I was going to wait until after COVID passed and go get it myself, but thanks to the encouragement of my friend and some kind people here, I asked to have the accordion shipped and it arrived here yesterday!
A Hohner Imperator V, and I thought it was something special before I ordered it... but it exceeded my expectations before I completed playing 2 chords!
So, what makes this accordion so special? Well:
- 41 key treble and 120 bass instrument
- 5/5 reed setup in LMMMH format
- DOUBLE Cassotto.
- The internal metal construction, Hohner calls it “Metallbauweise”
- 21 unique registers +1 Master palm switch. Hohner calls it “Doppeloktav” registers.
- It was produced and manufactured in Trossingen, Germany from 1961 to 1973.
- a true 29 pounds WITH straps, however I will be adding wider straps so let's say 30 pounds.
- With the exception of the Imperator VS, I believe there is no other accordion out there like it!
Hit a nice chord and instantly you are hit with 2 first impressions:
- Its very LOUD
- The quality of the sound is so RICH
I knew that this accordion was going to be very versatile due to it's 22 unique registrations, but during the first hour that I had planned to just get to know the accordion and it's sounds, I found myself going from register to register and hearing it and having songs pop in to my head one after another, that I had to play that matched that sound! Jazz, folk, traditional, classical, Irish, zydeko... this accordion does it all and it does it well!
The accordion is smooth and easy to play, the treble keyboard is fast (almost but NOT quite as fast as my Hohner Morino VI N), the bellows are light and easy, volume and bellows control is above average. The bass is strong, authoritative without being overbearing. It compliments the right hand to perfection via it's deep and rich sound. The 7 bass registers less versatile than the right hand, but still amazing.
Another surprise came when I tried the switch which closed and opened the baffles of the treble-side grills. In effect it audibly takes a LMMMH tone and turns it half way to a LMM or LMMM sound, by effectively reducing higher frequencies WITHOUT volume loss of the low and mid tones (most affected are those reserved in the highest M and H reeds). it cuts the H reed down about 50%, and the highest of the M reeds by maybe 30%... without affecting overall volume, and it is super pleasant to the ear in BOTH modes and adds even more sonic versatility.
Speaking of the front grill, what a beautiful design. That wave effect makes you snap your head back for a second look and the gentle rise to the center is something that, again, I have never seen in any other accordion that I ever saw.
I am really happy that I was able to finally get this accordion, I'm going to have countless hours of fun with it!
A Hohner Imperator V, and I thought it was something special before I ordered it... but it exceeded my expectations before I completed playing 2 chords!
So, what makes this accordion so special? Well:
- 41 key treble and 120 bass instrument
- 5/5 reed setup in LMMMH format
- DOUBLE Cassotto.
- The internal metal construction, Hohner calls it “Metallbauweise”
- 21 unique registers +1 Master palm switch. Hohner calls it “Doppeloktav” registers.
- It was produced and manufactured in Trossingen, Germany from 1961 to 1973.
- a true 29 pounds WITH straps, however I will be adding wider straps so let's say 30 pounds.
- With the exception of the Imperator VS, I believe there is no other accordion out there like it!
Hit a nice chord and instantly you are hit with 2 first impressions:
- Its very LOUD
- The quality of the sound is so RICH
I knew that this accordion was going to be very versatile due to it's 22 unique registrations, but during the first hour that I had planned to just get to know the accordion and it's sounds, I found myself going from register to register and hearing it and having songs pop in to my head one after another, that I had to play that matched that sound! Jazz, folk, traditional, classical, Irish, zydeko... this accordion does it all and it does it well!
The accordion is smooth and easy to play, the treble keyboard is fast (almost but NOT quite as fast as my Hohner Morino VI N), the bellows are light and easy, volume and bellows control is above average. The bass is strong, authoritative without being overbearing. It compliments the right hand to perfection via it's deep and rich sound. The 7 bass registers less versatile than the right hand, but still amazing.
Another surprise came when I tried the switch which closed and opened the baffles of the treble-side grills. In effect it audibly takes a LMMMH tone and turns it half way to a LMM or LMMM sound, by effectively reducing higher frequencies WITHOUT volume loss of the low and mid tones (most affected are those reserved in the highest M and H reeds). it cuts the H reed down about 50%, and the highest of the M reeds by maybe 30%... without affecting overall volume, and it is super pleasant to the ear in BOTH modes and adds even more sonic versatility.
Speaking of the front grill, what a beautiful design. That wave effect makes you snap your head back for a second look and the gentle rise to the center is something that, again, I have never seen in any other accordion that I ever saw.
I am really happy that I was able to finally get this accordion, I'm going to have countless hours of fun with it!
