orangefunk Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Originally posted by Philip O'Keefe: Speaking of Wurli tones, I heard a good one last night that I had forgotten about - Sweet's "Love Is Like Oxygen". Okay, okay, laugh all you want about my powerpop nature ( ) but that's a cool tune, and the stereo vibrato Wurli that comes in at about 3:13 is SOOO cool. Actually, the EP and the acoustic piano together work really well in that song. It's okay to hate me. That is a coooooooooool track.. I loved it when I was a kid and I still do... there was something about songs of that era... just clever and catchy... I loved stuff like "Just What I Needed" by the Cars and "Airport" by the Motors.. lovely keyboard led pop... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Rhythm Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 You regularly hear wurlies in modern country music. It (of course) blends well with electric guitars. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, George Duke, The Beatles all used a Rhodes. Almost never a Wurlitzer. Find 675 of my jazz piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip OKeefe Posted October 4, 2004 Author Share Posted October 4, 2004 Originally posted by Ted Nightshade: Well I think a wurli is a lot tidier, maybe it would be preferable for recording and some live situations for that reason. Lots of mud potential with a rhodes- takes up a lot of real estate on tape before the clarity comes through.That's definitely true... if you're not careful with your arrangements, an EP (especially a real Rhodes) can get in the way in the low mids and even upper bass, making it harder to mix with guitars and bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip OKeefe Posted October 4, 2004 Author Share Posted October 4, 2004 Originally posted by Jazz+: Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, George Duke, The Beatles all used a Rhodes. Almost never a Wurlitzer.That may be true in general, but "I Am The Walrus" is definitely a Wurli... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Of course it doesn't compare to a piano. Totally different instrument. Ditto for Hammond organ. If I had to choose only one of the above, it would certainly be piano without a moment's hesitation. A Rhodes works just great live. It can cut nicely through the mix and complements guitars. Strike those keys sharply and they have an attack quite different than a guitar, or rolling chords, or honking almost clav-like parts, or light bell-like tones. A lot of range from a rather simple device -- but you could sure say that about most any great instrument. (Except piano -- because it's not simple!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b3keys Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 That may be true in general, but "I Am The Walrus" is definitely a Wurli... No, No, No! "I Am The Walrus" is a Pianet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve LeBlanc Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 just kidding around Phil http://www.youtube.com/notesleb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted October 4, 2004 Share Posted October 4, 2004 Originally posted by b3keys: That may be true in general, but "I Am The Walrus" is definitely a Wurli... No, No, No! "I Am The Walrus" is a Pianet!You know what? The Clavinet and the Pianet are easily mistaken for one another. What about Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World". Is that a Clavinet, or a pianet? There are additional examples, but they escape me at this time. Tom "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Rhythm Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 I've always thought that Joy to the world was wurlie... but I've been wrong about a lot. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ITGITC Posted October 5, 2004 Share Posted October 5, 2004 Originally posted by DKeenum: I've always thought that Joy to the world was wurlie... but I've been wrong about a lot.David, I know what you mean. That's why I asked the question. It seems like in many recordings where I thought the Wurli was used, it turned out to be a pianet. I wish I could put my finger on the facts and just where I read them... just in case I'm a contestant on Jeapardy and they ask that question. I DO know for a fact that a cold draft beer would taste pretty good right about now. Anyone wanna join me? Word on the street is that zeronyne is buying! Tom "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b3keys Posted October 6, 2004 Share Posted October 6, 2004 Joy To The World, Mamma Told Me Not To Come, She's Not There, I Am The Walrus, Come Together all were performed on a Pianet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFunkman Posted October 6, 2004 Share Posted October 6, 2004 People told me my particular Rhodes had the worst action they'd ever felt...Maybe that's why I preferred playin' my Wurly. My Wurly keyboard's touch was right in my "sweet spot:" it offered less resistance than a grand piano, but certainly more than a Farfisa...and those gut-bucket lead lines that flowed out made folks stop and look! Then came what doctors refer to as a "right inguinal hernia." So much for hauling around hundred-pound (45-kilogram) keyboards! "If more of us valued food, cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - J. R. R. Tolkien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 I hear some songs where I'm not sure whether it's a Rhodes or a Wurly -- kinda like both but not quite like either. Generally closer to Wurly, but without that special overtone that gives it such a nice bite. Maybe that's a pianet? I never played a pianet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkjelec Posted October 7, 2004 Share Posted October 7, 2004 Hi All, IMHO the action of any Rhodes I've ever played (also I've owned two and since sold them) has been just ridiculous. Maybe the sound is nicer than a Wurli, but I've ended up with a Wurli only, and I love it. Playing the rhodes felt like I was whacking my fingers down on my desk, not on a musical instrument. Call me wimpy if you will, but I'll pass on the Rhodes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Hooper Posted October 8, 2004 Share Posted October 8, 2004 I've owned a couple of Rhodes back in the day (and that day was a while ago!). Now I use an S80 live and the EVP88/NI Electrik Piano in my recording work. The Rhodes sound I have relied on for most of my ep needs. I play jazz out mostly (and love Chick and Herbie's Rhodes sounds/solos for inspiration), but have been getting into using the S80 wurlitzer a lot lately. One group I play with occasionally has 2 guitarists, and the wurlie emulation does an excellent job of cutting through that sound. Of course, with 2 guitarists, it can be hard to find room... Composer/Performer at Roger Hooper Music Product Trainer at CASIO www.rogerhooper.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted October 9, 2004 Share Posted October 9, 2004 Sure, rhodes keyboard takes getting used to. Wurly is faster, and no doubt easier for a synth player. Anyone who's been playing old heavy piano actions should be able to adapt to the Rhodes pretty quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Soundsmith Posted October 10, 2004 Share Posted October 10, 2004 IMHO, these are two different bords for quite different purposes. The Wurli has a bright, biting sound that fits rock and blues well, but is not a great jazz tool. The Rhodes is not a great rock tool - there are exceptions, but generally it is not bright enough, though it barks nicely. Really it is comparing apples and oranges, the 'useful timbral space' Venn diagram of each has a very narrow overlap, mostly in the pop area. In Gigastudio, I have three Rhodes libs I use: Scarbee 73, Franz' Virtual Rhodes and one I made up with Franz' Rhodes plus strings for a Fattburger effect. I also still love the MKS-20 Rhodes, that SA process works perfectly for it. For the Wurli, there is a free lib (I think from Worra's site) that really works for me, it feels like the real thing. But I never have to ask myself which is best, Rhodes or Wurli, for a given tune, it's always obvious to me... Dasher Dasher - don't ask me about those other reindeer, all I can tell you is Comet's in the sink! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedly Nightshade Posted October 11, 2004 Share Posted October 11, 2004 I read about a lot of stiff Rhodes actions here, but FWIW my old 88 has a really sweet action conducive to trills and rips and the like. On the easy side of just right. A WOP BOP A LU BOP, A LOP BAM BOOM! "There is nothing I regret so much as my good behavior. What demon possessed me that I behaved so well?" -Henry David Thoreau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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