Author Topic: Harmonetta Fan Club (Read 11955 times)

SlideMeister · « **on:** March 24, 2021, 04:10:40 PM »

Why not? It's part of the orchestral harumka family. If I had one, I'd probably wanna talk about it.

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #1 on:** March 24, 2021, 07:02:55 PM »

I don’t, and I do!
Steve Watne loaned me one and I played it in a trio at SPAH.
They rock!

ez-slider · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2021, 08:07:20 PM »

Wonder how much a new Suzuki make would go for? I would buy one 😊 Things are so cool.. EZ

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2021, 10:17:46 PM »

Nobody makes ‘em anymore.
The best best is to get a used one and get it refurbished! John Cook in the UK is your man.

Aramis · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2021, 02:01:21 PM »

the harmonetta is definitely the best chord harmonica

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2021, 02:36:15 PM »

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hohner-Harmonetta-Harmonica-Made-in-Germany-Plays-Well-/254912976778?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
Go go go!

SlideMeister · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2021, 05:20:30 PM »

Here's my Harmonetta hero; Besides being a great guy, he was the best

ez-slider · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2021, 09:04:04 AM »

Quote from: Gnarly He Man on March 25, 2021, 02:36:15 PM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hohner-Harmonetta-Harmonica-Made-in-Germany-Plays-Well-/254912976778?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
Go go go!

Whats your take on that particular one Gary? I just bid.
EZ

Aramis · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2021, 01:03:49 PM »

Quote from: ez-slider on April 09, 2021, 09:04:04 AM

Quote from: Gnarly He Man on March 25, 2021, 02:36:15 PM
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hohner-Harmonetta-Harmonica-Made-in-Germany-Plays-Well-/254912976778?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
Go go go!
Whats your take on that particular one Gary? I just bid.
EZ

the keyboard looks gnarly, and I'm not a fan of the holes in the back (subjective), but if that doesn't bother you shouldn't worry about it, any assurance that it works?

ez-slider · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2021, 04:25:07 PM »

Quote from: Aramis on April 09, 2021, 01:03:49 PM

Quote from: ez-slider on April 09, 2021, 09:04:04 AM
Quote from: Gnarly He Man on March 25, 2021, 02:36:15 PM
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hohner-Harmonetta-Harmonica-Made-in-Germany-Plays-Well-/254912976778?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
Go go go!
Whats your take on that particular one Gary? I just bid.
EZ

the keyboard looks gnarly, and I'm not a fan of the holes in the back (subjective), but if that doesn't bother you shouldn't worry about it, any assurance that it works?

Just that it says "plays well" so at least I would be backed by ebay if its a dud.. Yeah MP not so hot.. I can repaint the keys.
EZ

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2021, 04:27:46 PM »

Did you get it?

ez-slider · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2021, 10:25:50 PM »

Not yet.. the listing u posted ended before I saw it.. the relisted it and I bid. EZ

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2021, 10:36:35 PM »

Seller is goldcashguns.
If Warren Zevon had an eBay store, would it be lawyersgunsmoney?

SlideMeister · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2021, 10:54:24 PM »

Is the button layout on the Harmonetta at all similar to those on an accordion?

SlideMeister · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2021, 10:57:23 PM »

My sister has played the "cordeen" since she was a teenager, but she's not doing all that well on the Super 64 she got a few years back and I thought a "Harmo" might be a hit

Aramis · « **Reply #15 on:** April 10, 2021, 01:09:29 AM »

Quote from: Age on April 09, 2021, 10:54:24 PM

Is the button layout on the Harmonetta at all similar to those on an accordion?

no it's a completely unique system originally discovered by the mathematician Leonhard Euler, the stradella bass (Accordion) mechanism is organized by the circle of fifths linearly in addition to single buttons for chords, while the harmonetta has the circle fifths ordered in diagonals such that 1 finger can play a chord, I hope that helps!

zvigrunb · « **Reply #16 on:** April 10, 2021, 03:28:15 PM »

Quote from: Gnarly He Man on March 25, 2021, 02:36:15 PM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hohner-Harmonetta-Harmonica-Made-in-Germany-Plays-Well-/254912976778?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
Go go go!

Dunno... reminds me of a car radiator...

ez-slider · « **Reply #17 on:** April 16, 2021, 11:39:05 AM »

I passed on it in the end.. Figured I could be in to it easily another few hundred to get it playing
good.. If it actually could.. Got a screaming deal on an accordion instead lol.
I like reeds.
EZ

Aramis · « **Reply #18 on:** April 16, 2021, 04:06:49 PM »

Quote from: ez-slider on April 16, 2021, 11:39:05 AM

I passed on it in the end.. Figured I could be in to it easily another few hundred to get it playing
good.. If it actually could.. Got a screaming deal on an accordion instead lol.
I like reeds.
EZ

yeah it ended up paying the price I paid for the broken instrument to get it repaired, 350 usd seems to be the going rate on most repairs

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #19 on:** April 16, 2021, 07:59:14 PM »

My situation is that I play guitar much better than any reed instrument—so chords are not unavailable to me.
So until a Harmonetta falls in my lap, I am going to refrain from spending more than I should.
I did have fun with it though, when Steve Watne loaned me the instrument and gave me enough time to learn one song.

ez-slider · « **Reply #20 on:** April 17, 2021, 11:10:24 PM »

Quote from: Gnarly He Man on April 16, 2021, 07:59:14 PM

My situation is that I play guitar much better than any reed instrument—so chords are not unavailable to me.
So until a Harmonetta falls in my lap, I am going to refrain from spending more than I should.
I did have fun with it though, when Steve Watne loaned me the instrument and gave me enough time to learn one song.

