Waldorf Blofeld Keyboard???

Waldorf stuff is usually based on wavetable synthesis, so I don't imagine there would be much like pianos inside, or much acoustic either.  But wavetable is some bad synthesis.

tlw
Unfortunately the Blofeld's operating system was very buggy at the first release and still has some outstanding issues. I strongly recommend searching for "Blofeld" and "bugs" before commiting yourself to a decision. Not sure about the current situation, but at one point the Blofeld dwsktop and Blofeld keyboard each had some bugs in common and others of their own.

Thanks for the tip. I did a search and it looks like Waldorf arrived at a "final" firmware and I can't find many complaints afterwards (none that I could associate with the 1.22 firmware) so it all seemed to have calmed down.
 
I'm too far off out in the middle of nowhere to have a shop close by where I could try it. So I might just jump in and and order one (on a return policy). I'm after a decent 49 keys keyboard and it got good reviews, but whether I personally like it I can only test anyway ...

I owned a Blofeld desktop for a period of time.  I bought it used, got a decent deal on it, but later sold it...perhaps a bit prematurely.  I sold it in favor of not having redundancy next to the Q, which I kept...and Largo. 
 
Here's my take on the Blofeld, if it helps you any -- PRO's and CON's:
 
PROS:
1.  The keyboard version, though I've never touched one, is reported to have a great, high-quality keybed.
2.  Sound is unique, the Waldorf way.  It is versatile.
3.  You can upgrade/unlock the Blofeld to allow user samples to be uploaded and also get new sample-based waveforms to use.  This can create more dynamic patches.
4.  Good, graphic LCD screen.
5.  USB interface.  Some freebie patch editors are available.
 
CONS:
1.  Waldorf synths seem to have very quiet outputs.  The Blofeld is no exception.
2.  Time-based FX can only exist once.  This means you can't have a delay and a reverb in the same patch.
3.  Limited knobs.  You must get used to menu diving.
4.  Polyphony gets hammered to next-to-nothing if a comb filter is used plus FX.
5.  USB connection can create an annoying ground-loop and hum.
6.  No unison.
7.  No sub-oscillators.
8.  Largo.
 
Con #8 is quite important, and also owning Largo further bolstered my liquidation of the Blofeld.  Largo, IMO, sounded (and continues to sound) awesome...much better than the Blofeld.  Blofeld sounded "tinny" and fragile.  Largo can sound rich and full.  Largo also has 256 voices of polyphony.  And if you run out, then simply load another instance of it.  On the other hand, Largo does not have the comb filter or the PPG filter, but I'm not sure if Blofeld has the latter anyway.
 
Well, that's my two cents.

Regarding the quiet outputs, all Waldorf's have that issue, even my Q.  However, it's also a part of the internal signal-routing structure.  In other words, you can only squeeze out so much, before the "internals" start to clip and distort.  Usually, a simple tweak on the Amp Envelope Amount and Amp Envelope Velocity will help matters.  You'll lose a bit of expressiveness, but setting the Amp Env Amt to full and Amp Env Velocity to 0 will help make any patch quite a bit louder.
 
Another Pro I forgot to mention is the Waldorf logic/layout of their internal structure.  Having learned on the Q, I could now go back to the Blofeld and be a better programmer.  All Waldorf synths share the same structure.  The drawback to the Blofeld, however, is the lack of knobs to twist and fiddle with.  However, not all Waldorf's BEHAVE the same way!  I've programmed/ported patches from Largo to the Q, Q to Largo, Largo to Blofeld, Blofeld to Largo...and all sound different.  The differences, I believe, are not only in the filters but also the envelopes.  You can, however, get very similar patches.

Meanwhile got the Blofeld and used it for a few hours ...
 
First impressions are positive: Definitely good keyboard, pretty much what I was looking for (and not as "light-weight" as the typical MIDI controller) and is certainly worth the 300€ price gap between the synth by itself and the keyboard version ...
 
Unlocking the sampling option worked fine, but getting the samples onto Blofeld is slow and failed a few times. Stock samples don't sound that spectacular when played by themselves (still need to learn all the FX options) ... downloaded a sample+sounds pack for 24€ and that sounds really good (after transfering for 1 1/2 hours ... 2x 46 min because first time I MIDIed it into Nirvana without noticing) ... got some good old fashioned mellotron and movie string sounds which I only had in dated VSTs and now can take outside of the studio ...
 
Looking forward to learning how to program this animal, seems more fun that turning knobs on a screen with a mouse ... and I wonder if I ever get around to learn how to use my own samples ...