Hohner Harmonetta

[Jody Kruskal]

I stumbled on this interesting tidbit and thought you might be interested too. The keyboard looks a bit like the Hayden, but it's not.

 

 

"By pushing a button or a combination of buttons you can create melody lines and complex chords simultaniously. The buttons are designed in a way which makes it possible to create three notes in a chord with the use of only one finger. "

 

http://www.berkelmuziek.nl/img/html/harmonetta.htm

 

Other photos here.

 

You can buy one for $495.00 here.

[PeterT]

You can buy one for $495.00 here.

I think the price of Anglos just plummetted.

[wntrmute]

More a threat to Englishes, I'd think, as it's unisonoric. In any case, they've been around since at least the 1960's so any damage to the concertina market has been done.

[Robert Booth]

do you suppose that you could get the same kind of bends as on a 10-hole diatonic with this, or is it more like the chromatics that just shut down when you crank on 'em?

[Chris Timson]

What price the symphonium now?

 

Chris

[Boney]

I stumbled on this interesting tidbit and thought you might be interested too. The keyboard looks a bit like the Hayden

Interesting! That's the same layout as the Axis "Natural Keyboard", which was discussed here briefly in February 2008. Here's More writing on the "Harmonic Table" by Peter Davies.

 

Here's a picture showing the size. I wonder how it looks when being played?

 

[ragtimer]

I stumbled on this interesting tidbit and thought you might be interested too. The keyboard looks a bit like the Hayden, but it's not.

 

"By pushing a button or a combination of buttons you can create melody lines and complex chords simultaniously. The buttons are designed in a way which makes it possible to create three notes in a chord with the use of only one finger. "

 

Fascinating little box, Jody! Would have been a real hit on the oddities table in the barroom at NESI

 

I wonder how well that key layout works for melodies, though. Like a Hayden or CBA, it's isotonic, or isomorphic, or whatever you say when the same fingering works in any key

 

Yes, that key system is for sale on a website somewhere, as another poster mentioned.

 

From the eBay seller, I gather that you blow it by mouth -- makes it hard to see the keyboard while you play, but the keys are shaped to make playing by touch easy, feeling your way around.

 

I want one -- but I just bought a Jack EC, so will lay off and keep saving up for the Morse Hayden.

 

Nice seeing you at NESI. --Mike K.

[Theo]

You can see and hear one being played here by the

[ragtimer]

You can see and hear one being played here by the

Thanks! Great quartet -- those Finns are something else!

So the Harmonette is used as the chord supplier -- should have guessed, from its name. A bit more compact than the conventional chord harmonica, which is almost as big as the bass box you see on the videos.

 

It appears you don't have to move your mouth around when you blow/draw on it (?), just press the right key(s).

 

I can see why one poster compared it to Wheatstone's original Symphoneon (sp?).

 

I wonder how well a Harmonette holds up under the strain of professional playing like that. I bet that guy has learned how to do lots of work on it.

 

Anyone know what they sold for when new, back when?

Thanks again, Mike K.

[Sebastian]

So the Harmonette is used as the chord supplier -- should have guessed, from its name. A bit more compact than the conventional chord harmonica, which is almost as big as the bass box you see on the videos.

 

The Harmonetta is also more versatile. It's a pitty Hohner stopped production.

 

It appears you don't have to move your mouth around when you blow/draw on it (?), just press the right key(s).

 

The postion of the mouth decides about what tone sounds in what octave. (Don't know how to translate "Oktavlage" and "Umkehrung" into English.)

 

I wonder how well a Harmonette holds up under the strain of professional playing like that. I bet that guy has learned how to do lots of work on it.

 

As the reeds are far more away from your mouth than on a normal harmonica (and as you play chords) you don't bend and don't put the reeds under so much stress like some strange blues harmonica players like to do with their harmonicas. It's more like a Hohner Melodica.

 

Some weeks ago I talked about the Harmonetta with my mother. Coming from a village near Trossingen she knew some people who played it. But she herself never owned one.

 

Sebastian

[Stephen Chambers]

Anyone know what they sold for when new, back when?

 

Hohner brought them out, with high hopes, in 1956, and discontinued them in the late '70s. I've a June 1965 U.S. catalogue that describes them as :

 

HARMONETTA

HH-8802

 

A most unique and versatile instrument, Hohner's Harmonetta permits playing of single notes or chords. Fully chromatic 3 octave range. 72 stainless steel "blow" and "draw" reeds. Gold-anodized covers.

WRITE FOR FREE HARMONETTA PAMPHLET

Size 7" x 5 7/8" x 2" . . . . .

$95.00

Which was more expensive than a pokerwork ($80.00) or an Erica ($90.00) 2-row button accordion, and would have bought you 10 melodicas, or 40 Marine Band harmonicas. They weren't cheap!

Edited September 25, 2008 by Stephen Chambers

[Perry Werner]

Howdy:

 

Thanks Jody!!!

Now another thing to think about owning!!!

I'm fascinated by this thing.

Too bad they seem so expeinsive.

3 on Ebay as of right now (9/25/08)

 

Anyway, here's a much better example of what the Harmonettta looks and sounds like.

 

 

and another.....

 

Any chance we can convince Hohner to start manufacturing them again?

 

Have fun,

Perry Werner

Edited September 26, 2008 by Perry Werner

[Stephen Chambers]

Any chance we can convince Hohner to start manufacturing them again?

 

Perry,

 

Bearing in mind that that ($90.00 in 1965) Erica that I mentioned would now have a r.r.p. of $1,250.00, or that those 40 Marine Bands would come to $1,720.00, do you think many people would want to pay something in that region for a new Harmonetta?

