nadroj Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Was on a trip to Germany with my work last week and our hosts were kind enough to take myself and two others I was with to Thomann, Europe's biggest music store. I've bought from there a few times so it was nice to actually see it in person. The best thing was being able to connect with keyboards and controllers that I'd researched online but could never find here in Scotland. I think I've had a play on everything I've ever had GAS for now! If you're ever close (near Bamberg, in Germany) I'd highly reccomend it. Hammond XK-5. This was beautiful. If I was an organist and had a tonne of money, this is the clonewheel I'd get. Note the Mojo behind it. Various clonewheels. Were nice, but the XK-5 and the Mojo behind it stole the day. Was also nice to finally play with a vent in person. Some Kawai models. Bottom two felt lovely, top one not so much. The Forte stole the day for me. I had always wanted to play one but could never find it. I kept gravitating back to it when I went to play other instruments; I think I fell in love with it. It was just a wonderful feeling instrument, and the sounds were all top notch. If I don't connect with the Stage 3 when it comes out, I can see myself picking up a Forte 7. Was nice that they had the three different Nord actions. Finally got to play the HP76 - if it was just going to be a gigging board, it would be fine, but as my practice, gigging and "do-it-all" board the action wouldn't do. After the feel of the TP-40 on the Forte, the TP-100 just couldn't compare. As I've mentioned in a previous thread, wasn't too keen on the Piano 3 keybed, even though it's the TP-40WOOD. Prefer the feel of the Stage 2 EX88, or the Forte. The bottom board there (Kawai controller) felt wonderful. If I was made of money and weight wasn't an issue, a Stage 3 compact over that Kawai controller would make me the happiest man in existence. More keyboards I'd seen online but had never been able to play. Doepfer felt nice, TP-40 I believe. I like that it has it's own built in flight case. Wasn't as long as it looked in the photo either. If it wasn't as heavy, it would make for an ideal weighted controller. The room. More keyboards and controllers off to the right at the back, modules and synths behind me. Modules and synths weren't my cuppa tea, so I didn't spend much time on those. Once I played that Bechstein (and the Kawai baby grand out of the picture to it's left) going back up stairs to the keyboards was depressing. Everything, even the Forte I'd loved minutes earlier, felt sterile. These were beautiful instruments. One day I'll have one... Lots of options. Every piano had it's own character. Kawai and Bechstein were the two I got on best with. There was a Steinway grand in another room, but I didn't connect with it as well. I could have spent the whole day there but for the sake of my hosts and those who joined us I peeled myself away. They were gracious enough to let me spend an hour there, though, which I was very thankful for! Complete kid in a candy shop. Hammond SKX Mainstage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadroj Posted May 26, 2017 Author Share Posted May 26, 2017 One more image that didn't work in the main psot: http://i.imgur.com/AZa6cRLl.jpg A room full of Uprights. Didn't play many of these! Hammond SKX Mainstage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wright Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Wow. Just wow. Thanks for posting the pictures! . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Burgess Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Wow - what a range of stuff to try!! Amazing! Makes such a change to guessing from internet reviews, eh? Nice one! Always had top service from Thomann. When in England or here in the Middle East. Phone support great. Same thru email. The co-ordination they have with DHL means a lot. Bought some stuff locally recently, to be fair. But, Thomann's service, return policies etc are second to none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DulceLabs.com Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 IDK - something is VERY wrong with that store. It looks like all the keyboards are plugged in and connected to decent monitors. WTF????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Wright Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 IDK - something is VERY wrong with that store. It looks like all the keyboards are plugged in and connected to decent monitors. WTF????? It is not the norm around here I can say. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xKnuckles Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Cool post Nadroj. I have bought lots of stuff from Thomann over the years, but they have such a huge selection that somehow, in my mind, I have never thought of it as an actual shop; but instead as a huge warehouse (a bit like amazon) which stores the stuff and sells it all online. So interesting to see your photos.. I too shall have to visit one day. "Turn your fingers into a dust rag and keep them keys clean!" Bluzeyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Emm Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 They're GERMAN. Of COURSE everything is lined up properly. FTR, when I sold keyboards, I labeled things and created wiring harnesses with twist ties. Its amazing how that can enhance a little sub-mixer. I kept the volumes off so that all but the tech-savvy could not just stride up and attempt to play "Jump." I made more sales by simply extracting any wiring fumbles from the mix. First impressions and all that. Thanks for posting those pics; it was a real breath o' fresh air. “Drugs at our age? You don’t have to take them forever. Once you’ve opened the doors of perception, you can see what’s going on; you’ve got the ideas.” ~ Dave Brock on Hawkwind’s late-period purple patch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Nice! I've ordered from there a few times. Mostly Doepfer modules. This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Coda Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Was on a trip to Germany with my work last week and our hosts were kind