Gary75 Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 Have any of you guys upgraded your old Wurli amps with either the Vintage Vibe amp here Vintage Vibe Or the Warneck board sold by Ken Rich Warneck There's quite a price difference between the two. I'd like to record my 1968 EP200 but the noise floor of this 45 year old amp isn't great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Nathan Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 I decided against changing my Wurly amp, but I've never had a noise problem, and it just sounds so damn good I don't want to mess with it, but if I did want to do it, I would trust Tim Warneck and accept that his product was worth whatever he charged for it. http://www.retrolinear.com/web-store/warneck-research.aspx His Varivibe is pretty cool too. Don't rush me. I'm playing as slowly as I can! http://www.stevenathanmusic.com/stevenathanmusic.com/HOME.html https://apple.co/2EGpYXK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Tonewheel Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 +1 for Tim! He knows his stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Speaking of retroliner, this beautiful chop they just completed was posted on the other forum. http://www.harmonycentral.com/t5/Keys-Synths-amp-Samplers/Just-got-a-Hammond/td-p/34782567/page/2 Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wright Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Very cool! . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dgas Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Another option to consider is to rebuild the existing amplifier. Replace filter caps, coupling caps (if needed), etc. Vintage Vibe has rebuild kits, including one kit option labelled "hiss killer". If you are handy or if you know a good tech, it's worth considering. I think VV will do the rebuild as well (send only the amp PCB). The original amps are special in their own right. Heck if you decide not to rebuild, I'd be interested in your original preamp board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorgatron Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 my 200 is pretty dang noisy, but I was going to start with the reed bar shields first, then see if I need to work on the amp. http://www.vintagevibe.com/p-555-wurlitzer-electric-piano-reed-bar-shields.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWW Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Tim Warneck (Retrolinear) has done extensive work on my 1959 Hammond C3 and Leslie 122. It was great sounding. Now, it is is stunning. He also worked on my D6 and likewise brought it to life. I simply can't recommend him highly enough. He is super smart, unpretentious, and his ear and electronics expertise is unparalleled. Finally, he prices his services fair and square. If you are using a Wurly for recording, you must use his preamp and tremolo mod. Finally, he is a wizard at Moog synth restoration. Hammond C3, Leslie 122, Steinway B, Wurlitzer 200A, Rhodes 73, D6 Clav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisdanno Posted March 7, 2013 Share Posted March 7, 2013 Can't speak to the VV, but the Warneck replacement board for my 200A is some of the best money I've ever spent, period. Sounds amazing, tremolo is perfectly authentic, and the noise floor is stupid low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary75 Posted March 7, 2013 Author Share Posted March 7, 2013 I bought the VV kit, made very little difference to be honest. It's not hum as I disconnected the pickup bar from the amp. It's purely hiss. It's hiss once you get past about 70 percent on the volume. There seems a lot of support for the Warneck products, so ill probably stump up the extra cash and go for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WWW Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 I have to agree with B3boy about VV. I bought what was touted as a mint Rhodes suitcase with Dyno. Not so much. It turned out to be a Frankenstein. It had had more bad work done on it than a plastic surgery addicted stripper. Tim Warneck brought it back to life. Hammond C3, Leslie 122, Steinway B, Wurlitzer 200A, Rhodes 73, D6 Clav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 I want one of those Warneck preamps for my Wurli!!! Keep it greazy! B3tles - Soul Jazz THEO - Prog Rock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Kaenel Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 If Ken sells it, the unit has proved its mettle. I've recently spent some quality time in Ken's shop, and I would trust his instincts and experience without a second thought. Go with the Warneck. Kurzweil PC4-7, Studiologic Numa X 73 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Tonewheel Posted April 6, 2013 Share Posted April 6, 2013 Just wanted to add more support for Tim. He removed the foam from my 1974 Hammond A-105, and his work is impeccable. He's a perfectionist, exceptionally knowledgeable, friendly, and honest. I can't say enough good things about him or the quality of his work. He's also a dealer for many products, and has great deals. Check him out at Retrolinear.com. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary75 Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share Posted April 6, 2013 Hey as soon as I get the dough together, I'm going to get that Warneck amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Slade Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 If you are RECORDING- one thing I've done VERY effectively with my original old and moldy 214A is to simply judiciously use noise reduction after recording. If you don't overdo it, you can get a pristine sound without getting that noise reduction weirdness happening. Adobe Audition and many other recording softwares have excellent noise reduction these days. In a mix, or even solo, used right, you would never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimkost2002 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 In my experience: 1) VV preamp is much more furry, gritty....a hot rod 2) Warneck is more clean, uncolored Both are good in their own way. Both have an equally low noise floor, but the character and color are different. I haven't had any dealings with Tim, but my colleagues who have tell me he has the highest integrity. I've dealt with VV for repairs and plan to buy one of their EPs (Forte 7 got in the way of that for q1 2016). Depends on your preference. IMHO it is win-win "I have constantly tried to deliver only products which withstand the closest scrutiny � products which prove themselves superior in every respect.� Robert Bosch, 1919 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesG Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 "hiss killer" sounds a lot like "noise gate with EQ" to me. You may have these in your rack already. Wes Hammond: L111, M100, M3, BC, CV, Franken CV, A100, D152, C3, B3 Leslie: 710, 760, 51C, 147, 145, 122, 22H, 31H Yamaha: CP4, DGX-620, DX7II-FD-E!, PF85, DX9 Roland: VR-09, RD-800 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Slade Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 I have a VERY quiet all original 200 amp for sale. See ebay Wurlitzer 200 Electric Piano Amp By the way, I've purchased the Warnick Retrolinear amp- it sounds exactly like the original, with slightly higher output, hence a LITTLE less noise for the same given volume. The differences are not as great as one might think. The biggest difference in reducing noise was simply to add the $50 reed bar shield over the reed tone bars- that eliminated 90% of the previous noise. Both the original and the retrolinear take about 10 minutes max to drop in and install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary75 Posted June 22, 2016 Author Share Posted June 22, 2016 Yes, in the end I decided to leave the amp upgrade and install the reed bar shield and an led pilot light on my 200. I'm just finishing up with lubricating the action on someone's 200A and that piano runs louder than my 200. Mines from 1968 according to the date stamp underneath so I guess some of the components could be out of tolerance and the 200A that's here could be 12-15 years younger. I don't know if it's just my piano, but I prefer it's sound over this 200A. It breaks up and just sounds more defined than the 200A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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