Vintage Electric Pianos
We specialize in both sales and rentals of vintage electric pianos. The two most iconic makes are Fender Rhodes and Wurlitzer, and Hohner, Baldwin and Yamaha also made some unique electric pianos. The types of electric pianos that we sell and service have mechanical actions--usually felt or rubber tipped hammers that strike reeds or tines to produce tones that are amplified electronically. These instruments have formed a rich part of the history in many genres of American music, from classic jazz and rhythm and blues to funk, rock and roll and beyond. Please contact us for rental or service and upgrade options to your own electric piano, or stop into the shop to hear and play some models that we currently have for sale.
The slideshow below features various electric pianos that have graced our showroom and shop in the last few years. Just below that are electric pianos that are available for sale, and currently on display at the Brooklyn showroom.
Wurlitzer: Custom wine red
Wurlitzer: Custom "Jetsons" blue
Wurlitzer 140B on Fender Rhodes Mark I
Wurlitzer 200 on Wurlitzer 140B
Wurlitzer 111
Wurlitzer: Custom fire red
Wurlitzer: Custom deep blue
Wurlitzer 111: Aux output, tube amplifier for a phonograph!
Rhodes Mark II 54 on Rhodes Mark I 73
Another of our hybrid-style; remove the piano unit from the base and add it's own legs and sustain pedal, or plug it into the speaker base for a 4-speaker combination. This is the only piano that we've ever seen with a custom wooden faceplate, music desk grommets and knobs. This comes with the speaker cabinet and its own set of new chrome legs and sustain pedal.
A quick list of what we do; again a comprehensive list can be provided upon request.
Prime and paint the top, medium blue and white
Re-cover of speaker panel in white grill cloth
New faceplate (custom maple) w/wooden yin yang knobs
Custom wooden music desk grommets
Re-pin all hammer flanges for proper friction
Re-bush all keys, clean sides and sand tops
Fully regulate the action--let off, lost motion, key level, key dip, damper timing
Tune to A440 and voice for tonal consistency
Clean out existing amplifier or replace amp as necessary (Retrolinear--5 year warranty)
Rare! Looking for a portable Rhodes? Practically speaking, this is the only one. Rhodes made their 54 note models for roughly 2 years, 1980 and 1981. This dates to 1980. We’ve fixed this baby up; fully rebuilt for a tone supreme. Add some forest green and this is one mean machine!
Happy to provide a full list of rebuilding specs upon request. Right now the wooden top is stripped but not Tolexed; we can easily give a quote for full Tolex on that as well, featuring all new hardware. Comes with new legs and a sustain pedal as well; the pedal is not currently pictured.
It’s really just that black and white! And it's looking real nice. We've of course given the insides the works so it plays and sounds as good as we can get it. This is set up with a new Retrolinear amplifier, headphone and output jacks, speakers and reed shields. Feel free to reach out and we'll send you a comprehensive list of all the things we do to Wurlitzer pianos.
This one is a hybrid-style--you can remove the piano unit from the base and add its own legs and sustain pedal, or plug it into the speaker base for a 4-speaker combination. This piano comes with separate chrome legs and a new sustain pedal.
One of a kind! At least we have not seen any other Rhodes like this one. The case is covered by four beautiful woods: dark wedge, walnut, pine and marblewood, and the curved top is veneered in a stunning teak. The plastic cheek blocks have been replaced with solid marblewood, and dark walnut knobs are featured on the name rail. We have also added some subtly elegant curves to the corners of the case and rear edge. Of course, we have also worked over the insides, with new key bushings, under-key felts, hammer tips, damper felts, and tone bar springs, screws and grommets. The key pedestals have been re-felted with the small bump as well, which greatly minimizes friction and allows for a much smoother and more satisfying touch. Two new pots and RCA cord round out the interior rebuild. This instrument is a true joy to both play and look at, and will make a stunning addition to any home or music room. Includes new legs and pedal.
