Is Hohner getting lazy?
Hohner harmonicas have been the benchmark for diatonic harmonicas all over the world. They’ve provided us with instruments such as the Marine Band, the Special 20, and the Golden Melody which were extremely innovative when they can out. However, Hohner has had a tendency to be lazy in the past and may have gotten lazier within the last year or two. It seems that Hohner has been more concerned with putting out new models that people will love as opposed to keeping their old models up to standards.
The first and probably most distinctly lazily assembled instrument is the Hohner Special 20, especially the most recent “progressive” model. To be fair, the progressive model is designed well, allowing for different cover plates to be assembled onto the instruments to get a louder or softer tone depending on preference. However, the reeds often come gapped poorly and the octave are not tuned to each other on point. So when trying to hit octaves, the sound is wavy and incredibly out of tune. Progressive? Really Hohner?
However it isn’t only the Progressive Special 20. The previous Special 20’s which were packaged as “Marine Bands” are coming in the boxes of Progressive Special 20’s. So Hohner isn’t only being cheap but they’re being stingy. In reality, this could cause some serious controversy amongst their buyers. Couldn’t this be considered fraud if the consumer doesn’t receive the product the paid for?
As if this could get any worse, Hohner Crossover and Marine Band Deluxe (MBD) reed plates often come gapped improperly. Unlike Special 20 and Golden Melody cover plates, which usually come gapped decently, the Crossover and MBD reed plates usually sound leaky and weak when trying to play them. At one point, I bought a set of Hohner Crossover reed which, much to my surprise, didn’t play efficiently or even very well in the lower register. The first through fourth draw were leaky and stuffy, as if the reeds didn’t want to move.
So what could be concluded by this? Well Hohner doesn’t seem to really understand who they’re messing with. Companies like Suzuki and Seydel are literally getting money through Hohner’s mistakes. Now granted, Hohner for a long time has marketed themselves as the ultimate harmonica company, selling everything from toys to professional models. That being said, if their efficiency continues to go down, toys are the only thing they’ll be able to sell.
Hohner harmonicas have been the benchmark for diatonic harmonicas all over the world. They’ve provided us with instruments such as the Marine Band, the Special 20, and the Golden Melody which were extremely innovative when they can out. However, Hohner has had a tendency to be lazy in the past and may have gotten lazier within the last year or two. It seems that Hohner has been more concerned with putting out new models that people will love as opposed to keeping their old models up to standards.
The first and probably most distinctly lazily assembled instrument is the Hohner Special 20, especially the most recent “progressive” model. To be fair, the progressive model is designed well, allowing for different cover plates to be assembled onto the instruments to get a louder or softer tone depending on preference. However, the reeds often come gapped poorly and the octave are not tuned to each other on point. So when trying to hit octaves, the sound is wavy and incredibly out of tune. Progressive? Really Hohner?
However it isn’t only the Progressive Special 20. The previous Special 20’s which were packaged as “Marine Bands” are coming in the boxes of Progressive Special 20’s. So Hohner isn’t only being cheap but they’re being stingy. In reality, this could cause some serious controversy amongst their buyers. Couldn’t this be considered fraud if the consumer doesn’t receive the product the paid for?
As if this could get any worse, Hohner Crossover and Marine Band Deluxe (MBD) reed plates often come gapped improperly. Unlike Special 20 and Golden Melody cover plates, which usually come gapped decently, the Crossover and MBD reed plates usually sound leaky and weak when trying to play them. At one point, I bought a set of Hohner Crossover reed which, much to my surprise, didn’t play efficiently or even very well in the lower register. The first through fourth draw were leaky and stuffy, as if the reeds didn’t want to move.
So what could be concluded by this? Well Hohner doesn’t seem to really understand who they’re messing with. Companies like Suzuki and Seydel are literally getting money through Hohner’s mistakes. Now granted, Hohner for a long time has marketed themselves as the ultimate harmonica company, selling everything from toys to professional models. That being said, if their efficiency continues to go down, toys are the only thing they’ll be able to sell.
