Why Your Wurlitzer 206 Electronic Piano is a Shock Hazard (And How to Fix It)

Cutting all of the wires connecting the two ports in the cabinet of the Wurlitzer makes the keyboard safer. The Wurlitzer must be unplugged before you do this, and you must be careful not to cut any of the mains wiring that is routed into the center… — Cutting all of the wires connecting the two ports in the cabinet of the Wurlitzer makes the keyboard safer. The Wurlitzer must be unplugged before you do this, and you must be careful not to cut any of the mains wiring that is routed into the center of the keyboard.

In the classroom, multiple student-model Wurlitzers were connected to each other via the two ports on the back. This connection allowed each Wurlitzer to communicate with the teacher console. It also linked each Wurlitzer to the mains wiring so that they could power on in the first place.

Inside the Wurlitzer, the wiring for the right port (assuming that the front of the Wurlitzer is facing you) branches off in two directions: up into the keyboard through a hole in the center, and also across the cabinet to connect to the left port. Since all the Wurlitzers in the classroom were meant to connect in a circle, this design is fine for its original purpose. However, if the Wurlitzer is being used as a stand-alone keyboard, the left port will be empty. This is hazardous because, with nothing plugged into the right port, it has exposed metal contacts carrying mains voltage. Touching this port is pretty much like sticking your fingers into a wall outlet.

Fortunately, there is an easy fix: just cut the wires connecting the right port to the left port. Here's how you do it:

Turn off and unplug the Wurlitzer. The Wurlitzer MUST be unplugged before you proceed. Otherwise you will get shocked.
Remove the front baffle of the cabinet.
This is a great time to confirm that the Wurlitzer is unplugged.
Confirm where the power wires connect in your Wurlitzer. They may come in from the wall outlet on the Left 10-pin block, lead to the right 10-pin block and from there lead to the molex plug on the amp rail. If this is the case, you want the black (line), white (neutral) and green (ground) wires that come from the molex plug to land on the left-block (and not stop off at the right-block). To do this, make a note of the corresponding wires which cross-connect the power leads to the left block (these are in the main brown jacket) and which lugs they are soldered to on the left block. Cut the power wires from the right block and re-solder the them to the power lugs on the left block.
You will want to then remove all of the cross-connecting wires.

Another great mod for your Wurlitzer 206: adding vibrato and an aux output.

Don’t have a 206 yet? We currently have one available in the store. Check it out here.