Hohner 48 bass PA

[Rosie C]

Following on from my post about the impracticality of my piano accordions for mobile outdoor gigs, I've lined up a visit to try out this beastie.

It's 26/48 MM. Key spacing is 20mm the same as my IIIN. I've not got details of its weight yet, but I weighed my two Concertos this morning and they're 7.1 and 7.9kg, so I'm ready to compare when I get that information.

I'm curious how old it is, I love the design, I'm thinking maybe 1960s?

EDIT: 4.6kg

 

[Tom]

Cute! Should do the trick, hope it’s in good playable shape for you.

 

[Ventura]

the action is different and might feel boxy by comparison

it needs a good cleaning, so i would assume a real going over inside and out
would be in order, and new straps for sure to make it reliable on a gig..

it's an old one.. yep.. non adjustable bass strap.. maybe take along
one of those car seatbelt woolies for a snug test fit if needed

so Bell in the UK was an accordion shop, and a Hohner dealer apparently,
and they are saying private label made by hohner, though that
makes no sense since they already had hohner built accordions to sell

MM is certainly nice to have but then some music would not work on it,
but gig's that need a more versatile sound you just take the LMM anyhow

if the MM musette tuning is not to your liking, but you love the box itself,
buying a cheap donor accordion or 2 and swapping a couple octaves of reeds
is not really that big a deal in an MM box that size, as opposed to serious
re-tuning which if it needs lowered a lot might shorten the life of the reeds
and take lot of time and finesse to do

plus when swapping reeds, you have a good chance to easily renew or replace
the leathers

how much gulp will the bass reeds need.. the bellows don't have a lot of folds

just thoughts..

 

[Rosie C]

Some great points, thanks @Ventura!

Yes, Bell was an importer of Hohner instruments, and the same dealer has this one with Bell branding. Not a bad looking accordion actually. I'll certainly give it a go while I'm there.

My thinking was gigs where I can sit on a stool I'll take the IIIN, gigs where I'll be on my feet a lot, I'll take whichever 26/48 I get. I'll likely part-ex my IIS - I'll miss it, but it's not different enough to the IIIN and the narrower keys don't make it a quick swap between them.

 

[Ventura]

silver one has 1 more bellows fold

heavier metal grill will stay cold longer
and condensation ? winter outdoor gigs

the hohner is aluminum grill

action on the grey looks like it has had fewer miles
put on it

while the body geometry appears different, i think it is
an optical illusion caused by the grill differences,
and with the grills off would likely look more like twins
by different fathers

 

[Rosie C]

Thanks! I thought *this time* around that I knew everything - but bellows folds I had not thought about though, nor the metal grille. I'm guessing it's chromed steel.

I think you're right that underneath they're much the same instrument - e.g. I notice the distinctive shape of the treble keys at either end.

 

[OuijaBoard]

The one thing about the newer Weltmeister Perle 26/48s and Hohner Bravo 26/48s is the keyboard action that incorporates the "T" action in Hohner's last West German Workhorses before their Workhorses went to Asia and a bunch of German Hohner technicians went to Weltmeister. That was the Concertos with a "T" after the model name. Roughly 1983 to 1989/2000. That "T" action is supposedly in the Bravos and the current Welts.

How much that matters to you is an open question. Especially if the older model you're looking at is in super-nice shape. I play a lot of Celtic-family tunes that include rapid, dance-speed reels, and it's nice to have the best action one can. OTOH, it's not like a good-condition older model is unplayable or anything. And while I "like" the tone of the newer stuff just fine, I usually "love" the tone of the vintage Hohner WGWs.

 

[Beemer]

Following on from my post about the impracticality of my piano accordions for mobile outdoor gigs, I've lined up a visit to try out this beastie.

It's 26/48 MM. Key spacing is 20mm the same as my IIIN. I've not got details of its weight yet, but I weighed my two Concertos this morning and they're 7.1 and 7.9kg, so I'm ready to compare when I get that information.

I'm curious how old it is, I love the design, I'm thinking maybe 1960s?

EDIT: 4.6kg

I have the same model and it was made in 1958

 

[Rosie C]

I have the same model and it was made in 1958

Thanks @Beemer What do you think of it?

 

[Rosie C]

How much that matters to you is an open question. Especially if the older model you're looking at is in super-nice shape. I play a lot of Celtic-family tunes that include rapid, dance-speed reels, and it's nice to have the best action one can. OTOH, it's not like a good-condition older model is unplayable or anything. And while I "like" the tone of the newer stuff just fine, I usually "love" the tone of the vintage Hohner WGWs.

I'll know very soon as I set off in an hour or so to visit the dealer. It's an interesting issue as because this is for performance I find myself thinking about the look of the instrument as well as its sound and playability. I guess I'll just play them all and go with my gut reaction!

 

[Rosie C]

Another accordion! I tried a couple of Hohner "Student VM" accordions, and a nearly-new Weltmeister 26/48. It was a tricky decision - I almost bought the Weltmeister as it had a lovely action, but I stuck with the cheapest and lightest option, as this is an instrument to be slung over my shoulder and taken to festivals.

 

[Ventura]

YaY !

 

[Rosie C]

A few bars of "Morpeth Rant" rattled off as soon as I arrived home:

 

[Ventura]

seems decent.. was it very, sort of, or barely affordable ?

 

[Rosie C]

I would say "quite affordable"

 

[OuijaBoard]

I'm loving all this petit PA/unisonoric happiness.

 

[Tom]

A few bars of "Morpeth Rant" rattled off as soon as I arrived home:

Sounds good!

 

[Ventura]

good

it is worth it to have equipment that will make your life easier,
and that was your target for choosing this one, bonus that it
was quite

by quick comparison, the Amica 48 is around $750
and the Bravo 48 around $1600 US on Amazon atm

 

[Plinky]

Some great points, thanks @Ventura!

Yes, Bell was an importer of Hohner instruments, and the same dealer has this one with Bell branding. Not a bad looking accordion actually. I'll certainly give it a go while I'm there.

My thinking was gigs where I can sit on a stool I'll take the IIIN, gigs where I'll be on my feet a lot, I'll take whichever 26/48 I get. I'll likely part-ex my IIS - I'll miss it, but it's not different enough to the IIIN and the narrower keys don't make it a quick swap between them.

Hi Rosie c I Have both the Hohner bell ,and Hohner student Vm 1953/57 if you need any info pictures

 

[Ventura]

oh Plinky, that is very revealing seeing all 3 side by side

the modern one, the black, obviously different body and keyboard,
though looking a lot like the old original models, it is a cousin, not a brother.

so have you all determined the bell and red hohner were made in Germany ?
and has anyone looked inside one of these, to say if they definitely had
german made reeds or Italian ?

how unique or maybe to say how critical is having German made reeds
from the days when Trossingen was truly in full swing, for the sound
you all seem to just knw is the real thing.. the old Hohner sound ?