Troubleshooting a vintage amplifier involves a skillset that is distinct from designing new circuits. The prime advantage of troubleshooting — the fact that the circuit has already been created for you, in its entirety — is also its biggest challenge.

Every tube amplifier has a preferred speaker impedance: usually, this is something in the neighborhood of 4 Ω or 8 Ω. The preferred speaker impedance of tube Wurlitzers are as follows:

The only true difference between 140-series and 145-series Wurlitzers is the amplifier. Both keyboards were released in the 1960s and represented a total redesign of the Wurlitzer electronic piano. Wurlitzer overhauled the mechanical action, revised the cabinet, and — for the first and only time — manufactured two parallel styles of amplifier: a solid state amp (the 140/140a/140b) and a tube amp (the 145).

Tropical Fish now offers several kits containing replacement components for all Wurlitzer amplifiers. If you already have experience working with electronics, these kits offer a convenient DIY option for restoring your amp. Each kit contains the same high-quality components that we use in our own restorations.

For all amplifiers, we offer the Basic kit as well as several add-on components packages. The Basic kit contains all electrolytic capacitors, power supply resistors, and a few input components for the preamp. For many amplifiers, replacing these components is sufficient for improved reliability and performance.