer organs, without much figuring out, it is the 4500 and 4300 that can cover the whole range. However, when trying to select the cream of the crop for any one particular style(s) we could say that a keyed reed electrostatic (ES) organ, such as the earlier Wurlitzer orgatrons- 20,30,31 could be sufficient if only traditional classical pipe organ music was desired because it has so many qualities of a real pipe organ. Many claim it sounds too reed-like and one must use their imagination to perceive it beyond an old pump organ. This is where playing technique ( including swell pedal), registration ( tab settings),tone cabinet, and the choice of music being played has so much to do with the results. On a keyed reed ES like the earlier models ( 20,30,31) the fact that air only enters the reed when a key is pressed means the attack of the note is much like pump reed organ, but the up side is that it is also like a real pipe organ and with the right registration, technique and tone cabinets ( reverb helps) the Orgatrons make excellent classical organs . I personally like the sound of classical playing, but I prefer a faster attack that was offered on the free reed models ( 4410-4460,4462,4800) where the reeds all sound continually and when keys played the attack is instant. This was Wurlitzer's answer to the Hammond tone wheel organ's faster attack. My 4410 kicks butt with the attack tab set to ON. So much so that it has lead me to a couple of questions, that if I can get answered will possibly eliminate 4 of my 5 Wurlitzers. I'll quickly explain my situation. I have never played my free reed 4410 with a Leslie or Spectratone ( Wurlitzer's rotary speaker system) since this organ is at my storage/rehearsal space, and the Leslie is at my home.

If someone will answer these questions based on personal experience, it might help us understand what Wurlitzer has to offer-

1. Will a Leslie or Spectratone attached to a Wurlitzer electrostatic 'free reed' organ ( 4410 in my case) give it that unmistakable Wurlitzer sound which is heard so readily on a 4500 transistorized console with the internal Spectratone? [ listening to the Ken Griffin record below the organ has a beautifully rich Wurlitzer tone that even sounds like a Hammond tone wheel at times. Did he use a Leslie w/ a hi-rotor on his Wurlitzer ES? Are all of these songs a Wurlitzer only (no Hammond)?

2. Since a Rotosonic Leslie does make my Wurlitzer LSI 625t sound even more rich and Wurlitzer like, I thought that my Hammond Elegante would possibly sound a bit like a Wurlitzer, but I've discovered a Hammond can't ever sound like a Wurlitzer. Would adding a hi rotor to the Elegante get it closer to a Wurlitzer tone, or would it be futile and just sound closer to a B3?

3. I've discovered Wurlitzer organs don't really need a high rotor to sound great on the top end, but would adding one to an electrostatic free reed get it closer to the richness of a 4500 ( which ultimately sounds very much like a real Wurlitzer theater pipe organ)?

4. My Gulbransen Rialto II sounds great, but since it is still at my storage and my 705 Rotosonic Leslie is at my house I have yet to really put it to the test. Of course it has a superb theater organ tone, not unlike a nice Conn. However, it does not have that immediately identifiable Wurlitzer tone. Will getting it home and hooking it to the 705 ( & the two 540's for the isomonic reeds) and playing with the draw bars get me to the rich wood-like Wurlitzer tone...like the 4500? Would a hi-rotor on the Rialto II give it a better Wurlitzer tone, or will it still be reminiscent of a Conn ( which I love BTW) more than a Wurlitzer?

5. I guess what I am getting at is this, in trying to get by with 3 organs, but keep Wurlitzer tone- Can a Wurlitzer 4410 and a Gulbransen Rialto II combined with the right tone cabinets fulfill a die hard Wurlitzer lover's needs, so he can part with his 4500,4300,and 625t Wurlitzers to make room for a Hammond Elegante as well?
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http://www.45cat.com/record/bbe12039
( video of album at bottom of that page, he uploaded when I requested it the other day- nice guy
The great Ken Griffin passed away in 1956, he is pictured here on the album cover on this link with a 4600. It sounds like a Hammond TW at times...it is all ES right? The 'holy grail' of ES organs- the 4800 wasn't made until 55' so I wonder if Ken made any recordings with that model?? I'd like to hear ANY recording of a 4800, anyone??
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-----Thanks! [ maybe this could have been a separate thread, but anyone who is considering a great organ like the 4520 might some day run into a similar situation...well, it could happen. lol ]

[Jan Girardot]

Mr. Nullifier, I think I have located the European organ you may be thinking of, the Pari, designed by Messr. Parie. Here are several links: http://www.dairiki.org/HammondWiki/PariOrgans
http://www.parieorgan.it/storia_en.htm

. . . Jan
the OrganGrinder

[Jan Girardot]

PaulJ;

The "classic" organ built by Electro-Voice was an electrostatic, using rotating disks and based on patents by Dr. Dereux. I am working on an article covering optical and electrostatic organs and have so far amassed information on the Baldwin 20, Compton Electrone, Kimball p'cell, E-V, Dereux and the Baldwin Multi-Waveform designs. I'll keep you and this Forum informed on that.

. . . Jan
the OrganGrinder