Klein & Hummel UE-100 Tube Equalizer (Ex-Florian Schneider / Kraftwerk)

Klein + Hummel UE-100 Tube Equalizer — from the estate of Florian Schneider, Kraftwerk

It’s an EQ widely regarded as the best in the world… and this one was used by Kraftwerk! A genuinely rare piece of vintage German professional audio — this Klein + Hummel UE-100 tube equaliser, serial number 564, is from the personal studio collection of Florian Schneider, co-founder of Kraftwerk.

Owned by one of the pioneers of electronic music production and being a icon of German broadcast engineering, this specific unit bridges the gap between legendary studio hardware and historic musical provenance.

Provenance & Authenticity

• Original Owner: Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk)
• Source: Official Florian Schneider estate archive / auction
• Rarity: Serial #564 indicates this is an extremely early production unit.

I bought this at the Florian Schneider estate auction, held by Julien's Auctions in 2025, and retains the original Julien's auction labels certifying its authenticity and provenance. It was formerly in use at Kling Klang Studio, Düsseldorf, where Kraftwerk made their classic recordings including The Man-Machine, Computer World, and Trans-Europe Express.

The K+H UE-100 is widely regarded as one of the finest equalisers ever made and is known for its musical warmth and surgical precision. Often described as ‘Pultecs on steroids’, these units are highly sought after by top-tier mastering engineers and collectors.

Specs

• Single-channel tube EQ.

• Parametric midrange boost/cut.

• Frequency bands: 60Hz – 13kHz.

• Low/Hi cut/boost controls.

• Grey enclosure with silver front panel.

Condition:

• Cosmetic: Good vintage condition. Minor signs of use consistent with age. No major damage.

• Electronic: UNTESTED. As this item came from a private estate, it has not been powered on or serviced since removal. It is sold strictly as-is. Buyer assumes all risk regarding functionality.

Shipping: Honestly I’d really rather not ship this as it is extremely heavy and full of vintage components. I am based in Bradford-on-Avon near Bath (UK) but happy to drive and meet within, say, 50 miles after sale, or the buyer can pick up from my home.

Reason for sale: this was bought during what you might call 'auction excitement' and doesn’t fit with my other studio items. It’s beautiful, but not for me! Plus it's heavy, did I mention that?

Price: I think I’ve priced it as fairly as I can, to cover the sale price, 28% auction fees, 20% import (yes, really) and shipping. I’m in no rush to sell but close offers considered. The only other units I have seen are around £7500 each but this unit carries unique historical provenance: Serial #564 from the personal studio of Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk). This is not just an EQ; it is a verified artefact from the Kling Klang Studio archive.

This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of German engineering history from electronic music’s most iconic band and studio.