Hohner Mignon

[Philh4955]

I have been given a Hohner Mignon 12 Bass. Externally it is fine but reeds are all in need of work - rust, missing valves and way out of tune.

I’m guessing that although not many reeds this is not an easy job so probably not an economical repair to have done. Any thoughts?

 

[jozz]

tough question, what are you going to use it for? if it's for selling on you might just break even as it was a freeby

it is little more than a toy so I wouldn't patch it up expensively for myself personally

 

[Philh4955]

Thought I might use it myself as an instrument when away in the motor home. Might try to DIY - doubt I can make it much worse and might learn something in trying (even if it is only to leave it to the pros if my other instruments need repair!)

 

[george garside]

I would say definitely not economical for professional restoration but as a way of having a go at box repairing and tuning probably an ideal way to start. Recommend Charly marshall for parts , reeds,reedwax,. valves etc and for good advice. He supplies by post worldwide and is based in Scotland. CMGMusic should find him .


george

 

[TomBR]

I've got a Mignon which I refurbed. It's a cute little thing but I can't pretend there's much pleasure in playing it for more than a few minutes. It feels a bit like playing one of those toy pianos with glockenspiel bars inside. Very raspy Hohner tone. Yes, I took it away in our caravan to play!

I'm not talking about the restriction of the 12 basses. A 12 bass with C G and D majors and A E and B either minors or open fifths would cover a huge amount of "melodeon" style music such as I mostly play.

 

[boxplayer4000]

Hohner Mignon.
It might be a bit unfair to call these accordions toys.  They are obviously limited in range and bass but are total quality instruments all made with Hohner parts, as used in their other, bigger models. They respond and feel like their larger cousins and are a good introductory instrument for a smaller person.
They are a slight challenge to repair and tune as the reeds are not mounted on normal reed blocks but waxed directly to the sounding board.  This design might explain their extraordinary volume which, like a small child, is out of proportion to its size.
Attached is one I restored some time ago along with a recording of it. 

http://talkingreeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Venice1MP31.MP3

 

[george garside]

the mignon is roughly the same size as a 2 row 'melodeon'  and such melodeons are considered very serious instruments in the folk/trad world  

george

 

[george garside]

the mignon is roughly the same size as a 2 row 'melodeon'  and such melodeons are considered very serious instruments in the folk/trad world  

george

 

[TomBR]

Hohner Mignon.

Attached is one I restored some time ago along with a recording of it. 

http://talkingreeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Venice1MP31.MP3

Nice recording, I enjoyed it, but it does have added accompaniment! 

 

[george garside]

if it has added accompaniment it is very light  and that in no way diminishes from a first class demo of what can be done with a really small box.   However I do consider that  having all sorts of electronic sounds coming out of a 120 bass multi coupler box is verging on cheating as at least 50% of whats coming out of it isdone by the electronic devices therein. :dodgy: :huh: 

george

 

[LongSufferingHuman]

Is that accompaniment or just the bass side? I'm curious.

 

[Eddy Yates]

I was just checking the Mignon out as a backpacking companion.

 

[jozz]

it all depends how fat your fingers are

 

[boxplayer4000]

LongSufferingHuman,
There's a bit of bass, chords and 2nd accordion added to the recording. This not an attempt to 'cheat' at all but merely. I hope, an enhancement, to the otherwise strong but simple sound of the Mignon.

 

[LongSufferingHuman]

LongSufferingHuman,
There's a bit of bass, chords and 2nd accordion added to the recording. This not an attempt to 'cheat' at all but merely. I hope, an enhancement, to the otherwise strong but simple sound of the Mignon.

Thanks for explaining!

 

[kimric]

I reprinted the 8 bass book that hohner put out in the 50's. The book works pretty well and is not written for kids like the PH book. It works around the limitation of the instrument.
I found a decent 8 bass that I import from china that I include the book with.

 

[kimric]

the mignon is roughly the same size as a 2 row 'melodeon'  and such melodeons are considered very serious instruments in the folk/trad world  

george

They came in a couple of sizes, the 8 bass one is tiny ,it could almost fit inside a melodion.

 

[Corinto]

I reprinted the 8  bass book that hohner put out in the 50's.
The book works pretty well and is not written for kids like the  PH book.
It works around the limitation of the instrument.

Maybe you could put it also for sale on your etsy store, may be interesting to owners of small accordions.

 

[Philh4955]

I reprinted the 8  bass book that hohner put out in the 50's.
The book works pretty well and is not written for kids like the  PH book.
It works around the limitation of the instrument.

Maybe you could put it also for sale on your etsy store, may be interesting to owners of small accordions.

I have an original of the book and could produce a pdf version if anyone is interested

 

[Corinto]

I have an original of the book and could produce a pdf version if anyone is interested

Thanks, PM sent.