A Musical Heritage

The formula was a hit, as countless professional wind players found their way to Thorn for expert advice and flawless repairs. André Adams, with his background in metalworking, discovered the perfect match of technology and music in the timpani. Soon, the first timpani found their way to harmonies and fanfares, all of which became part of the growing customer base of Adams Music Centre.

In 1975, a Belgian branch was established in Hasselt to serve the many Belgian customers. In 1989, the business moved to a larger store in Diest and a Belgian NV was created. In 2010, a second store, DRUMWORLD, was opened. This store was located diagonally opposite the other store and specialized in drums and percussion. The ‘old’ store offered all wind instruments and classical concert percussion.

The new Adams Music Centre store in Lummen (formerly Diest) has since grown into a renowned enterprise that counts many Belgian professional orchestras, musicians, harmonies, fanfares, music academies and conservatories, dealers, and private musicians among its customers.

The success of this business is undeniably linked to the company's vision and motto: the specialty store for wind and percussion instruments. Professional advice, a large stock, and an in-house repair department are key strengths.

The shed behind the house soon proved to be too small, and land was purchased where Adams built a house, store, and factory with a total area of 800m2 at the Casino in Thorn. Producing timpani turned out to be a good move. Many professional timpanists became curious and were happy to share their insights on the products. The collaboration with professionals has always played an important role in the development and perfection of instruments. Even in the early stages, this quickly led to better instruments that were sold worldwide through international music fairs.

In a few decades, the Adams concern has grown into a leading international enterprise that counts many professional orchestras, professional musicians, dealers, and many, many associations and individuals among its customers. The Adams Timpani Factory produces not only timpani but also marimbas, vibraphones, xylophones, concert bass drums, tubular bells, and glockenspiels. All these products are marketed by many dealers around the world. But also in Limburg, Adams has a specialized company for the sale of wind and percussion instruments: Adams Music Centre.

Music plays an increasingly important role in daily life. Hectic schedules, stress, and tension need to be balanced with relaxation. Many people find this relaxation in making music together. The market for the sale of musical instruments is becoming increasingly specialized. People want good and reliable advice and want to test an instrument in peace. This is exactly the philosophy of Muziekcentrale Adams. Large stocks are important, and instruments need to be tested and compared. Therefore, every musician can make use of test rooms. In addition to large stocks, Adams Music Centre offers a wide range of top brands. Besson euphoniums and tubas, Edwards trombones and trumpets, Alexander horns, and Powell flutes are some of the brands that Adams Music Centre (often exclusively) carries.

Of course, it is important that people can choose and try out an instrument themselves. But also, good and thorough advice, repair, and maintenance are highly valued. During each test, small adjustments need to be made to the instruments so that every customer is 100% satisfied with their new or second-hand instrument. Adams Music Centre has one of Europe's largest and most comprehensive repair workshops for woodwind and brass instruments. The repairers regularly receive additional training from instrument makers from all over the world. Whether it is making valves operational or a complete overhaul of saxophones or clarinets where the entire instrument is taken apart and reassembled to look like new, it all happens in the repair department of Adams Music Centre. Thanks to this approach, not only musicians in southern Netherlands, but also associations and individuals from hundreds of kilometers away, find their way to Adams Music Centre.

With the new showroom for wind instruments, concert percussion, marching percussion, and the repair department, the entire Adams empire is housed under one roof on the industrial estate. A European center for wind and percussion music will be formed here, with all conceivable facilities for the musician. Limburg is perhaps the most musical province of the Netherlands, and in the heart of Limburg stands the company Adams.