Yeah if I knew it would do what I wanted at that price I think I would grab it.. but like I said
I just picked up a sweet accordion for probably less than getting the Harmonetta and repairing it..
And I guess in time I will be able to play chords/melody and sing on accordion! Or maybe play on a rack? lol
EZ

Jeromechosson · « **Reply #21 on:** August 24, 2021, 09:30:57 AM »

First song in harmonetta enduring the bad taste. I am sending it for repair cleaning and hopefully can make better use of it.
https://mixcord.co/acapella/p/RwgcamXoVijPrVJZGiHXvg/

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2021, 10:00:44 AM »

Quote from: Gnarly He Man on April 16, 2021, 07:59:14 PM

My situation is that I play guitar much better than any reed instrument—so chords are not unavailable to me.
So until a Harmonetta falls in my lap, I am going to refrain from spending more than I should.
I did have fun with it though, when Steve Watne loaned me the instrument and gave me enough time to learn one song.

It's so sad when I quote myself--
However, I did acquire a unit and it should be here by Christmas (at this rate).
Possibly the best Christmas ever, fingers crossed.

brorat · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2021, 10:01:28 AM »

Quote from: Jeromechosson on August 24, 2021, 09:30:57 AM

First song in harmonetta enduring the bad taste. I am sending it for repair cleaning and hopefully can make better use of it.
https://mixcord.co/acapella/p/RwgcamXoVijPrVJZGiHXvg/

I like it!

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2021, 09:43:32 PM »

Quote from: Gnarly He Man on August 24, 2021, 10:00:44 AM

Quote from: Gnarly He Man on April 16, 2021, 07:59:14 PM
My situation is that I play guitar much better than any reed instrument—so chords are not unavailable to me.
So until a Harmonetta falls in my lap, I am going to refrain from spending more than I should.
I did have fun with it though, when Steve Watne loaned me the instrument and gave me enough time to learn one song.
It's so sad when I quote myself--
However, I did acquire a unit and it should be here by Christmas (at this rate).
Possibly the best Christmas ever, fingers crossed.

Less sad to quote myself if I add that my Harmonetta arrived today!
Thanks to John Cook in the UK, he did a fine job.

BeauKim · « **Reply #25 on:** August 26, 2021, 01:19:08 AM »

That’s great, Gary! It’s going to be great to hear it.

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #26 on:** August 26, 2021, 06:42:09 PM »

Quote from: BeauKim on August 26, 2021, 01:19:08 AM

That’s great, Gary! It’s going to be great to hear it.

I will never catch up to the greats of the instrument, but I am hopeful that I can create the same kinds of chord melody that I can do with guitar.

deepsouth · « **Reply #27 on:** August 28, 2021, 10:19:58 AM »

Jeromechosson –

I enjoyed your rendering of Autumn Leaves.
The harmonetta is very cool looking... seems like something I would appreciate and embrace.

I particularly admired your improvisation toward the high end of the melody instrument.
Sounded good. Thanks for the chance to observe.

Jeromechosson · « **Reply #28 on:** August 30, 2021, 10:56:38 AM »

Thanks man. I was not really in rhythm though on the comping. Not used to it. But the sound is nice with all the possible invertions. Not so difficult to play actually.

John Broecker · « **Reply #29 on:** August 30, 2021, 11:48:12 AM »

Here's some background on the Hohner
#8802 Harmonetta, patented in 1947
by it's designer, Hans Bilbus:

Hans was annoyed by his friend Larry Adler's
vamping of inaccurate chords while performing
on Adler's Super Chromonica.

While hospitalized, Hans experimented with several
prototypes, until he designed the Hohner Harmonetta,
created to eliminate improper chords.

The Harmonetta was a melody & chord, chromatic
button harmonica, with lettered buttons, similar
to a computer keyboard.

The Harmonetta had 72 stainless steel reeds,
and was a fully chromatic 3 octaves range,
C3-B5 (same approximate range as a tenor
or baritone slide harp).

The Harmonetta was introduced circa 1947, and
was sold up to circa 1980? It was an exhale-inhale
harmonica.

Walt Mueller, Hohner's "test pilot", demonstrated
the Harmonetta through Europe, 1956-'58.

Best Regards, Stay Healthy

JB