Wurlitzer
An American brand of electromechanical pianos, most famously the Wurlitzer 200A, known for its warm, reedy tone used extensively in pop, rock, and soul recordings.
In Depth
The Wurlitzer Electric Piano uses hammers striking steel reeds (unlike the Rhodes, which uses tines) amplified by electrostatic pickups, giving it a thinner, reedier tone with a distinctive bark when played hard. The Wurlitzer 200A, produced from 1968 to 1984, is the most sought-after model, featuring a built-in speaker, vibrato control, and a compact design that made it popular for touring and studio work.
The Wurlitzer's sound appears on countless classic recordings: Ray Charles's "What'd I Say," Supertramp's "The Logical Song," Pink Floyd's "Money," and Queen's "You're My Best Friend" (played by John Deacon). Its aggressive, slightly nasal character cuts through a mix differently than the smoother Rhodes, making it a favorite for pop and rock contexts. Vintage Wurlitzers are highly prized, and their sound has been extensively sampled and modeled in digital keyboards and plugins.
Queen's John Deacon played the Wurlitzer part on "You're My Best Friend" specifically because Freddie Mercury wanted a piano and Deacon wanted to annoy him with something different — the Wurlitzer stayed.