When KORG & Roland Meet In The Tightest Of Space
An Oberheim Synthesizer And His Roland Family
Not only instruments from Japanese manufacturers can be found in the Five G Store but also well-known American as Oberheim or Moog Synthesizers.
The demand for vintage Synthesizers however, I noticed clearly in November. Many of the instruments already had no price tag, were reserved or already sold. Where once you could buy vintage instruments for a relatively small amount of money, the trend has been coming for some time. If you want to have an vintage instrument, you have to be prepared to pay a little more than normally. The biggest advantage of the Five G Store compared to private sellers is certainly the excellent maintenance of the devices and their electronic components.
The Synthesizer Story Summarizes On A Picture
In one picture meets the worldwide Synthesizer story: Moog Minimoog (USA), Roland SH-02 (Japan), ARP Odyssey (USA), Oxford Synthesizer Company OSCar and KORG with the PolySix (Japan).
Five G Store Video Tour
For those who don’t have enough, here’s a longer video tour through the entire store.
Summary
Do you have to visit the Five G Store when you are in Tokyo? Yes absolutely! Although, you don’t purchase a vintage synth, it’s a must to visit this store. Not only will you be overrun by the impressive large selection but you may also be able to play and touch the old devices. For sure a better feeling than watching hundreds of YouTube videos about theses devices with your laptop speakers. The feeling of touching the old Synthesizers remains an exciting and great moment that can not replace by videos.
Above all, you should plan some time to look at the store in detail and to experience the atmosphere. Having a big Moog Memorymoog repaired before your eyes is a rare thing. Something is certain: if you don’t visit the store during your stay in Tokyo, you will be disappointed. All over the world, there are not many stores that have the Synthesizer history playable and in stock for the customers.
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More information here: Five G
“Many of the instruments already had no price tag, were reserved or already sold” <– This is true sometimes. That OB-XA for example is mine. I reserved it before they had even determined the price. It was simple really. Get it now because I knew by next week when I would be back…. someone else will have already claimed it. I go there every weekend without fail. A lot of their stock isn't posted on their web site. Someone grabs it before they have a chance.
"The biggest advantage of the Five G Store compared to private sellers is certainly the excellent maintenance of the devices and their electronic components." <– YES! there is a good and bad to this. The good is that I am very comfortable that if I have issues with any of my synths they will make sure it gets taken care of. I wont by a (vintage) synth from anyplace else. Im not an electrician and with vintage stuff I do depend on five-g if something goes bad.
The bad part is that they always have a backlog of work waiting for them. You will have to wait. That OB-XA… well I reserved it at the start of October and as of April its still in its same place waiting to get refurbished. An additional up side is that the wait gives me time to save up money as well….