enough to take myself and two others I was with to Thomann, Europe's biggest music store. Congrats and thx for sharing ! I have never been there even I´m german, so great to see their shop. As I've mentioned in a previous thread, wasn't too keen on the Piano 3 keybed, even though it's the TP-40WOOD. Are you sure ? Did Thomann product specialist confirm it´s the TP40WOOD ? I´m asking because we had that discussion in THIS post and the OP said it´s the TP40H. It´s all about ´cause I also read before it´s the TP40WOOD. Doepfer felt nice, TP-40 I believe. Fatar TP40GH (graded hammer) action. Otherwise it should be identical to the TP40H (balanced weighted) action. A.C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outkaster Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 The US could learn from that. Best thing is there are no guitars in there either. "Danny, ci manchi a tutti. La E-Street Band non e' la stessa senza di te. Riposa in pace, fratello" noblevibes.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Maximus_ Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Guau! (Wow in Spanish) that's the best layed out keyboard selection in a showroom that I've ever seen, ive been to some large music stores but they were mostly guitars, a piano room, never. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Ferris Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Nice ! I'd have to think long and hard about the last time I saw a place that had that many acoustic grands and stage keyboards together. Actually, I don't even recall ever seeing a store like that...at least in LA. For some reason that music rest butterfly design on the Bechsteins has never been a favorite of mine....a little too ornate looking for my taste. Great European sounding pianos though. Yeah it's hard to play keyboards after a good acoustic...that's why I complain so much. https://soundcloud.com/dave-ferris https://www.youtube.com/@daveferris2709 2005 NY Steinway D, Yamaha AvantGrand N3X, CP88, P515 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickd Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 Always had top service from Thomann. Ditto. I'm in the UK and have always had a good buying experience, including handling some returns well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadroj Posted May 27, 2017 Author Share Posted May 27, 2017 Was on a trip to Germany with my work last week and our hosts were kind enough to take myself and two others I was with to Thomann, Europe's biggest music store. Congrats and thx for sharing ! I have never been there even I´m german, so great to see their shop. As I've mentioned in a previous thread, wasn't too keen on the Piano 3 keybed, even though it's the TP-40WOOD. Are you sure ? Did Thomann product specialist confirm it´s the TP40WOOD ? I´m asking because we had that discussion in THIS post and the OP said it´s the TP40H. It´s all about ´cause I also read before it´s the TP40WOOD. Doepfer felt nice, TP-40 I believe. Fatar TP40GH (graded hammer) action. Otherwise it should be identical to the TP40H (balanced weighted) action. A.C. Not entirely sure, just read here somewhere that it was the TP40 WOOD. It may not have been. Whatever it was, I prefer the Forte and Stage 2 88! Also, the guitar "room" was two floors high and much bigger than the keyboard room. I didn't spend any time in there. Only went in because I took a wrong turn! Place is like a labyrinth... Hammond SKX Mainstage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kawai James Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Thanks for sharing Nadroj. Looks like a very cool store with a great selection! Employed by Kawai Japan, however the opinions I express are my own. Nord Electro 3 & occasional rare groove player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Real MC Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Great store. Much better than the lame Guitar Centers here in the states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wd8dky Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Guitar Center that isn't. Wow! http://www.weisersound.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Nice ! I'd have to think long and hard about the last time I saw a place that had that many acoustic grands and stage keyboards together. Actually, I don't even recall ever seeing a store like that...at least in LA. I've been thinking about this since I saw Nadroj's pics, and I've finally remembered the one store I know of that carries acoustics as well as keyboards of various brands.* Sweetwater carries Yamaha acoustics, but that's the only brand I believe. We all know about their keyboard selection. * Kawai Piano Gallery carries Kawai digitals as well as their acoustics. AFAIK, they have one location in Houston and one in Dallas so far. "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffincltnc Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 I love my Forte 7, Nadroj! I do not miss my Stage 2 HA-76. Yamaha U1 Upright, Roland Fantom 8, Nord Stage 4 HA73, Nord Wave 2, Korg Nautilus 73, Viscount Legend Live, Lots of Mainstage/VST Libraries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Verelst Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 It doesn't look all that German, but nice. I've ordered from them a couple of times since 12 years ago, and they've expanded since then. Sometimes it seems a bit artificial, all those keyboard variations.. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markyboard Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Sometimes it seems a bit artificial, all those keyboard variations.. Maybe that's why they're called SYNTHESIZERS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveQB Posted May 30, 2017 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Have ordered quite a bit from Thomann over the years, although less so lately due to the exchange rate. Great showroom though. Need to find an excuse for visiting Germany now! Nord Stage 2EX | Nord Wave | Mainstage 3 K&M Spider Pro | JH Audio JH5 IEMs | Behringer XR18 | Radial Keylargo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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