We love this one! Soft white and robin’s egg blue, worked over to the 9s of course. This is an early solid-state amp, re-capped and cleaned up, with the controls moved to the left cheek block. Tuned and voiced, with the key tops sanded for a vintage look, because, well, this one is vintage! We also re-pinned all of the hammer flanges for proper friction, rebutted the keys and fully regulated the action. This Wurlitzer 140 dates to 1963 and includes new legs and a sustain pedal, and a warranty on everything except the reeds.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream! Who doesn't like a summer treat? That's what we've got with our latest Wurlitzer, a converted 206 to 200 specs; with new added on-board speakers, and a new double-jack, line out with headphones as well. We work these over proper; a full list of the work we do can easily be provided upon request! This comes with a new set of legs and pedal, just note that the pedal is not pictured.
Here's a quick summary:
-Prime and paint the top, mint green and black
-New faceplate, music desk grommets and knobs
-Re-pin all hammer flanges for proper friction
-Re-bush all keys, clean sides and sand tops
-Fully regulate the action--let off, lost motion, key level, key dip, damper timing
-Tune to A440 and voice for tonal consistency
-Clean original amplifier and check connections; addition of new line-out and headphone jacks
1956! One of Wurlitzer’s earliest models, with a unique tone and nice bite! These models are a bit quirky but this the way to really set yourself apart from the ubiquitous 200/200A sound. We've re-bushed and cleaned the keys, changed the damper felt, regulated the action and tuned and voiced the piano for the best sound possible. These models have a distinctly "woody" and percussive tone, with lots of bite.Come and play this one, it looks nice too! (In our opinion :) Complete with legs and a new sustain pedal.
This Wurlitzer is the best of both worlds! Play it on its original speaker base (with new grill cloth) with the added boost of two new 8” speakers (as well as the smaller on-board oval speakers above the keys) or turn down the two thumb screws (just under the key bed) to remove the keyboard and set it up on four new chrome legs and a stand-alone pedal. So it’s both a 206 and a 200! Great for a studio or home, but then also with the portable option of taking to a gig. We designed this modification with the original amplifier but added all new speakers (cabinet and keyboard) and upgraded the connections—a traditional line out and headphone as well. We also re-pinned the hammers for proper friction, replaced the key bushings, regulated the action, tuned to A440 and voiced for best consistency in tone and volume. See pics of both combinations! Includes new legs, pedal, music desk (not pictured), and speaker base unit.
A great year for a great keyboard. The keys have been “bumped” for proper touch, the case has been re-Tolexed in classic black, and the lid has been resprayed. And of course the entire insides have been reworked—hammer tips, damper felts, screws, grommets, tone bar springs, key bushings and all the necessary set up work. This is one great piano! Includes new legs and pedal (pedal not pictured). Note—we do not have the wooden top case but can construct one upon request.
Serial #30826, the 145 is the tube version of the vaunted 140, and is more rare. Huge sound, edgy and rough. Warm tone, tube love! One of the finest Wurlitzers we’ve seen and heard. The case has been painted and the top resurfaced in a period-appropriate tweed-esqe cover. Complete with the original legs, pedal and key cover. And a matching bench is in production. This is a serious electric piano for someone looking for the tube version of something special.
The action has been regulated, keys re-bushed and cleaned, amplifier tubes replaced (new old-stock), IEC power input modernized with new power cable, reeds tuned and piano voiced for maximum consistency. We love this one; you will too.
Mean in green, this 1974 Fender Rhodes 88 is one fab machine. Custom forest green Tolex paired with cocobolo cheek blocks, this features all new hammer tips, damper felts, key bushings, and the very important key pedestal modification to minimize friction and the spongy feeling of most Rhodes keyboards. This has every desired design element in a vintage Rhodes—hybrid wooden and plastic hammer cams, actual wooden keys (same as a piano), and wooden harp supports. We don’t have the top for it but can fabricate in matching Tolex upon request. New legs and new pedal included of course.
