Frequently Asked Questions

We do not have your credit card number stored. This is a safe secure site, this means we have no access to your credit card number when you place an order.

This also means we cannot add anything onto your order after order is placed with us unless you send payment thru Pay Pal to orders@vintagevibe.com for the cost or make another complete separate order.

If you set up an account and order parts and you receive a declined transaction sign. There is always a simple reason such as a wrong number, address mistake or zip code. Billing address must match exactly along with name and number on card. Since it is a secure site the system is very sensitive. Going back over and checking your info will usually fix any problem.

Error sign or problems logging in due to email address:

75% of the time it is a problem on the customer’s computer. It usually ends up being cookies or temporary internet files that need to be deleted. Delete old internet cache and cookies.

• How to Delete the Contents of the Temporary Internet Files Folder
• How to Delete Cookie files in Internet Explorer

Problems with Credit Cards:

Our site is a secure site; we have no involvement in the processing of your credit cards. We only get the order once it is placed and accepted by the system. All information is private and secure we cannot access it even if we wanted to. Our site processes thousands of transactions a year smoothly, if you are having trouble there is a simple explanation for it. Again, we cannot manipulate any programs to help you if you are having troubles other than you calling in your order over the phone. We want you to have a successful account set up so you can log in anytime and order simply and easy.

If you think you are being charged twice {you're not}:

If you think you have been charged twice because your credit card or bank says your account has been charged for multiple charges due to the fact that you tried to place an order more than one time due to technical errors. This is not the case. When using a credit card or debit card for online purchases, every time you put your card into the system a hold gets put on your account for the amount your charging to secure it for the purchase. If you only receive one confirmation from us, this means you only have one order which has gone thru, the other money will be released back to your account within a couple days. This is standard practice by any credit card company and has nothing to due with us. This is a very common question and the answer is that your money will be released from a hold in 24-48 hours after initial charge.

We set up this website as an online company, at our base here we are a repair shop and do not have sales people waiting to take phone orders. All sales should be done online, with the exception of a few reasons we will take orders over the phone. But since we are a very busy shop it is difficult for us to stop what we are doing to take orders.

If you are looking for anything use our search bar, it is very sensitive for wording but does help quicken your search on our large site. It is so sensitive that the use of an "S" stating plural at the end of a word will not find the product if it is in singular term. So try a couple ways when looking.

Custom ordered products-Including pianos

If you ask us to build a piano for you and you secure your purchase with a deposit. If you do not pay the balance of the work in an agreed upon time, you will lose your deposit and the right for us to hold the piano for you. We put time and money out for you to build your custom piano, your deposit is a contract for us to stop and change our schedule for you and work on your project. When you fail to come through on your end, it leaves us with time and labor hanging without compensation.

Wurlitzer Electric Piano - Differences Between 200 & 200A

The Wurlitzer Electric Piano model 200 was the first Wurlitzer Electric Piano to evolve from the Wooden Wurlitzer Electric Pianos of the 1960’s. It was introduced in 1968; this was the beginning of the Classic model years for Wurlitzer Electric Pianos. The Wurlitzer Electric Piano Model 200 was lighter and sleeker due to its new ABS plastic contoured top. It featured a new action design as well as two 4x8 speakers, an updated amplifier design which now implemented new Silicon Transistors as opposed to Germanium. The piano also offered chrome legs, new sustain pedal type and an auxiliary line-out for recording which was previously unavailable on earlier Wurlitzer Electric Pianos.

In 1975 Wurlitzer came out with the Wurlitzer Electric piano model 200A. Almost identical in appearance to the Wurlitzer Electric Piano model 200, the changes were subtle and mostly on the inside. For one, Wurlitzer updated the amplifier once again by placing the pre amp on top of the harp to reduce noise. They also used an LDR for the vibrato instead of modulating the pre amp gain with reactance modulation. A shielding kit was added for AC hum reduction and an extra shield on the pick ups for noise reduction. They removed alnico speakers from amp plate and installed ceramic 4x8 speakers onto the ABS plastic lid. A 1k variable gain aux out pot was introduced next to aux/headphone out as well as other minor changes.

