Hohner Polyphonic 400

[Pippa]

After much deliberation, I came home today from Birmingham Accordion Centre (where he was very nice and helpful!) with a gorgeous sounding 120-bass Hohner Polyphonic 400. I'll add pictures soon. It's obviously heavier than a ladies' model I was looking at, but I've got some sturdy new straps, and to be honest I just fell in love with it!

Anyone know much about this great beast?

 

[simonking]

This one is it?

http://www.accordioncentre.com/page171.html

Looks lovely and at a fanstantic price if it sounds good and plays well. A quick search on the internet reveals that these models are/were available with converter bass. Is yours a converter?

 

[goldtopia]

I'm not sure what they mean by polyphonic. I think Polyphonic is usually to do with the amount of notes or sounds of electronic instruments that can be heard at one time. For an acoustic instrument it wouldn't mean anything, unless your accordion is electronic meaning digital or MIDI.

 

[JIM D.]

In acoustic accordion lingo the term "polyphonic" is used when more than 1 set of reeds can be played at the same time. JIM D.

 

[Adam-T]

Yeah - Polyphony was a massive deal in the days of Analog synths because REAL synths originally Monophonic (could only play one note) - there were Psueudo Polyphonics which could play all notes but used divide down oscillators and a single filter for the lot (they were mainly string machines but some makers tried to make Synths from them) .... Real Polys needed separate circuits for each voice and that was expensive and complicated ......

Anyway back to the Ranch - it`d be technically impossible to have a Monophonic Accordion unless it only has one note like this one posted on Melnet the other day .............. EDIT - Yeah Jim, I guess Hohner jumped on the Buzzword wagon and used the term to mean Simultaneous voices - again all multi-reed boxes will have this ability

 

[Pippa]

This one is it?

http://www.accordioncentre.com/page171.html

Looks lovely and at a fanstantic price if it sounds good and plays well. A quick search on the internet reveals that these models are/were available with converter bass. Is yours a converter?

Yep, thats the one! Whats a converter?

 

[Sarah]

Yep, thats the one! Whats a converter?

[/quote]
Converter = standard bass / free bass switch

 

[Pippa]

Yep, thats the one! Whats a converter?

[/quote]
Converter = standard bass / free bass switch[/quote]

Oh cool - I think it might then, because one of the switches for the bass sounds crazy when I try to play normally

 

[JIM D.]

Just Curious; Is your new box made in Germany or Italy? Some of the Hohner models I've seen with converter bass machines were German made accordions with Italian bass machines installed. :b" NICE " BOX :b

 

[Pippa]

Just Curious; Is your new box made in Germany or Italy? Some of the Hohner models Ive seen with converter bass machines were German made accordions with Italian bass machines installed. :b NICE BOX :b

From what I understand it was made in Germany, but by an Italian/some Italians/the Italians were involved but my attention span was apparently not.

 

[donn]

Quite a step up from the old Voskhod, it would appear, and worth putting up with some weight. How much does it weigh?

 

[Pippa]

Quite a step up from the old Voskhod, it would appear, and worth putting up with some weight. How much does it weigh?

Its infinitely nicer! Im not sure about the weight, will get back to you on that.

Edit: about 11 kg measured using scales on a carpet, will get a more accurate one later

 

[Glenn]

If it is a converter then when selected you do not have any chords on the left hand, just single bass notes.
Perfect for classical music.
Looks nice btw. Good catch and piccalo tuning is the best way to go in my opinion.

 

[Matt Butcher]

Great choice, look forward to hearing a clip when it's the right time.

 

[Soulsaver]

Well done PipPA, great box - not the commonest Hohner either. Look forward to hearing it when you get round to a clip. :Congrats:

 

[jarvo]

Nice Accordion, when do you move in ?

Quite the lady of property now ....will you rent the Voskhod to a family or convert it to a guesthouse ?

Seriously though good buy, and that reminds me.....my Rolan has a converter facility and I forgot all about that ....double nice one ... :b :b

Jarvo

 

[Pippa]

Nice Accordion, when do you move in ?

Quite the lady of property now ....will you rent the Voskhod to a family or convert it to a guesthouse ?

:lol:

 

[Terry]

Nice!

 

[simonking]

Did you find out if it's a free-bass convertor or not? I think would expect to see more bass switches if it is. If so, I'm amazed that they are available so cheaply.

 

[Pippa]

Did you find out if its a free-bass convertor or not? I think would expect to see more bass switches if it is. If so, Im amazed that they are available so cheaply.

Im fairly sure it is, but I dont know anything about free bass and I havent investigated yet. There is a bass option which is notes not chords, not all of the rows make a sound with that option... and playing stradella style with it just gives wrong notes