Wurlitzer 200A

The Wurlitzer 200A is the refined version of the already-classic Wurlitzer 200. Introduced in the mid-1970s, it keeps the same essential reed-based electric-piano voice - dry, soulful, and capable of that famous bark when played hard - but improves the practicality with better shielding, quieter electronics, and a more polished amplifier and speaker setup.

For many players, the 200A is the definitive Wurly. It is the model most commonly associated with the instrument's classic studio era, and it combines enough grit to cut through a mix with enough smoothness to work beautifully in soul, jazz-funk, indie pop, and soundtrack writing.

Plugin Emulations

How It Works

  • Hammers strike metal reeds whose motion is captured by electrostatic pickups
  • Built-in amplifier and tremolo are central to the classic self-contained Wurly sound
  • The 200A refines shielding and electronics for quieter operation than the earlier 200

Legacy & Evolution

If the Wurlitzer 200 established the platform, the 200A turned it into a long-lived standard. It is the model many players still picture first when they think "Wurly," and modern software recreations often use it as the reference point for that biting electromechanical tone.

Key Specs

  • Introduced: 1974
  • Type: Electro-mechanical electric piano
  • Keyboard: 64 notes
  • Sound Engine: Reeds with electrostatic pickups
  • Known For: Quieter electronics and the definitive portable Wurly sound