Wurlitzer 630TA

The Wurlitzer 625 / 630TA Total Tone Professional 1978

The 630 was a total departure from the 605 in both sound and technology. It heavily used Large Scale Integrated Circuits (LSIs) which is the process of integrating or embedding thousands of transistors on a single silicon semiconductor microchip. These were special designed by Wurlitzer to do job like: Frequency generation, Keyer matrix, Rhythm sequence and sound keying etc. This innovation made it easy to offer much more than ever before. Tibia's up to 1', more rhythms, multiplexing string chorus, one finger chords and auto chord to name a few.
This combination would be the golden era of electric organ building for Wurlitzer as by the mid 80s it would be over.

630TA Sable Cherry

630 Brochure Back

Wurlitzer 625 12 Page Brochure PDF

I decided I will highly modify my instrument like my 630TA of the past with an Sytha Solo board from the 445 to add a lot of new synth sounds like Tuba, Harmonica, Clarinet, Trombone, Violin, Accordion, Guitar, Banjo, along with second touch to the synthesizer keyboard. The reverb was channelled to the Leslie speaker which is great for organ tone but was not great for the synthesizer. So I added a second reverb unit for the synth channelled to the straight channel. Also octave higher for some of the voices like Trumpet 4', Clarinet 16', Tuba 16' and added pitch delta, razz effect and Mandolin, Musette and Whistle.

630TA White & Gold

630 Traditional Cherry

Rhythm voice cancel or voice joining would allow replacing snares with a block as example.

I my collection I have a White and gold 630TA and 445 and all the part necessary ready to go so when time permits I will make a start in its restoration to the above specifications.

I also have a 625TA Sable Cherry. This instrument is fully restored and have used it to play at the local nursing homes. The 625 is identical to the 630 but is missing Dancing Fingers and the Chromatic Riff tabs.

Both instruments have an excellent amplifier system. Having two 35 watt and one 30 watt was great in a large room or small hall but almost too loud for most people at home. Under the lower keyboard was a switch to halve the available output.

The 625 sounds awesome at full volume in the open hanger providing a great reverb space......

Wurlitzer 625 Controls

Wurlitzer 625T with Orbit III logo

The Handiwork of Glenn Derringer 1977

Music, photography and needlepoint are closely related. Each art form says something... either visually or aurally.
Needlepoint is truly a fascinating art form. It's interesting to watch my wife, Marion, begin a needlepoint canvas with just an outline, then fill it in with colorful threads. When finished, it produces a beautiful visual image with a variety of different textures.
I often arrange music in much the same manner: "The Handiwork of Glenn Derringer" is a collection of twelve audio pictures recorded as one might create a needlepoint canvas. Beginning with just the outline of a selection, (the melody and basic harmonic structure) I add musical textures, in much the same way as Marion adds threads to her canvas. Each selection possesses its own combinations of musical colors and textures.
In many respects, each one of us views a picture differently. So it is in music ... each one of us hears differently. Your imagination is the key. Rather than explain my intentions for each musical picture, use your imagination as you listen each selection. Some songs combine traditional counterpoint threads with jazz styling. Others make use of a single thread woven over a lush, colorful background. Try to visualize the musical needlepoint that has been created. And as you do, hope you'll feel the fun and excitement I had in coloring each musical canvas ... especially for you!
(Extracted from the back cover) Album # Winmil 201. Instrument used Wurlitzer 625 & Ep200a.

Listen to The Handiwork of Glenn Derringer

Here's That Rainy Day is live however other tracks use a drummer and bass player. The Baby Elephant Walk features Glenn dubbing a Wurlitzer EP200a electric piano.

625TA Promotional Lightbox

Copies of this album can be found for purchase on E-Bay. Not for sale on CD or any digital form yet.

Rare Demo Cassette Wurlitzer 625 with Total Tone by Glenn Derringer 1976

This rare cassette tape made in 1976 to demonstrate the Wurlitzer 625 Total Tone Organ played by Glenn Derringer. The tape has wow & flutter and volume variations and has been restored as good as possible. Uploaded as historical reference and breach of copyright is not intended.