MATRIXSYNTH: The Florian Schneider Collection to Be Auctioned at JULIEN*S November 19

Note: links to listings are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via JULIEN*S

"THE FLORIAN SCHNEIDER COLLECTION

Auction to be held at Musician's Hall of Fame & Museum, Nashville, on November 19

An incredible collection of more than 450 artifacts from the life and career of Florian Schneider, co-founder of the pioneer electronic band Kraftwerk."

Pics and videos featuring some of the gear below, and his Lederhosen for good measure (thanks greg!).
[Edit: I'll be adding the synth related items to this post for posterity; I will remove this note when done.]

Rack Mount Sennheiser VSM-201 Vocoder

Starting Bid $5,000

Estimate $20,000 - $40,000 USD

A late 1970s Sennheiser VSM 201 Vocoder with no serial number from the personal studio and collection of Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk (see images). While it’s said that only a few dozen of these Vocoders were produced, a few examples made it into the hands of forward-thinking musical artists including Herbie Hancock, Daft Punk, and of course, Kraftwerk, who used a VSM-201 like this on their albums Man Machine (1978) and Computerworld (1981). The VSM-201 has an intelligible sound that has not yet been bested by modern gear. Includes power cable. This VSM-201 has been removed from its wooden enclosure (which bears the serial number plate) and modified with a metal rack mount casing, presumably for live use. Requires 240v, IEC power cable not included.

Dimensions: 19 x 9 x 9 inches

Category: Kraftwerk, Equipment

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

Stage Played EMS Synthi AKS Suitcase Synthesizer

Starting Bid $4,000

Estimate $15,000 - $20,000 USD

A c. early 1970s EMS Synthi AKS suitcase synthesizer, serial #45086 KS, in a black attaché with silver face plate. This EMS Synthi comes from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk, who was known for processing his flute through one such unit during Kraftwerk’s early period. According to notes from the Florian Schneider Estate, this was the first synth acquired by Kraftwerk in around 1972 and is the only EMS Synthi that Florian owned, and was used at Kraftwerk's Kling Klang studio. See a 1973 performance by Kraftwerk below. Kraftwerk also used an EMS Synthi on their 1974 album “Autobahn.” Features include three oscillators, a 16x16 pin matrix, 20 pins, ring modulator, envelope filter, reverberation, and more. The unit has a green 0 sticker on the upper left hand corner. Includes suitcase with working latches. Power cable not included.

In his memoir Florian Schneider recalls the original acquisition of the Synthi: "A certain Konrad Schnitzler from Berlin brings the first portable synthesizer from London, 007 sends his regards, in a briefcase, designed by the English company EMS, smuggled past customs for a whopping DM 4,500, which was a lot of money back then. A highly interesting device, actually a mobile miniature electronic studio, including built-in speakers and reverb coil". Kraftwerk mit "Tanzmusik" 1973 im ZDF-aspekte-Studio

video upload by DJ NewRom

[Fundstück: aspekte stellte 1973 "neue deutsche Musikgruppen" vor - hier einer der ersten Fernsehauftritte von Kraftwerk mit "Tanzmusik".]

Hameg Performance Played HM 107 Oscillograph

Starting Bid $25

Estimate $500 - $700 USD [something tells me this will go for much more]

A Hameg HM 107 tube oscillograph, presumably made in Germany during the 1960s, from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider (see image) who was a founding member and bandleader of Kraftwerk. The Oscillograph displays signal voltage which can be analyzed for frequency, distortion, amplitude, and other factors. Includes power cable (240v, type C) and one black probe. According to the Florian Schneider Estate this oscilllograph pictured on stage in this video of a Kraftwerk performance from 1973. Category: Kraftwerk Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider Kraftwerk - Live 1973 - Remastered

video upload by WF203

[Some nice recordings of Kraftwerk that have been used as snippets a lot but never shown completely. Here's the complete footage with Ralf and Florian. Wir können nicht so gut reden, deshalb machen wir Musik - We are not so good at talking, that is why we make music.]

Dynacord Echocord Super Tape Echo Unit

Starting Bid $800

Estimate $3,000 - $5,000 USD

A 1960s Dynacord Echocord Super tube tape echo unit from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider. Features two instrument and two mic inputs, each with independent volume and tone controls, controls for reverb amount and duration, an overall tone, and push buttons for head selection, Reverb, Fast and Slow modes, and On/Off. Also has DIN inputs and outputs and power cable with type C connector. Works with 220v.

According to the Florian Schneider Estate, this tape echo unit was used to multiply and echo flute tones, in particular during early live performances of the song "Ruckzuck" in 1970 - see previous lot.

