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I recently acquired a Wurlitzer 542 and would like to learn more about it (production year, cost, any available literature, etc). Sadly, I have not come across any information online about it and cannot even find a photograph of another one. Mine is in a substantial semi-carved wood cabinet with a locking roll top to cover the manuals. It has great sound, when I removed the back cover I noticed it had components by Leslie! However, that is all I know about the instrument. Therefore, any additional information would be greatly appreciated!
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Contact Morelock's Organ Parts and Service in Rienzi, Mississippi. They have all the parts and manuals for Wurlitzer organs. -
A 542? That seems to be a very rare beastie. Even 'Blue Book' doesn't list it. However, the 'Mother List' does, but has no information other that it was a transistor spinet model. It lists the year as 1975 and that's it.
Could I ask you to post a couple of photos of the organ please, open and closed lid! Two reasons - one, it will help me figure out which model it's based on. The 540 was 1973 and the 545 that replaced it was 1974. That was the year they switched from their own Spectra-Tone tremolo to Leslie. So a 542 is out of sequence! Secondly, as it's not listed anywhere with any details, it will give me a chance to update the 'Mother List' from the bare essentials it now has.
Thanks.It's not what you play. It's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.
New website now live - www.andrew-gilbert.com
Current instruments: Roland Atelier AT900 Platinum Edition, Yamaha Genos, Yamaha PSR-S970, Kawai K1m
Retired Organs: Lots! Kawai SR6 x 2, Hammond L122, T402, T500 x 2, X5. Conn Martinique and 652. Gulbransen 2102 Pacemaker. Kimball Temptation.
Retired Leslies, 147, 145 x 2, 760 x 2, 710, 415 x 2.
Retired synths: Korg 700, Roland SH1000, Jen Superstringer, Kawai S100F, Kawai S100P, Kawai K1Comment
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You may only view thumbnails in this gallery. This gallery has 5 photos.Comment
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Thanks for the photos to add to the archive.
As I suspected, it's an 'institutional' version of the 540 - with all the 'fun' bits like auto rhythm etc removed and a locking lid added. A real, 'old school' Wurlitzer model and if you like theatre organ sounds, it can deliver some nice ones. Although apparently a 'church' instrument, the spec is still the pretty much same as the theatre based models! Perhaps slightly different with those percussion voices like Lute.It will do a good straight sound, but once you start playing with the tremolo, vibrato and Leslie effects in various combinations, it will show its true nature!
I have a feeling that this may be one of the very few errors in the 'Mother List', with just the year being wrong. I'd say it's likely to be 1973, same as the 540. I'll update things accordingly.It's not what you play. It's not how you play. It's the fact that you're playing that counts.
New website now live - www.andrew-gilbert.com
Current instruments: Roland Atelier AT900 Platinum Edition, Yamaha Genos, Yamaha PSR-S970, Kawai K1m
Retired Organs: Lots! Kawai SR6 x 2, Hammond L122, T402, T500 x 2, X5. Conn Martinique and 652. Gulbransen 2102 Pacemaker. Kimball Temptation.
Retired Leslies, 147, 145 x 2, 760 x 2, 710, 415 x 2.
Retired synths: Korg 700, Roland SH1000, Jen Superstringer, Kawai S100F, Kawai S100P, Kawai K1Comment
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Thanks for the information, glad I could be of help.Comment
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