Only Lowrey and Wurlitzer had this feature. Watch the whole video, the 1st track is hoky, but the second track has a very cool solo through a Wurlitzer Brass Horn, gotta see it too The 4500 console ( 61 keys and 25 pedals) and 4300 spinet ( 43 keys and 13 pedals) also have a pitch bend function on the edge of the swell ( volume) pedal. Thank goodness they are completely transistorized due to the target tube organs have become. The 4300 is the smaller spinet version and appear often on Craigslist. I own a 4500 and can say it is the most versatlile organ ever made.
My Youtube channel has many organ playlists. If you are new to the organ hold on to your hat! The following is the North Suburban Hammond Organ SocietyĪnd their home page- where they fully explain with images, diagrams, and excellent descriptions the Hammond tone wheel organs as well as the great Hammond X66. The transistor had become utilized in the organs of the competitors in the mid 50's (Gulbransen and Thomas) and Wurlitzer simply couldn't afford to keep making the electrostatic reed organs, but they were made to last many lifetimes with simple capacitor changes in the (you guessed it) amplifier. The only reason they stopped making the electrostatic reed organs was because they were very expensive to build.
The free reed models sound just as awesome as a Hammond in the right hands. The models with instant attack are called FREE REED, and they appeal to jazz, popular, gospel, and theater organ players. The earlier ES reed models appeal to the classical players because they only allow air to enter the reed as the notes are played. Wurlitzer had to compete with Hammond for the snappy sound for popular music so they redesigned the organ. The previous models had a slower onset of the notes, much like a pipe organ. The reason was for the instant attack of the note when playing a key. In fact the models made between 54' and 61' played all of the reeds continuously. The reeds were NOT used for their sound, but used as the means to generate a stable tone that was then used purely electronically.
The Wurlitzer ES organs were made from 1945-46 to 1961. Service Manual Wurlitzer Organ Model 440-444 This page lists owners manuals, service manuals and documentation. NEVER JUNK A WURLITZER ELECTROSTATIC REED ORGAN!!! Why? For the exact same reason you should never junk any great guitar and amp- it's priceless! So even if you get a Wurlitzer ES ( short for electrostatic when referring to them, but they never used ES in their labeling) reed organ for free, DO NOT junk it for the amp inside and/or the speakers inside.
The organs I refer to are the Wurlitzer Electrostatic Reed series of organs. HOWEVER, the 4150 is not one of the Wurlitzer models that you should NEVER EVER sacrifice, that would be the model(s) that directly preceded the 1961 Wurlitzer 4150 and these are just as coveted as the great Hammond tone wheel organs.
I've built and modded many guitar amps, but just couldn't bring myself to destroy an organ to build a guitar amp from it. I'm a long time guitar player and organ player.