Record Map
Record Stores in Solothurn
Anyone who regularly hunts for records will be familiar with the problem: in larger cities, there are often several specialist record shops, whereas in smaller towns you sometimes search in vain. The city of Solothurn isn’t exactly one of Switzerland’s vinyl hotspots either. However, if you look a little closer, you’ll still discover some great places to go on a treasure hunt.
Although there isn’t a wide selection of record shops in Solothurn, the few that do exist stand out for their character, passion and surprisingly good finds.
Johnny’s Schallplatten
First and foremost, there is Johnny’s Schallplatten. This little shop on the outskirts of Solothurn has long since made a name for itself among vinyl fans in the region. Here you’ll find a carefully curated selection of second-hand records, including plenty of classics, exciting discoveries and, time and again, some rarer items. The personal atmosphere is particularly pleasant. You quickly realise that music lovers work here for other music lovers. Added to this are practical extras such as professional record cleaning and the option to place requests for specific records.
Jam Secondhand & more
A slightly different, but no less interesting place is the Jam Solothurn. It’s actually a lovingly run second-hand shop selling clothes, furniture, decorative items and all sorts of curiosities. Hidden amongst all these treasures, however, is a small vinyl section. Although it consists of just a few boxes, the selection is surprisingly good. As well as well-known classics, you’ll often find interesting albums and the occasional real gem at reasonable prices. The selection is updated regularly, so it’s almost always worth having a look through the boxes.
That is precisely what makes Solothurn’s vinyl scene so appealing. Instead of huge shops with thousands of records, you’ll find smaller venues here that win you over with their character, personalised advice and a carefully curated selection. Of course, for die-hard collectors, a trip to Bern, Zurich or Basel is also well worth it from time to time. But for a spontaneous treasure hunt on your doorstep, Johnny’s and the JAM already offer a lovely little selection.
My verdict: Solothurn may not be a record-store hotspot, but with Johnny’s Schallplatten and the JAM, there are two places every vinyl fan in the region should know about.
Now I’m curious: have I missed a shop? Do you know of any other places in Solothurn or the surrounding area where you can browse through records? If so, please let me know.
If you'd like to take a closer look at the two shops, do have a look at my Reel here Pop over to Instagram. I’ll take you on a little vinyl tour of Solothurn!
And you can find more record shops in Switzerland here!
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