Florian Schneider refers to the use of the Dynacord in his memoir:

"The handicap with the quiet, delicate flute, always drowned out by loud drumming, the strumming of the electric guitar, etc.

A microphone, amplifier, and loudspeaker are needed.

Ralf H's eternally booming electric organ ultimately takes a wind player's breath away, so it's important to prolong the second wind, preferably with an echo/reverb device from Dynacord, and then the flute parts multiply and also sound much longer."

Dimensions: 12.5 x 9 x 5.5 inches

Category: Kraftwerk

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

1930s Telefunken Volks-Trautonium Pre-Synthesizer, #247

Estimate $5,000 - $7,000 USD

Starting Bid $1,500

Telefunken Trautonium Ela T 42 “Volkstrautonium,” serial #247, in an attractive wood cabinet. “The People’s Trautonium” debuted at the 1933 Berlin Radio Exhibition, but reportedly only a scant few sold –– estimated production numbers vary from 30-50 –– making this an exceedingly rare instrument. This one comes from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk, who purchased it directly from Trautonium inventor Oscar Sala during a visit with his students from Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design, where he was a professor. It features a string input device with seven auxiliary keys, a three octave range and controls for Register, Stimmung (Mood) A-C, and a slider for the positioning of the auxiliary keys. Includes fold-out music stand built into the lid. Cable not present.

Dimensions: 29 x 17 x 10 inches

Category: Instruments & Equipment

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

Korg PS-3200 Polyphonic Synthesizer with PS-3010 Keyboard

Starting Bid $1,500

Estimate $8,000 - $10,000 USD

A Korg PS-3200 synthesizer, serial #210105, paired with a Korg PS-3010 keyboard, serial #780301. This set comes from the personal studio collection of Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk fame. The rare PS-3200 features 16 patch memory locations, 48 note polyphony, temperament adjustment, 2 VCOs per voice each with their own VCF and LFOs, low pass, and envelope generator. The PS-3010 connects via a 60 pin cable (not included) and is a 48 note keyboard with X-Y manipulator, trigger select, and momentary switch.

Dimensions: 3200: 35.5 x 16.5 x 14 inches  3010: 39 x 10 x 4 inches

Category: Kraftwerk

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

Korg synthesizer & VC-10 Vocoder on Metal Rolling Stand

Starting Bid $25

Estimate $2,000 - $4,000 USD

A Korg VC-10 Vocoder and MS-20 Synthesizer on a metal rolling stand from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider, co-founder of Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk is well known for using the VC-10 analog vocoder, which has an MC-01 gooseneck microphone attached to the top of the unit with sends the user’s voice through the unit’s 20 band analyses and EQ, with 32 keys, 32 note polyphony, modulation, pitch control, output balance, phone level, and overall output level. The MS-20, serial #149773, features 37 keys, 2 VCOs per voice, modulation wheel, a patch bay using 1/4 inch jacks, two oscillator control sections, mixer, filters, Mod and Envelope Generator sections, controls for modulation frequency and cutoff, and a bank of controls for external signal processing. Includes grey metal two tier rolling stand.

Dimensions: 50.5 x 23 x 24 inches

Category: Kraftwerk

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

Large Rack of Audio Equipment #1 w/Sennheiser VSM-201

Starting Bid $7,000

stimate $30,000 - $50,000 USD

"A large rack with 15 devices mounted to it from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk. This rack is on wheels and includes black magnets with neon green numbers likely indicating connected sources, green number stickers on two units, and yellow circular numbered stickers. The included modules are as follows: a Doepfer Musikelekronik VMC32, a Moon Modular 552, a Moon Modular 500, a modular rack containing a RS-240 Frequency Shifter, Tiptop Z3000, two Doepfer A-132-3s, a Doepfer A-182-1, Doepfer A-191, and two Doepfer A-181s, and a Vocoder RV-12, a Telefunken power supply, a Synton Syntovox 22, and a Sennheiser Vocoder VSM-201 finished in grey, which Kraftwerk was famous for using on the albums Man Machine (1978) and Computerworld (1981). The vocoder includes an original olive drab road case stamped “Sennheiser Sound Effect Vocoder” on the lid.

It is believed that only a few dozen of the Vocoder VSM-201 were produced, and were generally finished in black. This grey example is extremely rare, possibly unique.

