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Author Topic: This could be a big mistake...  (Read 14555 times)

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911377brian

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This could be a big mistake...
« on: December 11, 2015, 11:25:06 AM »

Got overheated and got a Hohner one row four stopper in G from EBay.looks pretty new so obviously Chinese. I've yet to hear anything good about Chinese boxes so I'm somewhat nervous about what ghastly built in problems it's going to arrive with. Anyone had any experience with them?
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Lester

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #1 on: December 11, 2015, 11:52:50 AM »

Down into the cellar young man and start weight training as G one rows take a bit of effort to play, due to being an octave down on a 'normal' box so bigger reeds plus there are 4 not 2. Also prepare to learn to play in the upper octave as that's where tunes mostly fit on a one row.

Whole new challenge Brian.  ;)

Malcolm Clapp

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #2 on: December 11, 2015, 12:12:02 PM »

Not that bad. Chinese Hohners seem to be the best quality melodeons coming out of China, though maybe not quite up to the standard of the previous German production. You might find the bellows a bit stiff, but otherwise the only problem I've encountered with Chinese Hohners generally is that the right hand action mechanism arms tend to bend a little with use, causing the buttons to become higher than acceptable, but can easily be adjusted.

Generally, 4 stoppers are quite tricky to maintain; if I was in the market for a 4 stop Hohner I think I would go Chinese rather than struggling with a beat up old German one, though I wouldn't go the same way for a 2 or 3 row.

My 10c worth....
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Tuner/repairer, now retired, but still playing! Happy to offer advice on repairs etc., and might be persuaded to undertake the odd emergency job for local and longtime  customers. Selling a few melodeons from my collection currently....

Adam-T

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2015, 02:03:11 PM »

True - with the beat up German ones I`ve had, I spent more time plugging up leaks than playing in the first months of ownership and I never could get enough air into the G ones - likewise , if I was after a 4 stop G , I`d go for a modern Chinese hohner too (or a Weltmeister or something higher end)

in 1 rows I prefer 1040s which although lacking the L and H reeds IMO play far better and sound better too , also have 4  basses witjh proper buttons (it`s like half a pokerwork) , people like the 4-stops because they look "Cajun" rather than "Cheapskate" - (re 1040) as in "Too mean to buy a whole Pokerwork" LOL
« Last Edit: December 11, 2015, 02:05:40 PM by Adam-T »
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invadm

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #4 on: December 11, 2015, 02:19:23 PM »

I had two Chinese made 114-C and D new.. and I had German made G and C..sold the Chinese ones quickly..I could not get the same volume & sound from them when compared to German ones.also bellow folds on the new ones are less than older German made boxes, I think this will have negative effect for G box as they DO need extra hard bellow work plus if the reeds are not set correctly(more than likely on Chines ones) you'll have to work real hard to get the sound..but you can always get it set/tune to make it easer to play surely  ;)         
« Last Edit: December 11, 2015, 02:22:06 PM by invadm »
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jonm

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2015, 02:21:41 PM »

Must have a good one, then. Mine is German, elderly and totally airtight! All reeds, stops, spoons etc. work....
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Castagnari Mory and Giordy D/G, Hohner Erica, four-stop in G, two-stop in G

911377brian

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2015, 04:04:41 PM »

I know a man in leafy Bucks who can do stuff.... (:)
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Nick Collis Bird

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #7 on: December 11, 2015, 04:21:18 PM »

I thought it was Herts. The only thing going for it is that a canal runs through it. 8)

I'll get me coat, oh! And the Narrowboat  >:E
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mselic

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #8 on: December 11, 2015, 11:40:17 PM »

I could be mistaken, but I didn't think they made the Hohner 4-stoppers in G once production moved to China...I believe they are now only available (new) in C or D.  A four-stopper in G is likely German-made.  Can anyone corroborate this?
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Broadland Boy

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #9 on: December 12, 2015, 12:27:41 AM »

Dunno  but if Brian had expressed an interest in one I'd have swapped mine for that beaten upm neglected, wheezy old Geordie of his  ;D
Lester's right about the windage they demand but that lovely rich sound* is well worth it - plus with a couple of those toggle latches fitted you can keep your cherry patsy in it, in the absence of a topper  ;)

* just remembered somebody, possibly Theo, noting that playing one for a while was a bit like eating Christmas dinner every day.
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Richard A
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Malcolm Clapp

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2015, 04:58:11 AM »


...just remembered somebody, possibly Theo, noting that playing one for a while was a bit like eating Christmas dinner every day.

Should have a helping of spinach instead, Popeye. I agree that they can be hard work.

Maybe my earlier comment about my dislike of beat up old German 4 stoppers is a little unfair, but reflects the number of such boxes that have found their way into my workshop over the years. I suppose that there are decent low mileage ones out there that haven't been tortured to destruction, but at least in Oz a good one seems hard to find.
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Tuner/repairer, now retired, but still playing! Happy to offer advice on repairs etc., and might be persuaded to undertake the odd emergency job for local and longtime  customers. Selling a few melodeons from my collection currently....

911377brian

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2015, 09:06:15 AM »

The 114 arrived this morning and is in very good nick, almost showroom condition but for the tiniest dent in the grill. The stops have all got a turn or two of embroidery silk round the stems to stop their descent and it is actually stamped 'Made in Germany' which has warmed an old mans heart....
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Broadland Boy

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2015, 02:48:22 PM »

Never mind warming yer heart Brian, build up to full chat on L slowly as yer kidneys, liver, spleen etc. will need to adapt to the wobbbbbulation  ;D 

Another G up abuser  8)
« Last Edit: December 20, 2015, 01:38:30 PM by Broadland Boy »
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Richard A
Venit ventus contrarius ventus egrediente,
Omnes prope quid ventum est circa

911377brian

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2015, 06:08:13 PM »

Well Richard, I'm totally infatuated with the wondrous noise it makes with all the stops up but sooner or later the gubbins tied round the spindles will have to come off so that I can experiment with all the combinations. It's not embroidery thread by the way, it's green garden string which is much more suitable doncher think? Is there a magic way to keep the stops where you want them? Wouldn't elastic bands just keep  them all up, same as the string does now? ???
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Lester

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #14 on: December 19, 2015, 06:12:38 PM »

Clothes Pegs are the standard 'stop keeper uppers'

Theo

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #15 on: December 19, 2015, 06:13:00 PM »

There is Marc Serafini's method with magnets.  Quite simple if you don't mind drilling holes where they don't show.
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Lester

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #16 on: December 19, 2015, 06:19:29 PM »

There is Marc Serafini's method with magnets.  Quite simple if you don't mind drilling holes where they don't show.

This is what I have done to my 1 rows

911377brian

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #17 on: December 19, 2015, 06:51:45 PM »

In which case you'd better do mine Lester....please.. (:)
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Lester

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2015, 07:24:32 PM »

In which case you'd better do mine Lester....please.. (:)

When you get your tools replaced you can do it yourself. Really easy job.  (:)

melodeon

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Re: This could be a big mistake...
« Reply #19 on: December 19, 2015, 08:48:08 PM »

Drill out the oversized worn holes.
Insert hardwood (such as maple) dowels.
Drill a new hole.
Done.

Another fix is mix:
Ivory bar soap , chalk and glycerine... make a thick past.
Rub into the holes and on the shafts.
No slip.
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