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Author Topic: Hohner Vallenato  (Read 1500 times)

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Adam-T

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Hohner Vallenato
« on: November 05, 2012, 02:12:08 PM »

I`ve just got a used F/Bb/Eb Vallenato to give me the key I`m missing for Alpine music and also to play along with the woodwind in the folk group - Firstly apologise for believing internet misinformation and saying they were plastic cased, of course as theo and others said, it`s painted wood.. Painted Wood opens up opportunities for easy customization whether back to natural wood or re-painting, Blinging or wild colours etc.

It sounds excellent , the bass end could benefit from a tuneup but it`s close enough for Jazz - what I can`t understand is their almost limiting this model to the south american market - why didn`t they cover it in Alpine Flowers, give it two Gleichtions and call it the Alpina Mini for their home market ? (ideal for playing in bands with a Bariton Horn where the Steirische`s Helikons aren`t used) . it plays well too and doesn`t suffer the Pokerwork/Erica dissappearing buttons issue. it could do with real bellows tape but the adjustable bass strap is a big bonus ! .

Just thought I`d start a thread on this box which over this end of the planet is more use as a makeshift Shand or Steirische treble end wise - Stick the bass end off a Student (or whatever) PA on it and the BCC# version would be a superb entry level for Scottish music too !, the 12 basses of the Stradella trichord I`d imagine were limiting anyway and 3 voice trikes aren`t exactly poking out of skips.

Anyone else have one ? done any mods to it ? found a cheap source of ADG ones (though a compadre would be more Morrisable thesedays)
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Adam-T

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Re: Hohner Vallenato
« Reply #1 on: November 07, 2012, 06:18:00 PM »

Quite frankly I didn`t think there`d be a lot of interest as its hardly Morris Material but thought I`d post a Follow up .

Build doesn`t seem that much different to the recent (non Classic or Extreme) Corona models, in fact the plastic fingerboard has a metal base unlike the Classic`s wooden one which has a plastic base..

the pallets and soundboard under the grille aren`t as finished as well, the mech looks the same. the Grille is Aluminium (and screaming out for a Silver or white grille cloth)..

Things I`m going to do - replace the typical pokerwork bellows straps with the Baffetti style swivel type, replace the bass strap with something nicer and adjusts better, try and remove the thumb strap without making a mess, get the bass end tuned - miraculously the treble end IS tuned but then it originated from Rees (he sold it new, it wasn`t one of his boxes) which may explain that  .....

Things I`d LIKE to do but won`t get around to  ::) - replace the bellows with lovely old Super-Supple Club-IIB ones if possible - the stock ones work but are cheap & papery - recent corona ones aren`t as cheap but are stiff, I loved the ones on my Club-IIIBS . at worst I`ll just get them re-taped with Charlies stripey Italian tape. I`d like to put a Corona Classic type fingerboard and Xtreme style black pearloid buttons on both ends and a Corona Xtreme Grille .... Nope It`ll never be an Xtreme-IIIV but it`s close enough for the severe cash diff
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Daddy Long Les

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Re: Hohner Vallenato
« Reply #2 on: November 07, 2012, 06:43:24 PM »

Nearly bought one but went for the Xtreme IIIN instead.  More money but I'm really pleased with it.  I was worried that the Vallenato might be too wet with three reeds of slightly different tuning.  How do you find it Adam?
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Adam-T

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Re: Hohner Vallenato
« Reply #3 on: November 07, 2012, 07:00:20 PM »

It`s funny really, one thing I almost added to my "to do" list was to have it tuned WIDER - it`s not got that famous wetness a Shand or 4 voice Paolo has (which I love) let alone the almost Vulgar wetness of a Corso but I do like its almost Strasseresque tuning (which was unexpected) ..

Of course the Xtremes are the ultimate Hohner melodeons thesedays (anacletos are made by Piermaria (IMC) not Hohner so don`t count), I`d love an Xtreme-IIIV non-coupler version with Helikon bass in ADG but it ain`t gonna happen.. the IIIN Of course has the flexibility of the couplers, the ability to select single voices .

I have to say that I`m really liking the Vallenato, it`s way exceeded my expectations in playability, I expected diving buttons, slower action than the Coronas and air hungry reeds, thankfully this isn`t the case -sound was as expected, It`s a recent MMM hohner with (what I'd call) relatively conservative tuning..
« Last Edit: November 07, 2012, 07:01:57 PM by Adam-T »
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