People wonder about any sound differences between the two models and to the untrained ear the differences are almost undetectable. The 200A had a depth pot on the tremolo that could be made to sound stronger than that of the 200 model but at the same time it could also easily distort if up to high. The output signal of the 200A was greater and had less noise than that of the 200 model. Also the reeds in the later 200A model were of a thicker plate which made the tone fuller with a mellow overtone. The reeds on the early 200 model were thinner which added more harmonics to the sound. These reed differences can be disguised by custom voicing of the pick-ups making it near impossible to tell the difference between the two in a blind folded test.

In our opinion neither one is better, it all has to do with how it is set up as well as what kind of condition it is in. We have had plenty of so called “mint 200A models that sounded horrible and we have had many road worn 200 models that have blown us away sonically. Just remember all of the great songs and albums recorded on Wurlitzer’s prior the 200A.

How much does it cost to tune up my keyboard?:

This is a question we get often and a question that we cannot answer. All repairs are different and any kind of refurbishment is unique. What you might think it needs is probably just the tip of the ice berg; without us first seeing the instrument and discussing it with you we cannot say. Although ultimately we will perform only what you wish for. We will say that we do have a minimum charge of 250.00 for any job on a vintage keyboard. Our rate is 95.00 an hour plus parts in our shop. The average Wurlitzer or Rhodes repair is around 3-6 hours, sometimes more depending on the service it requires. This should give you an idea of what a general cost is. Refurbishing is a different story and will require much more time and thought.

One thing to remember is Vintage Vibe is considered by many to be the best and one of the fairest in the business. We operate our business in one of the most expensive areas in the country, it costs money to operate and survive around this part of the country, a lot of money. Vintage keyboard repair is a select specialized business, we are the best at what we do. We have dedicated years of study, science and labor to be who we are, our rate is fair and worthy.

Examples: If you were to go out and look for any of these tradesmen there would be yellow pages full of them. Even amplifier techs are a dime a dozen comparatively. On the other hand, there are a small handful of truly qualified vintage keyboard technicians across the country. The true techs deserve every bit of money they get.

Hourly rate in this area

• Tattoo Artist 200.00 per hour
• Carpenter 100.00
• Electrician 125.00
• Plumber 125.00
• Mechanic 85.00
• Lawyer 400.00
• Regarded Guitar Amp Techs $95.00 - 120.00 hour

Unlike an Amplifier technician who just works on electronics, a true keyboard tech has to be well versed in piano regulation, tuning and electronics, this is why it takes about 3 times as long or more to repair a keyboard than an amplifier. A gifted Keyboard tech can make magic happen and you will know it instantly by playing your instrument, an average keyboard tech will tell you what he fixed, charge you and you will not even notice any change other than the obvious.

Reeds and tuning them:

Q: My reed came and it was not the right note, it was flat.
A: Yes, it is the right note.

Wurlitzer reeds have been coming flat since the first one ever sold by the factory over 50 years ago. This is standard practice; you must file it to bring it up to pitch. We offer pre tuned reeds at a cost, you can choose to have us pre tune them for you. Owning a Wurlitzer or Rhodes is a hands on responsibility, it takes money patience and practice. Owning one of these classic keyboards is for the generous giving spirit only, if you are thrifty and do not want to spend time learning or money paying someone to nurture the piano, than we suggest these are not for you. One thing for sure is that they are the only thing that will ever give you that classic tone.

Phone Tech Support

While we are here to help and love to help out, we have a lack of time to properly take care of our repairs in the shop due to phone distractions. Therefore phone tech support is restricted to 2 minutes per call, please email us questions to our message board if you feel you're question cannot be answered in this time. Our Message board is there so others can learn from your questions. Phone calls just take away time from our busy schedule repairing amplifiers and pianos.