Hohner

Not to be confused with Höfner.

For the music band from Cologne, see Höhner.

Hohner harmonica

Harmonetta

Melodica

Guitaret

Bandoneon

Melodeon

Accordion

Multimonica

Clavinet D6

Hohner/Waldorf ADAM arranger workstation

Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner (1833–1902), Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and accordions. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the harmonicas used by professionals. The company also makes kazoos, recorder flutes, melodicas, banjos, guitars, bass guitars and ukuleles (under the brand name Lanikai), along with its one million harmonicas a year.

From the 1940s through 1990s, the company also manufactured various electric/electronic keyboards. Especially in the 1960s and 1990s, they manufactured a range of innovative and popular electromechanical keyboard instruments; the Cembalet, Pianet, Basset, Guitaret, and Clavinet. In the 1980s, several Casio synths were sold under the Hohner brand - for example, the Casio HT-3000/Hohner KS61midi and the VZ-1/HS2).

The roots of the Hohner firm are in Trossingen, (South Germany).

History

M.Hohner Trumpet Call Harmonica (1906)

Matthias Hohner, who was originally a clockmaker, started making harmonicas (by hand) in 1857 with his wife and a single employee. 650 were made in the first year. Hohner harmonicas quickly became popular and during Matthias' lifetime he built the largest harmonica factory in the world. During the American Civil War Matthias Hohner gave harmonicas to family members in the United States who in turn gave them to the fighting soldiers.

In the 1920s Hohner began manufacturing chromatic harmonicas that can be played in any key.

In the mid-1950s Hohner began producing electric guitars.

In 1964 Hohner released The Beatles Harmonica Kit which was sold in a blister package, much like most Hohner harmonicas nowadays, retailed for $2.95, and help what Hohner calls "bring about a new popularity upsurge of the Hohner harmonica on both sides of the Atlantic.". In the 1970s Hohner began manufacturing acoustic guitars, and re-producing electric guitars.

Matthias Karl Hohner, son of Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Hohner and a direct descendent in fourth generation and name barrier of the founder Matthias Hohner (*12 December 1833 - + 12 December 1902) was one of the last members of the Hohner dynasty involved in managing the family business between 1968 and 1986. His son Matthias Francisco Hohner belonged to the first generation of direct descedents who did not enter into the family business. Many direct descedents of the founder are still active as members of the “Deutsches Harmonika Museum” and the “Hohnerschefamilienverein”.

150th Anniversary and beyond

For Hohner's 150th Anniversary in 2007 Hohner began manufacturing Limited Edition Diatonic harmonicas. The harmonicas are in Chrome, Gold, and Standard Edition.

Hohner has announced they will be producing Special 20, Blues Harp, Marine Band, and Big River harmonicas in Pro Packs which have three harmonicas keyed in C, G, and A, and retailed at a cheaper price, are to be released sometime in May.

Marine Band

The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular model of harmonica for generations. Made in Germany on a wood comb, most blues and rock artists play a Marine Band. Several noted users are Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, and Neil Young. There are various subdivisions of the marine band.

Subdivisons

Hohner Special 20 Marine Band

The Special 20 was introduced in the mid 1970s. It has the same reeds as a Marine Band, but it has a plastic comb instead of a wooden comb, and rounded edges. It was the first harmonica to have a plastic comb, which not only made the instrument more airtight, but also eliminated the swelling wood combs go through as they moisten from use. Made in Germany, this model quickly became the preferred choice of many rock and blues players. Now, most harmonicas being manufactured from all companies are based upon the Special 20. Its most noted user is John Popper, who appears on the blister.

The Marine Band Deluxe has all the features of the original Marine Band with tighter construction and a new cover design which creates a greater volume.[1]

The Marine Band Crossover also features the same reeds, but is made on a bamboo comb that is water repellent.[2]

The Marine Band 364 has twelve holes and is available is keys C, G, and D only.[3]

The Marine Band 365 has fourteen holes and is available in keys C and G only.[4]

The Marine Band Soloist (364s) is the same as a twelve hole chromatic harmonica without a button. Available in key of C.[5]

The Marine Band Octave has two rows of reeds tuned an octave apart. Available in the keys of C and G. [6]

The modular system

Hohner introduced an interchangeably parted harmonica series in the 1990s known as the Modular System, usually abbreviated MS. Over the years, several harps have been added to this system.

The Blues Harp has been around since the early 1970s. Until the 1990s, it was functionally identical to the Marine Band, the only differences being the cover plates and the varnish on the front of the wood comb. The harmonica's profile was thinner as well. At one point, Johnny Cash promoted the Blues Harp. In the 1990s, Hohner made the Blues Harp part of its Modular System (MS) line. This new Blues Harp lost its uniqueness and is interchangeable with the other models in the MS line.

The Pro Harp features greblon coated cover plates with a matte black finish and a plastic comb. Since its inception, it has become a very popular model among rock and roll players.

The Cross Harp is a nearly identical model to the Pro Harp with the exception of a wood comb and slightly thicker original reed plates.

The Big River Harp was introduced as a less expensive alternative to the Blues Harp. It is favored among beginner harmonicists, although many experienced players also prefer the Big River. It features a plastic comb and bare metal cover plates.

The Blue Midnight was released in 2011 with a limit to the key of C, also on the less expensive side of the market. It features stainless steel cover plates with a wider back gap for enhanced volume while playing. The unique feature of this harp is the comb, which is made out of transluscent blue plastic. The comb allows for brighter tone than the black combed models. It also has a special just-intonation (JI) "Chicago tuning." It is also now available in other keys.

The Meisterklasse is a high end harmonica on the Modular System, featuring chrome plated cover plates, an aluminum comb, and nickel plated reeds.

Other diatonic harmonica models

The Old Standby is another model beloved by generations of harmonica players. Up until the 1990s, this model was a quality instrument made in Germany on a wood comb. Where the Marine Band was the choice of blues players, many Country players such as Charlie McCoy preferred the Old Standby. In the 1990s, Hohner began manufacturing this model in China on a plastic comb with a significant decrease in quality. Among harmonica fans the downgrade remains unpopular.

Golden Melody, designed by Frank and Cham-Ber Huang, has a curved shape. This German made, plastic comb model has a slightly different tuning than other diatonic harmonicas, making the Golden Melody better suited for playing single note melodies and solos.

The American Ace has been a popular choice as a beginner's harmonica for decades. Originally made in Ireland on a wood comb, this model is currently being made in China on a plastic comb.

The Pocket Pal is a recent addition to the Hohner standard line of harmonicas. It is somewhat unique because it is slightly shorter in length than most harmonicas, leading to its namesake of being pocket handy. It is Chinese made, which is unfavorable to most harmonica players, but the Pocket Pal has caught on as an inexpensive, yet quality harp.

38C, also known as the Mini Harp, is Hohner's least expensive model. With four holes, the 38C plays a single octave in the key of C. Like other budget harmonicas, the 38C is manufactured in China with a plastic comb.

Other harmonica types

In addition to diatonic harmonicas Hohner also produces other types such as "chromatic" and "Tremolo".

Chromatic

Hohner "Super Chromonica"; case marked "No.260 1/2" (model); images top-to-bottom show the case top, harmonica top, case bottom, and harmonica bottom/obverse.

The Chromonica contains forty reeds and plays 2½ full chromatic octaves.

There is also a Super Chromonica which contains forty-eight reeds and spans three octaves.

Tremolo

On tremolo harmonicas each channel has two reeds for each note, i.e. one pair for blown notes and another pair for drawn ones, each pair tuned slightly apart from one another to produce a tremolo sound.

The most popular models are either single-sided or double-sided Echo harps, but the single-sided ones can be combined into quadruple or sextuple 'corncob' setups, with a different key on each row.

Artist series harmonicas

Hohner has several harmonicas designed by several famous harmonica players.

Larry Adler

Famous Jazz harmonica player Larry Adler has his own harmonica series, which are chromatic with either 12 or 16 holes.

Toots Thielemans

Another noted jazz player, Toots Thielemans, also has a chromatic harmonica line with two types being Mellow Tone(for classical material) and Hard Bopper(for contemporary material).

Steven Tyler

Aerosmith's lead man Steven Tyler has two types of diatonic harmonica(s). An Artist Series and a Signature Series with the latter being more expensive.

Bob Dylan

Legendary folk musician Bob Dylan also has a Signature Series diatonic harmonica as well as a Collection which features seven harmonicas.

External links

• Hohner USA
• Hohner