A great year for Fender Rhodes and one of the last original sparkle tops produced. We’ve rebuilt this little low end champ with new hammer tips, damper felt, key bushings, tone bar screws and grommets, and the crucial “miracle mod” key pedestal bump that makes the touch so much more satisfying, removing the sponginess that is synonymous with so many Rhodes pianos. The original Tolex is in great shape but we’ve stayed it in black lacquer for a super clean finish. We also added new hardware and logos. $2600.00 for the keyboard only; $3000.00 will include a custom fabricated and Tolex-ed top case.
This one is a gem! 1975 is one of Rhodes best years, all the characteristics that players seek out--wooden keys with flat key tops (not the skirted key covers), wooden harp supports and hybrid wooden hammer cams. Most importantly, we added the "miracle mod" key pedestal bump to make the touch of the keyboard more efficient and so much more enjoyable to play. The original Tolex on this is in very good shape, and we added new case hardware and re-sprayed the top for a super clean look. We then made two custom exotic wood end blocks, each a two piece combination of bocote and ambrosia maple. We brought this one back to life in the shop--new screws and grommets, hammer tips, and key bushings. We individually cleaned each tine and tone bar and checked each pickup for proper specification. New pots and wiring from Vintage Vibe, with a pair of sleek black knobs, accompany the new faceplate. We of course spent a lot of time on the voicing, for a 6 to 7 level of bark on a 1 to 10 scale.
This is actually the keyboard half of a suitcase model, with the speaker unit awaiting a rebuild, but we can arrange to have legs installed upon request. (The easiest way to set it up is to use a table-top or heavy duty keyboard stand.) Comes with the wooden top and a new sustain pedal and pedal rod. We can also rebuild the speaker unit at anytime and complete the unit, price TBD but we can offer a discount. Other upgrades available as well--custom color re-Tolex, or re-spray of top to custom color, for example. Just let us know what you like and we're on it! Price includes a tuning follow up for a local tech, assuming I can find one, to $120.00. Please note, the Polytone amplifier in the picture is not included in the sale.
Custom seafoam green with a black base on this late model 200. This has a brand new Retrolinear amplifier, and has been given our thorough once, twice and three times over treatment—new key bushings, lubrication of key pins, new felts, checking and re-pinning of all hammer and repetition flange for proper friction levels, action regulation and fine tuning and voicing. This sounds, plays and looks fabulous. Included are new legs, music stand and pedal.
Completely rebuilt and freshly Tolex-ed in a chic forest green, this model of Rhodes is highly sought after, especially here in New York City. Compact with 54 keys, it is the most portable of their models. Only in production for about 2 years makes this a rare and great space-saving instrument. We decked out the all-wooden keys with new bushings and added new screws and grommets, hammer tips, damper felt, case hardware and full regulation and voicing as well. Not pictured but certainly included is a new set of legs and new sustain pedal. Come by the shop to see and hear this one, it’s one of our favorites!
This is a rare modified student model Wurlitzer, that can be either placed on its home base as a speaker cabinet (armed with a pair of brand new, big-sounding 8", 100 watt Celestion speakers), or legged up as a traditional model 200, with the small oval speakers (also new, from Vintage Vibe) mounted in the hood. When on the speaker cabinet, all four speakers produce the fullest sound, or the small speakers can be cut with a headphone jack adapter. Or the cabinet speakers can be cut simply by disconnecting the extending 1/4" cable. So many options! The big, warm sound comes from a brand new Retrolinear amplifier, our favorite amplifier for Wurlitzer pianos. We have installed nearly 50 of these amplifiers in the past several years. These amplifiers are warranted so no need to worry about various problems of older amplifiers--noise, popping, intermittent buzzing, etc. Occasionally one can find a Wurlitzer with an older amp in good shape but this is becoming exceedingly rare.