 

Anyway, they can't be as rare as people make out, when there are four of them on eBay right now!

[Jody Kruskal]

Anyway, here's a much better example of what the Harmonettta looks and sounds like.

 

 

and another.....

 

Any chance we can convince Hohner to start manufacturing them again?

 

Have fun,

Perry Werner

Hi Perry and all,

 

I'm listening to

. Some guy named Frank who really understands jazz, rhythm and harmony. I like his solo style on the harmonetta. Sväng sounds great too. So many instruments, so little time...

[Perry Werner]

Any chance we can convince Hohner to start manufacturing them again?

 

Perry,

 

Bearing in mind that that ($90.00 in 1965) Erica that I mentioned would now have a r.r.p. of $1,250.00, or that those 40 Marine Bands would come to $1,720.00, do you think many people would want to pay something in that region for a new Harmonetta?

 

Anyway, they can't be as rare as people make out, when there are four of them on eBay right now!

 

Hi Stephen:

Yes, I thought about what you are suggesting after my previous posting.

Also if there are four on Ebay right now (which there are at last search) than they are somewhat available.

 

By the way is the Harmonetta a blow and suck instrument like the harmonica?

If so, how does direction change the notes indicated on the keys. A half step??

I'd be happy if there was no sucking involved.

It makes me kind of dizzy and the in and out change in notes drives me a bit nuts, which is kind of why I play English as opposed to Anglo.

My earliest attempts at playing a free reed instrument were on harmonica, but due to the factors mentioned, I moved along, quickly, to the concertina.

I'd still love to learn to play harmonica, such my interest in the harmonetta.

I also like the comparison to a Symphonium!

 

Also, there evidently is a Harmonetta tutor out there which might still be available.

Here's one listing.....

 

http://www.music44.com/X/product/49035623-...=googlebase%202

 

By the way, Stephen, I have not forgotten about my financial debt to you.

The debt I owe you for a wonderful and fascinating visit and a great recommended meal, sadly I can never repay, but of course you are always welcome at the home of Pawprint Books where we always attempt to take care of our visitors!!!!!

Best,

Perry

[Banjoharmonicaman]

Any chance we can convince Hohner to start manufacturing them again?

 

Perry,

 

Bearing in mind that that ($90.00 in 1965) Erica that I mentioned would now have a r.r.p. of $1,250.00, or that those 40 Marine Bands would come to $1,720.00, do you think many people would want to pay something in that region for a new Harmonetta?

 

Anyway, they can't be as rare as people make out, when there are four of them on eBay right now!

 

Hi Stephen:

Yes, I thought about what you are suggesting after my previous posting.

Also if there are four on Ebay right now (which there are at last search) than they are somewhat available.

 

By the way is the Harmonetta a blow and suck instrument like the harmonica?

If so, how does direction change the notes indicated on the keys. A half step??

I'd be happy if there was no sucking involved.

It makes me kind of dizzy and the in and out change in notes drives me a bit nuts, which is kind of why I play English as opposed to Anglo.

My earliest attempts at playing a free reed instrument were on harmonica, but due to the factors mentioned, I moved along, quickly, to the concertina.

I'd still love to learn to play harmonica, such my interest in the harmonetta.

I also like the comparison to a Symphonium!

 

Also, there evidently is a Harmonetta tutor out there which might still be available.

Here's one listing.....

 

http://www.music44.com/X/product/49035623-...=googlebase%202

 

By the way, Stephen, I have not forgotten about my financial debt to you.

The debt I owe you for a wonderful and fascinating visit and a great recommended meal, sadly I can never repay, but of course you are always welcome at the home of Pawprint Books where we always attempt to take care of our visitors!!!!!

Best,

Perry

[Banjoharmonicaman]

Hello Folks. I am a harmonica collector and I have two Harmonettas. I think production of this instrument was halted by Hohner due to the fact that there were only two or three people in the world who could repair one (at least that's the story I heard).The idea for the instrument came to inventor Hans Bilbus while he was recovering from back surgery.

I have found that people with a "mathematical bent" catch on to this instrument quickly. I have a friend who teaches music theory and he swears that many students finally understand the circle of fifths after viewing the layout of the Harmonetta keyboard.

The keyboard is laid out so you can play a major chord with one finger or a minor chord with one finger since it only takes one finger to press down three buttons and the instrument actually has indentations built into the keyboard to facilitate chord playing. By adding other notes ninth chords, minor sevenths and other exotic sounds can be produced. When it was first introduced it was embraced by some professional players for harmonica band work. It added another color that wasn't available on a 48 chord harmonica, and arpeggios were possible and easy to play on the Harmonetta. However, the sound is not as "full" as a standard 48 chord harmonica. It is (for lack of a better word) "reedier". The plus of the instrument is that it could play melody and chord accompaniment at the same time.

Tones do not sound unless a button is pressed down. There is no "blow and draw" like a typical harmonica (where two separate notes occupy the same hole). If a button is pressed down, that note will sound throughout the range of the instrument on blow or draw. In concertina language, it's more like an English than an Anglo. As a mathematically challenged anglo player, I have found the instrument to be a tough nut to crack.

Unlike diatonic harmonicas, you cannot "bend" notes on a harmonetta. This instrument, in the hands of a master like the late Stagg McMann, is a wonderful musical instrument. I hope this helped somebody.

[michael sam wild]

I stumbled on this interesting tidbit and thought you might be interested too. The keyboard looks a bit like the Hayden

Interesting! That's the same layout as the Axis "Natural Keyboard", which was discussed here briefly in February 2008. Here's More writing on the "Harmonic Table" by Peter Davies.

 

Here's a picture showing the size. I wonder how it looks when being played?

 

 

 

Looks like an Enigma code machine!