Melodeon.net Forums

Discussions => Instrument Design, Construction and Repair => Topic started by: Sandy Flett on October 12, 2010, 12:43:07 PM

Title: Hohner reeds on Hohner reedblocks, inside a modern/Italian melodeon body
Post by: Sandy Flett on October 12, 2010, 12:43:07 PM
The following post originated under http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,4722.msg59965.html#msg59965 but I felt it was much more suited to this board than General Discussion:

Several customers have asked me to fit Hohner reeds in my Windjammer melodeons.
The reed-blocks are hardwood and while it doesn't sound like a Hohner 114, it doesn't sound Italian either - kind of halfway, I guess.
I may make softwood blocks for the next one and see if that makes a difference.

Has anyone experimented with temporarily fitting Hohner reeds in Hohner reed blocks in a modern/Italian instrument to see if that would let us hear more of the Hohner "upper Partials"? .... Perhaps I should see if I can do this with my Liliput reeds in my Tommy.

I opened up my Tommy and Liliput this morning to see if a Liliput treble reed block could be manipulated into the Tommy with the hope that at least a few holes would line up adequately to let me hear the sound of  Hohner-reeds-on-a-Hohner-reed-block inside a Castagnari body. What I had not realised was that the Liliput achieves its 25 notes in two reed blocks so the spacing between the reed chambers and the Tommy valve holes were all over the place. Even though a few notes might still have played adequately, the Liliput reed block proved to be just a fraction wider than the slot allowed by the Tommy's two side locating pins, and I was not feeling brave enough to start removing these.
 

I was back looking at the inside of my Tommy for another reason this morning, and realised I could, after all, fit a reed block from my Liliput into the Tommy, by removing two of the Tommy reed blocks. It was all a bit wheezy and took a considerable amount of BlueTak, but when I very carefully played a few notes I was delighted to hear a very noticeable amount of that characteristic Hohner/Liliput resonance. Even better, I could play some of the notes on the remaining Tommy reed block and compare directly with the sound of the same notes from the Liliput block.

I think the combination of Tommy playability with Hohner reedblocks/reeds giving pretty much the Hohner sound would be my idea of melodeon heaven.

My Pokerwork reed block is quite a bit bigger than the Tommy's, and Liliput reedblocks do not line up with the Tommy holes. Is there likely to be a size of Hohner (D/G) melodeon with the same treble reed hole spacings as the Tommy, and could it be shortened to fit in the Tommy?

Rees - will the positive result from my "experiment" encourage you to try softwood reedblocks with Hohner reeds in one of your melodeons sooner than you might have otherwise (needless to say, I would love to know the result)?


Title: Re: Hohner reeds on Hohner reedblocks, inside a modern/Italian melodeon body
Post by: rees on October 12, 2010, 01:16:54 PM
On the Clipper, I have always used Italian TAM reeds screwed on leather on hardwood blocks.

The Windjammer, however, is a copy of the Hohner 114. The three I have made so far, feature Hohner reeds waxed on hardwood blocks.
The removable blocks are oriented exactly as a Hohner 114.
Tuned at 15 cents tremolo they sound more Italian than Hohner - most folks think they are hearing TAM reeds!
I shall try softwood blocks in the one I have under construction.
Title: Re: Hohner reeds on Hohner reedblocks, inside a modern/Italian melodeon body
Post by: Sandy Flett on October 12, 2010, 07:44:49 PM
I think the combination of Tommy playability with Hohner reedblocks/reeds giving pretty much the [edit - resonant] Hohner sound would be my idea of melodeon heaven.

My Pokerwork reed block is quite a bit bigger than the Tommy's, and Liliput reedblocks do not line up with the Tommy holes. Is there likely to be a size of Hohner (D/G) melodeon with the same treble reed hole spacings as the Tommy, and could it be shortened to fit in the Tommy?

I have attached a photocopy of the Tommy MM reed blocks of 11 and 10 holes.

The blocks are 204mm long and 29mm wide.

The holes are 10mm long and the space between is 7.2mm (from measuring 9 holes + spaces as 155mm).

Has anybody with loads of old Hohner blocks lying around got anything that might be modified to match this, and which they would be willing to sell me?
Title: Re: Hohner reeds on Hohner reedblocks, inside a modern/Italian melodeon body
Post by: an bosca ceoil on October 12, 2010, 09:35:01 PM
Whereas the Liliput holes are, at 15mm centre to centre, too close together, I think you will find that most other Hohner melodeon blocks will have them too far apart (20mm centres) so, after the first couple of holes, way out of alignment.
You might be able cut down white note P.A. blocks many of which have the ports on 17mm centres.
Title: Re: Hohner reeds on Hohner reedblocks, inside a modern/Italian melodeon body
Post by: rees on October 12, 2010, 11:40:58 PM
Castagnari 19mm, Hohner 20mm button pitch. No match!
Title: Re: Hohner reeds on Hohner reedblocks, inside a modern/Italian melodeon body
Post by: waltzman on October 13, 2010, 12:51:34 AM
The title of this thread sounds like a description of the Morgane, Merlin, Galaad series.
Title: Re: Hohner reeds on Hohner reedblocks, inside a modern/Italian melodeon body
Post by: Christopher K. on October 13, 2010, 03:33:17 AM
This reminds me of a particularly long discussion thread over at concertina.net. it was some years ago, but if I remember correctly, I think Rich Morse was discussing his results and impressions after fitting various types of Italian reeds in Chinese and German melodeon bodies. I'll dig around there and see if I can find it.
Title: Re: Hohner reeds on Hohner reedblocks, inside a modern/Italian melodeon body
Post by: Sandy Flett on July 19, 2011, 11:35:53 PM
The story is followed up under new post: http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,7456.0.html
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal