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The Remarkable Rebirth of the [TexMex] Button Accordion
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Stiamh:
Article in Smithsonian Center Folklife magazine.
Among other things, we learn that Hohner are shifting a mind-boggling 1000+ TexMex boxes a month, according to Gilberto Reyes ("sometimes it's close to 2,000"). Is it any wonder they aren't putting more effort into the English, Irish and Scottish markets? ;)
triskel:
--- Quote from: Stiamh on November 03, 2017, 04:36:31 PM ---Is it any wonder they aren't putting more effort into the English, Irish and Scottish markets? ;)
--- End quote ---
I've been saying that for years now, but it's not just Texas-Mexican music being played on them - plenty are going to South America too, where Hohner 3-rows are the mainstay of Vallenato music too.
melodeon:
Gilbert Reyes is a former school teacher in the Sacramento Calif area. Former Hohner dealer and now head of the Hohner USA Accordeon Dept.
He is solely responsible for the development of the 3 row Hohner market at the expense of other models.
He has ignored and deleted other genres.
He promised to make an upgraded ERICA and did not.
He promised to upgrade the HA114 and did not.
He was in part responsible for the ANCLETO which is a grossly overpriced Italian made average quality accordeon targeted specifically to the Tex Mex/Conjunto, Norteno, Vallenato, Cumbia market to compete with another grossly overpriced average quality 3 row.. the Gabbanelli.
While he has done good things for the Tex Mex market and for Hohner he has done nothing for the rest of the diatonic accordeon world.
Bruce Triggs:
I wouldn't say any one person is responsible for the 3-row being a big market at the expense of others. They have a much larger fan-base. 100,000 people don't show up for diatonic accordion shows in North America except to see norteño/cumbia performers. Hohner may be focusing on those potential buyers, but they're following the trend and taking advantage of it, not creating the disparity. They obviously hired Reyes to target this market and objectively he's succeeded. Seems like standard business practice to me. Maybe not what some potential customers want, but I haven't got millions of fans to offer to Hohner when I work out an endorsement deal. The way I see it, the three-row market is keeping Hohner afloat where otherwise they might not have many sales at all in the Americas, and I'm ok with them staying around.
my 2¢
melodeon:
My comments are based on several personal contacts with Gilbert Reyes by phone and e-mail.
He offered me a dealership.. and sent me new three row models for review with the specific request of my opinion for use other than Tex Mex.
To add, he was going to make a 2 row model for the Dominican "tipico" market and did not. This would have been Bb/Eb and G/C with the possibility of an extra button at the chin on the inner row.
He made the promises to develop the one row and an upgraded two row Erica and also committed to making three rows not targeted at TEX MEX.
You might question why I did not follow through with a dealership... shortly after our contacts I faced a serious health challenge. When I survived my ordeal, I discovered that none of his commitments to other than the Latino market would be pursued; that coupled with a multi tiered distribution system which dramatically increased prices, and less than the German quality previously known.
There is interest in specific locales in North America for the one row. Not the substandard embarassing low end Chinese made units, but proper HA 114 models of at least the quality level of the "Made in Germany" instruments.
There would be an interest in Ericas and Pokerworks and GC/Alt three rows of a higher quality.. (not Ancleta)
This discussion was initiated by Mr Reyes, not me. I simply gave my opinions and observations.
I like Gilbert Reyes, and admire what he has done for HOHNER but he did not follow through with his stated plans. Quite the opposite.
I am not a "potential" Hohner customer, I have owned at least 25 and currently have 3. A dozen were 3 rows from pre Corona to the 60s. to include a IIIr.
I would own Ericas with quality reeds and bellows. I would own HA 114 models with better reeds and bellows. I would own 12/11/10 three rows (as Hohner makes or has made for the Euro Market) given that the quality was there. and the price was reasonable.
I, too, would like Hohner to stick around but they have nothing I want. Maybe parts.
I believe the reason Hohner does not have a larger presence in America other than Latino, is because the quality is low and the prices are high for the models that would interest those players/buyers. I believe HOHNER miscalculates this market and the loyalty they had gained from that segment.
They create a mystique for the TEX MEX market where it's Ford or Chevy. Good for HOHNER. Given the quality and price of GABBANELLI boxes, HOHNER has a guaranteed customer base.
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