My Second Melodion

[nathen]

This week I picked up my second melodion, a 1960's Hohner Corona II 2 row GCF. It plays beautifully, it's tight and responsive with that lovely sweet sound. I was amazed to find that I could fumble out tunes by ear right away due to the fact that I played the mouth organ for over ten years, and my body memory could translate from blowing through the reeds to fingering the keyboard.

I'm definitely hooked, I've gone from playing the pa three times a week to playing the Corona every day. It's just so easy to pick up a box that only weighs 9 lbs (or my 2 row at 6 lbs). Plus, I can now just throw it on my back in the gig bag (see pic) it came in and take it anywhere I go (even on my bike!). My other pa's aren't going anywhere, they're just too heavy to lug around. Don't get me wrong, I still love how they sound, but they are staying home for now.

Fortunately I've had experience with diatonic instruments, otherwise I could see it would be a more difficult transition from a chromatic pa. I am going to install double brackets to have two shoulder straps. Plus, I am playing the keyboard with the thumb as well, because it's easier for me to play that way and gives me more options. Over forty years on the piano won't let me tie up the thumb in a strap!

Now I've been infected with MAD, as well as AAD!!!

Gotta love that weight!

Nathen

 

[nathen]

Yup, that is Mickey Mouse trying to horn in on the middle pic, I didn't see him when I took it.
I guess that says a lot about me!!!

Nathen

 

[dunlustin]

I had a Corona II for years (ADG) and loved it.
I think GCF is my favourite combination.
The GC bit lets you try most of the French trad repertoire if you like that.
The big extra about a 3-row is it allows 2+ octaves in either direction (in C) without changing push to pull.
In a word it's a 3-chord trick machine in C that also does a whole lot more.
They should carry a health warning.

 

[nathen]

Thanks for that Dunlustin, that's just what I needed to know, and found it really encouraging. Especially since I've decided to focus on French Trad. I'm going to take Skype lessons with Gary Chapin, who pm'd me on melnet. I love his youtube clips with him and his band.

Nathen

 

[Anyanka]

I do like those old Hohners.... this one looks quite a lot like my Amati (3-row CBA, my 'fun' box)

 

[george garside]

the hohner trichord ( 2 or 3 voice) uses the same casing and treble keyboard as the corona but most have 12 stradella bass. The trichord is dead easy to play in G C F and works just as well in A, D & G. ( plus the other 6 major keys). For those wanting the slightly bulkier 3 row as opposed to a 2 row one trichord saves buying several boxes!

george

 

[artidots]

Nathen, have you checked the tuning ?

Recently I got hold of a super old German made G/C Pokerwork for French tunes, but found it sounded a bit sharp alongside Concertinas etc. I discovered it was spot on though at A=442Hz and not 440.

This is a pain for my partner's Fiddle playing as she constantly (and sometimes quickly) has to retune for comfort when playing alongside that and then other boxes at Concert Pitch.

I am going to get Theo (of this house and others) to re-tune it for me. He commented that this is tuning not unusual for German Hohners.

Good luck with your Corona … looks really good.