Features & effects

About features & effects

Wurlitzer was constantly developing new features for its organs. Some, like Spectra-Tone, helped Wurlitzer products stay competitive among other manufacturers who had developed similar technology. Other features, like the chord unit, were intended to appeal to new audiences, such as beginner musicians who may need help achieving a full sound.

The evolution of organ features reflects an increasing potential for smaller and more complicated circuits. The chord unit, for instance, was superseded by Chord Magic technology. Chord Magic automatically added complementary chords to the notes being played, without requiring the user to determine which chord button to press. Spectra-Tone also began to disappear as Wurlitzer partnered with Leslie to seamlessly integrate Leslie speakers into Wurlitzer organs.