This Wurlitzer comes with two pedals--one that is permanently mounted in the base, and another that would screw into the bottom when the keyboard is on its chrome legs--a new set of which is also included. The transition is simple--just unscrew the pedal in the base and lift the keyboard off the two stabilizing pegs, then screw on the chrome legs and pedal and use it as a portable Wurlitzer. (Please note, the extra pedal that attaches when set up on the legs is not pictured.)
This has been custom painted white, with a new faceplate, knobs and music desk. We also replaced the grill cloth with a new black covering and molding strip, allowing access to the shelves and pedal attachment. The insides of the keyboard have been thoroughly reworked, with extra attention given to friction levels in the hammer center pins. Drawing from our background as professional acoustic piano technicians, we check all 64 hammer and repetition flanges for proper friction--not too much, not too little! Most Wurlitzer pianos have high friction in the center pins and this greatly impedes proper let-off on slow key strikes. The only dependable way to fix this is to re-pin, so that is what we do!
Extremely rare! Dating to one year only (1955), this is a prototype of model 112, the first Wurlitzer electric piano to go into larger-scale production. This model never had legs but included is your choice of wooden or metal legs (not pictured), mounted to a base board that the keyboard can sit on, which maintains the original integrity of the instrument. Also included is the very rare sustain pedal. We've re-capped the original tube amplifier, replaced the tubes with new "old stock", and aligned, lubricated and regulated the action, and tuned and voiced the reeds and pick ups. A true collector's item with a fabulous "woody" sounding vintage tone.
Our favorite model of Wurlitzer, this one of the few that they made with four(!) 8” round speakers, two mounted underneath, projecting toward the player and two mounted on the back, projecting outward. The sound can’t be beat! This is all original, and was hardly played in its earlier life. The case is in excellent condition and the original speaker cloth is near flawless. We re-bushed the keys and re-pinned the action to proper specification for the most consistent let-off and touch. And of course we meticulously tuned and voiced the piano. Come and check it out, it’s a rare find. Great for a home or studio, or anyone looking for a great sounding Wurlitzer in original condition. Although it is a little heavier, the wheels allow it to roll over smooth surfaces quite easily.
This one is a gem! Fully rebuilt with new Tolex. 1975 is one of Rhodes best years, all the characteristics that players seek out--wooden keys with flat key tops (not the skirted key covers), wooden harp supports and hybrid wooden hammer cams. Cosmetically, we re-Tolexed the case and top cover, with all new case hardware as well. We then added two custom bocote wood cheek blocks to replace the cheaper looking plastic ones, and added matching wood knobs as well. We also re-sprayed the top, now it is flawless. We brought this one back to life in the shop--new screws and grommets, hammer tips and damper felts, key bushings and all case structural hardware (T-nuts, etc). We individually cleaned each tine and tone bar and checked each pickup for proper specification. Then of course spent a lot of time on the voicing, for a 6 to 7 level of bark on a 1 to 10 scale. Comes with the original legs and cross bracing (note, cross braces are not pictured) and a new pedal.
It's simple, the Wurlitzer 140B is hands down the finest model that the company ever produced. The sound is huge and the design is sound. This has been professionally rebuilt in the shop, and sprayed a custom black with multiple coats of lacquer. As the original amplifier on this (and most Wurlitzer pianos) was never of premium quality, and produced at a time with different signal to noise tolerances, and now over 50 years old, we simply replaced it with the relatively new drop-in 140 series amplifier made by the fine folks over at Retrolinear. We also upgraded the original RCA cable that connects the pick up bar to the amp. The sound and dependability of it can't be beat!
We've spent hours on tweaking the reeds, tuning, spacing and voicing. We regulated the action to the best of our ability, taking into account and adjusting for the proper friction levels of center pin and flange pivots, drawing from our background as professional acoustic piano technicians. Wurlitzers have high friction in the center pins and this greatly impedes proper let-off on slow key strikes. The only dependable way to fix this is to re-pin, so that is what we do! We always re-bush the keys and clean the key sides, lubricate the key pins, and change the key under-felts. Regulation includes key leveling and setting proper key dip, adjustments of lost motion, let off and damper timing, and hammer and damper spacing to reed.
