Looking for a Hohner Preciosa (or maybe Liliput)

[Gandy]

Hi,

On behalf of a non-member here.   Anyone have a Preciosa they're thinking of selling?   C/F would do nicely.

Thanks,

[Rees]

[Andy Next Tune]

Keep an eye on eBay Deutschland. They pop up reasonably regularly at very variable prices.
Also Pete Grassby often has one or two in varying states of repair and tuning.

Andy

[michik]

on ebay germany: http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110497208601

[michik]

another one (ends on March 8th): http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290408691780

[Gandy]

Thanks for the pointers.  We're not really after a restoration project, but these might be worth a punt depending on what they go for.

[Miklos Nemeth]

We're not really after a restoration project.

That's the only way to obtain a Liliput. Keep in mind though that restoration work will be at two or three times as more than the ebay price. The total cost of a restored Liliput is about 500 - 700 Euros.
But when you have one you do not want to play any other boxes any more: LAD (Liliput Acquisition Disorder).

 

[Gandy]

I hear what you say.   My reasoning is that my friend isn't an expert or experienced player, and an unrestored box is going to be difficult and unrewarding to play, then they'll need to wait maybe 6 months before one of the restorers will be able to get to work on it.   I wouldn't be confident tackling reed tuning an voicing myself, especially not on someone else's instrument.

That may be the way we have to go, but I thought it worth dangling the bait so see if anyone was thinking of parting with a playable one. 

As I say, those on Ebay may be worth a punt, and I guess I could always keep it for myself (although I should really be concentrating on B/C/C#).

[Matthew B]

Although the Little Hohners that show up second-hand require some restoration work to put them into modern tuning, if you're happy playing the club system in "old" continental tuning, they're often in surprisingly good condition.  The only problem with an A335 box is that you can't play along with other "untuneable" instruments that are A440.  Or at least, you can. but it sounds a bit rough.  As for he rest of it: random clicks, bangs, rattles, and wheezes, well, that's part of the joy of a Hohner, isn't it. 

If you want to do a full scale restoration, and push the whole thing into a new key and tuning system, well, that's another matter.  But even with a full conversion, the consensus seems to be that these instruments are pretty good bargains.

[Theo]

Imagine what a new one might cost if they were in production today! 

[Matthew B]

And lots of character and charm, unavailable in a new instrument, at no extra charge!

[IanD]

Keep an eye on eBay Deutschland. They pop up reasonably regularly at very variable prices.
Also Pete Grassby often has one or two in varying states of repair and tuning.

Andy

My Preciosa cost just over 200 euros on eBay Deutschland, and more than double this for Theo to restore it.

Worth every penny though :-)

Ian