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Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

Building organ consoles for use with Hauptwerk, adding MIDI to existing consoles, obtaining parts, ...
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Ellsworth

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Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

PostSun Feb 14, 2021 12:21 pm

I am looking for feedback from anyone who has used or investigated the Schwindler keyboard (http://www.fabiomancini.altervista.org/ ... raENG.html) which I learned about from Richard McVeigh's youtube channel. I am looking to replace the stock Allen MOS1 two manual keyboards with something with a more tactile touch. (I have totally converted the Allen to Hauptwerk). But I would want to swap the new keyboard without any mods to the cheeks. The Schwindler keyboard website has some interesting graphic comparisons of the touch response to the others but I do not know how to translate this into actual performance. Help welcome.
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Ells
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Romanos

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Re: Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

PostWed Feb 24, 2021 5:53 pm

I’ve also been curious about this since I saw his video… I had never heard of them before although it looks like they are very high-quality and if Richard is pleased I can’t imagine the rest of us wouldn’t be. For me, this is actually a moot point now as I just purchased two keyboards made by OSI with 18 inch long shanks. I’m very excited for them to arrive although I am a little bit daunted at the thought of having to solder them to midi controllers myself... I plan to essentially build it to manual version very similar to what Richard did.
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gecko

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Re: Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

PostThu Feb 25, 2021 7:14 am

I have a 3-manual stack on order to replace my current Classic stack (which has Fatar keyboards). Will be happy to give you a report after they arrive.
I still have a very small website
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Romanos

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Re: Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

PostThu Feb 25, 2021 1:53 pm

I'm sure it can vary widely depending on the wood chosen, but can you give us a ballpark estimate of where they fall price-wise? twice a midiworks.ca manual?
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gecko

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Re: Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

PostFri Feb 26, 2021 9:41 am

There's a price list here:
https://form.jotform.com/203072659201347 (maybe only in Italian)

I ordered a 3-manual stack with bamboo coverings but no pistons, for €3000. One row of pistons, which is usual, would have been an additional €200. Shipping to New York is €550.

Don't know if these prices would be the same for you, of course.

The usual turnaround time is said to be 3 months. It's been a big longer than that for me but things are in a bit of a mess now, as we all know, and I haven't wanted to bother Fabio for an update.
I still have a very small website
http://dustyfeet.com
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Ellsworth

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Re: Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

PostTue Mar 02, 2021 11:22 am

I will be most interested in your evaluation once installed. Why did you select the Schwindler at the start to replace the Fatar, did you get a chance to try them out or was this based upon the web site?
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gecko

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Re: Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

PostWed Mar 03, 2021 8:04 pm

I hadn't known about Richard McVeigh's recommendation, but it's here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puChILBjH-k&t=166s

I ordered the thing mostly based on the website, but I checked whatever recommendations I could online, including on this forum:

http://forum.hauptwerk.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18364&p=138769&hilit=+Schwindler#p138769 and

http://forum.hauptwerk.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12343&p=91615&hilit=Schwindler#p91615

The keyboards were chosen by a conservatory in Poland but it's on their Facebook page and I'm not on Facebook. I don't remember how I accessed it before, but it was helpful.

My primary instrument in college was the harpsichord, and my usual home instrument is a clavichord, so I don't like the feel of plastic keys. Fatar didn't have wooden key tops when I bought my Classic stack. They do now, of course, but I couldn't justify the expense on just that basis. I had to come up with more excuses, and Schwindler fit the bill.

One thing was the promise of longevity. Fatar keyboards have a lot of plastic and rubber parts, and repair people report that they wear out and are tricky to repair. I already have problems with one key which has to be pressed very hard in order to make contact. Maybe this simulates the action on a slightly out-of-adjustment tracker organ, but it's not really a desirable feature.

What really made up my mind was the range. From the (18th-century) harpsichord point of view, organ keyboards are missing half an octave in the bass. The keyboards should really go down to GG at least (for Bach); FF would be better. Schwindler keyboards are available with a range of five octaves from FF to f3. Yes! I can play the Goldbergs on that! (Sonus Paradisi has some nice, nice harpsichords.) This is important enough that I can justify the expense to myself.

As a bonus, the keyboards can be customized with some old-style geometry such as the shape of the sharp keys. This makes it look very comfortable for me (and matches my clavichord better than a modern-style keyboard would).
I still have a very small website
http://dustyfeet.com
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Ellsworth

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Re: Schwindler Keyboard vs Fatar

PostSun Mar 07, 2021 11:39 am

Thankyou. That is helpful

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