Dark and dirty yet clean and precise, custom Tolex-ed for a brown western look with antiqued corners. Rebuilt with new damper felt, key pedestal felt, hammer tips and screws and grommets. Tuned and voiced for consistency, this is a big shop favorite. The Mark II features, built into the key pedestal, a variant of the "Marcel Curve" or miracle mod that can help make many Fender Rhodes pianos feel lighter and faster. Includes new sustain pedal (not pictured).
$2650 with top case (leg and pedal storage) in original black Tolex (as is).
Add $350 with top case re-Tolexed in western brown with added hardware to match piano case.
Twelve month warranty on all parts except the tines. Please note, the Fender Twin Reverb amplifier in some of the pictures is not included.
Rare! 1980 54-note Rhodes, perfect for New York City apartments. With (also rare) matching legs and pedal and the highly sought-after all-wood keys. We've rebuilt this with new hammer tips, damper felt, screws and grommets and key bushings. We've cleaned the tines and electronics and Re-Tolexed the piano and top cases. We've added new hardware and logos. We've tuned and voiced it to the best of our ability. Come by and hear it!
With a new amplifier (Retrolinear), regulated, tuned and ready.
Custom blue-gray paint and lacquer, complete with new speakers and power cord. Also includes a new set of legs and pedal. Clean-running amplifier, regulated, tuned and ready!
Regulated, tuned and voiced with new speakers and re-soldered electrical connections. With warranty.
This 200A (converted to 200A specs from a 206A) is classic black, repainted, regulated, rebuilt with a new Retrolinear amp. With new legs and pedal from Vintage Vibe. This sings as well as any Wurlitzer can. Everything but the reeds is warranted for 2 years.
This 145 has undergone quite the transformation. This is one of the last tube-amplifier models that the company made, with the same action as the 140 series, that featured some of the earliest solid-state amps. The action and reed style design on these was, in our opinion, the best of all their models. The 145 is a rare model, and if you like the tube aesthetic, this is what you want. It is VASTLY improved from their 112 and 120 models, and featured a tremolo pot for the first time in their production.
The design of these older models featured the controls built into the lid, on the left side. While this was fine for the player, it caused problems for servicing, and occasionally one of the knobs can be hit while playing. No bueno! Wurlitzer realized that moving the controls to the cheek block was a much cleaner design. So we did that to this model, very carefully hollowing out the block and adding new pots and wiring to it.
This amplifier has been extensively rebuilt. We have changed the tunes (new old stock), the wiring (controls to amplifier), pots and as many of the capacitors as we could! We've also upgraded the RCA cord and added a new speaker.
The housing of the pre-200 models is a plywood body and metal lid, with a wooden music desk and ledge. It was originally a beige on beige, subtle color variations between the body and top. Not terrible, but not great. We wanted to try veneering; we had done the body on a 140B in the past, but had never tried veneering the lid. It was a challenge! But it came out well. The lid itself is oiled veneer, and the body, music desk, music ledge and legs(!) are oiled walnut.
On the action, we check every hammer flange for proper friction, and re-pin when necessary. This makes a huge difference! If a hammer flange has too much friction, it will NEVER hit the let-off point at the same consistency, and make soft playing an impossibility. We've replaced the hammer screws, and tightened all the damper and whipped flanges. We've lubricated all the flanges, and aligned all the parts. We sanded the yellowing key-tops to bring back the natural whiteness, and then put each on the buffing wheel for a glossy smooth touch. We've cleaned all the sharps and stained the undersides. We replaced all the key bushings (front and top mortises) and lubricated the key pins. All the key frame felts have been replaced as well.
We regulate the action to a super-close let-off point, for precise and optimal power. Of course we are also quite meticulous with key leveling, key dip for proper after-touch, damper timing, lost motion and tuning and voicing. All questionable reeds have been replaced for optimal sustain and timbral consistency.