Dimensions: 88.5 x 24 x 24 inches

Category: Kraftwerk, Equipment

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider"

Large Rack of Audio Equipment w/ Doepfer Schaltwerk Sequencer, Sequentix Cirklon

Starting Bid $1,500

Estimate $6,000 - $8,000 USD

A large audio equipment rack with 7 devices mounted to it plus additional devices stored on shelves and on the bottom of the unit. This rack comes from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider, founding member of Kraftwerk, and was formerly installed at Kling Klang Studio. It contains the following devices: a Roland A-110 MIDI Display, an Akai ME20An MIDI Arpeggiator, an Akai ME10D MIDI Digital Delay, an SND SAM-16 Sequential Analogue Memory, a Yamaha MEP4 MIDI processor, a Doepfer Schaltwerk MIDI Trigger Sequencer, and a Sequentix Cirklon sequencer. Additional gear includes an SND ACME-4 clock management system, a Realistic Sound Level Meter, a Kenton USB host, a USB stick, a Roland MPU-105, a Rosendahl MIF MIDI timecode interface, and a Studiomaster MIDI analyzer. A light is mounted on the very top and the rack unit is accompanied by a tangled bundle of wires, some for power and other for signal.

Dimensions: 76.5 x 37 x 22.3 inches

Category: Kraftwerk

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

Large Rack of Audio Equipment #2 w/MIDIMoog, Roland, Studio Electronics, Summit, Quantec and Yamaha

Starting Bid $5,000

Estimate $20,000 - $30,000 USD

A large rack with eight devices mounted to it and more stored on the bottom from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk, where it can be seen in an image below. This rack is on wheels and includes black magnets with neon green numbers likely indicating connected sources and yellow circular numbered stickers. Mounted audio devices include a Yamaha TX81Z Tone Generator, a MIDIMoog by Studio Electronics (serial #1118), a Quantec 2492 “Yardstick” room simulator, a Summit Audio EQP-200B Program Equalizer, a Summit Audio DCL-200 Dual Compressor Limiter, a power strip, a Roland Super Jupiter Programmer, and a Studio Electronics P-Five (a Prophet 5 synthesizer re-housed into a rack unit with MIDI functionality). The following audio devices are stored on the bottom of the rack unit: Hammond XMC-1 and XM-1 Drawbar Sound Module and controller, a Quantec 2402/F “Yardstick,” an Analogue Solutions Europa hardware sequencer an XLR to 1/4” box, a MIDI Solutions Event Processor, an SND MIDI Converter, a Kenton Thru-5, a Doepfer MSY2, a number of AC adapters, and a SITECOM Gigaswitch. Includes second power strip, a tray on a scissor boom arm, a lamp on a scissor boom arm, and a bundle of assorted and tangled cables.

According to the consignor the MIDIMoog was used at Kraftwerk's studio Kling Klang.

Dimensions: 97 x 29 x 28 inches

Category: Kraftwerk

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

Large Rack of Audio Equipment #3

Starting Bid $2,000

Estimate $12,000 - $15,000 USD

A large rack with 17 devices mounted to it from the collection and personal studio of Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk (see images). This rack is on wheels and includes a large bundle of cables, black magnets with neon green numbers likely indicating connected sources, power strips, and other small devices of unknown function. The included modules are as follows: a Sirus Pro dB Level Meter, an Eventide Omnipressor compressor unit, a Garfield Electronics Doctor Click 2 rhythm controller with manual, a Korg digital chromatic tuner, an SND FB14s fixed filter, an EMS 8 Octave Filter Bank, Akai MFC-42 Analog Filter Module, two Klangfilm RZ-062B tube three band EQs in a custom black rack enclosure, a Bode model 735 Frequency Shifter MK II with a smiley face sticker on the center dial, a Ferrofish A16 AD/DA converter, a 7 space power strip, a Behringer X32 Digital Rack Mixer, a Franz EMT 156 PDM Compressor, and a Brüel & Kjaer Type 5547 Spectrum Shaper. Also includes two snakes, a large power strip on the back, a Living Audionic LAD-80 sitting on top of the Eventide, and a device with an 8 digit display.

Dimensions: 88.5 x 24 x 24 inches

Category: Kraftwerk

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

Traditional Lederhosen

Starting Bid $25

Estimate $200 - $300 USD

A traditional German lederhosen, from the personal collection of Kraftwerk founding member Florian Schneider. The grey suede garment features deep hunter green leather piping and straps. No size or label present.

Category: Clothing, Kraftwerk

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider

"Kraftwerk 2" Record Album Signed to His Mother

Starting Bid $25

Estimate $300 - $500 USD

A copy of Kraftwerk's second studio album, Kraftwerk 2 (1972), signed and inscribed on the cover in blue ink by Florian to his mother. The inscription reads: "Fur meine mami / von ihrem sohn / Florian / Weinachten 1971" (For my mother, from her son Florian, Christmas 1971).

Dimensions: 12.5 x 12.5 inches

Category: Kraftwerk, record

Provenance: PROVENANCE From the Estate of Florian Schneider