Which sounds the best? Fender Rhodes Vs Wurlitzer

This video is to show the differences in sound between the Fender Rhodes electric piano and the Wurlitzer 200a electric piano.
The two pianos often gets compared and figured it may be useful to play some simple parts back to back to allow the differences to be highlighted.

Both pianos could do with some improvements, and I have intentionally not spent too much time setting up recording them. I have also tried to keep things clean from effects.

[SergioGarcia-jgyy]

Some Lucky people here owning both. I wish I had the chance to play a Fender at least once in my life. It's been my favourite sound over the last 40 decades.

[silicon]

The Wurli is thicker in the midrange, but the high end kind of falls flat. It has a sharper attack, and a little more growl in the midrange. The Rhodes has a lot more meat on the low end, more glass on the high end, and an overall softer, kind of 'bell like' quality. Both have their sounds and their niches. A Rhodes wouldn't work on "The Logical Song" as well, nor would the Wurli sound as grand on 'Careless Whisper'.

[DaniloSS]

I own both of these. I absolutely love the Fender Rhodes. It really shines when it’s mixed with other instruments.

The Wurlitzer stands up better as a solo instrument. It’s voice reminds me of an electric guitar.

[doninnocente]

I have always thought, that I should have a Wurlizer, but after this; I'm not sure anymore. The rhodes had do much better/clearer low end. Hope to get more !

[moldyjames]

Rhodes works perfect when playing with other instruments, the Wurlitzer is much better as a lead instrument.

[pierstheoneandonly]

Though they can sound very similar, the best summary I heard was from a shop guy (in Macari's of London) back in the day; this being the Wurly was 'rockier'. I'd say that it can also be more delicate sounding, like a harp. It's a sort of electro version of the Kalimba thumb piano. The Rhodes with its sustain, is superior for jazz solo lines and, for the way the notes seem to mesh, jazz chord clusters. You might say they're distinct, in instrument terms, in the same way as a Strat vs a Gibson.

[EphemeralProductions]

They both sound beautiful and have their own charm, to me. They both are beautiful with a chorus pedal, and were used to much effect in the 1980s

[infacedgetout]

What song were you playing for the “example playing” section at 2:34? Sounds familiar, I want to learn

[Vendzor]

Ahh, the beautiful sounds of the '70s! Doesn't get any better than this :)

[jaggass]

For me it's the Fender Rhodes. The sound is less harsh and works on anything.

[bennolee]

The rhodes is so sweet and melodic but that wurlitzer sounds so juicy at high velocities

[futur_sunds]

There isn’t really a “best” sound. They both sound amazing and unique in there own way and serve different purposes. It just comes down to which one you like the most.
In my opinion the Rhodes sounds a bit more like an Organ, and the Wurlitzer sounds more like a Keyboard. The Rhodes also has a bright attack, where as the Wurlitzer is a bit more soft and easier on the ears.

[simonhodgetts]

It’s like trying to choose between two siblings! I like them both (although I have a massive soft spot for the Rhodes, having owned 2).

[jacksonsthumb]

Even as a bass player I've always preferred the sound of the Rhodes from long ago when Rhodes players had to work out daily at the gym just to lift them! No band was complete without the Rhodes. I gigged with dozens of them but never any Wurlitzers.

[russellthompson]

One thing to remember too: the Rhodes can soind quite different, depending on the pickup alignment. (I'm guessing the same may be true with the Wurlitzer, though I've never actually tried to do adjustments on one.) My Rhodes sounded similar to the one in the video, when I bought it, but after adjusting everything to my liking, it has quite a different tone, almost as bright as a Wurlitzer (though still very different in tone).

[WillsJazzLoft]

I don't think it's a matter of which sounds better. They're both great sounding instruments. There's a context where each one is deemed appropriate. A pop group like the Osmonds or the Carpenters likely prefer the attributes germaine to the Wurlitzer. Jazzers like Patrice Rushen, Joe Sample and George Duke call upon the Rhodes

[alanhaynes]

I have an '80 Rhodes and a '69 Wurlitzer 200 - and which one I use depends very much on the context.
They have a different vibe, so it's which one fits the tune best - I find that I play completely differently on each of them.

[JulianChown]

Both sound lovely. You have your Rhodes tines sounding lovely and chime like, which has always been a dream to have in my 1975s Rhodes. Am thinking yours is an early 70s version? The Wurly has a lovely growl and usually cuts through well in all music styles live, which is always great i find!
They're both magic and must keep 😉

[MarionRelics]

Kinda hard to compare them when you have tremolo on the Wurly and not on the Rhodes...

[rob_t_june]

I had a Wurlitzer 200, so I am biased. I am used to that tone and I love it! 🎹