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58-555: 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 synthesizers (such as the Casio HT-3000/Hohner KS61midi and the VZ-1/HS-2) were sold under

116-632: A 75% stake in Hohner. "The Marine Band" is the base model of the line. Technically named the Marine Band 1896/20 for the year it was introduced and the twenty reeds it possesses, it has been the basis of a number of Hohner's harmonicas over the years. It also has some tuning variations like the 1896N (natural minor key) and the 1896H (harmonic minor key). The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular model of harmonica for generations. Made in Germany on

174-514: A German wood products manufacturer. Kunz obtained 67 percent of the public firm, with the Hohner family retaining an 8 percent stake. In 1997, the Taiwanese company KHS Musical Instruments bought a majority holding in Hohner from Kunz via the Tortola based HS Investments Group. The company returned to profitability in 2001, after more than 20 years of losses. By 2012, HS Investments Group held

232-484: A distinctive bell-like tone, fuller than the Wurlitzer, with longer sustain and with a "growl" when played hard. The Hohner Pianet uses adhesive pads made from an undressed leather surface cushioned by a foam rubber backing. The leather is saturated with a viscous silicone oil to adhere to and pluck metal reeds. When the key is released, the pad acts as a damper. An electrostatic pickup system similar to Wurlitzer's

290-415: A group of students using headphones. The term "Electric piano" can refer to several different instruments which vary in their sound-producing mechanisms and consequent timbral characters. Yamaha , Baldwin , Helpinstill and Kawai 's electric pianos are actual grand or upright pianos with strings and hammers. The Helpinstill models have a traditional soundboard; the others have none, and are more akin to

348-546: A lump of solder at the free end of the reed. Replacement reeds are furnished with a slight excess of solder, and thus tuned "flat"; the user is required – by repeated trial and error – to gradually file off the excess solder until the correct tuning is achieved. The Columbia Elepian (also branded as Maestro), the Brazilian-made Valente, and the Hohner Electra-Piano use a reed system similar to

406-547: A more ergonomic slide button. It is available in several keys including a tenor-C. The standard model is charcoal black in color, but a gold colored one is available in the key of C only. A variant of the CX-12, the CX-12 Jazz , has slightly different outer body features for better ergonomics, a red and gold colored housing, and higher reed offsets which aid in better tone for jazz harmonica players. The Meisterklasse chromatic

464-486: A new popularity upsurge of the Hohner harmonica on both sides of the Atlantic.". Matthias Karl Hohner, son of Dipl.-Ing. Matthias Hohner  [ de ] and a direct descendant in fourth generation and name bearer of the founder Matthias Hohner  [ de ] , was one of the last members of the Hohner dynasty involved in managing the family business, he worked since 1924 at the company and in 1965 he became

522-403: A nickname) use flat steel reeds struck by felt hammers. The reeds fit within a comb-like metal plate, and the reeds and plate together form an electrostatic or capacitive pickup system. This system produces a very distinctive tone – sweet and vibraphone -like when played gently, and developing a hollow resonance as the keys are played harder. The reeds are tuned by adding or removing mass from

580-513: 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 ( equal temperament ) than other diatonic harmonicas, making the Golden Melody better suited for playing single-note melodies and solos. The XB-40 , (short for E x treme b ending- 40 reeds),

638-492: A round-edged comb for more comfortable holding. The Deluxe is also available with a gold -plated mouthpiece and coverplates, known as the Super Chromonica Gold . The Educator 10 is a 10-hole, 40-reed chromatic harmonica built on a plastic comb. It is designed without the valve or windsaver technology found in many other chromatics, and because of its ten holes, it is smaller than most chromatics. This makes it

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696-519: A simple and inexpensive chromatic, ideal both for novices and for experienced diatonic players making the transition from the smaller 10-hole harmonicas. Like the Chromonica, it plays 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 full octaves. The Koch Chromatic and Slide Harp are both designed in the same fashion as chromatic harmonicas, but possess the Richter tuning found in typical 10-hole diatonic harmonicas. Like

754-483: A solid-body electric guitar . On Yamaha's pianos, such as the CP-70 the vibration of the strings is converted to an electrical signal by piezoelectric pickups under the bridge. Helpinstill's instruments use a set of electromagnetic pickups attached to the instrument's frame. All these instruments have a tonal character similar to that of an acoustic piano. Wurlitzer electronic pianos (sometimes called "Wurli" as

812-410: 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. The Chord Harmonica consists of two harmonicas hinged together. Together, they are capable of playing 48 chords. They are 23 inches long, and each chord takes up 4 holes. The chord harmonica

870-467: A very popular model among rock and roll players. The Pro Harp was another model that was in Hohner's handmade line of harmonicas, and was later adapted to the modular system. The Cross Harp was a nearly identical model to the Pro Harp with the exception of a wood comb and slightly thicker original reed plates. The black coverplate coating was greblon. It was discontinued in 2011. The Big River Harp

928-403: A wider back gap for enhanced volume while playing. The unique feature of this harp is the comb, which is made out of translucent 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 225 - Deuce and a Quarter was a limited edition harmonica on the modular system that

986-406: A wood comb, most blues and rock artists play a Marine Band. Several noted users are Bob Dylan , Brian Jones , John Lennon , Bruce Springsteen , Little Walter and Neil Young . There are various subdivisions of the Marine Band. The Special 20 (#560) 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

1044-656: Is a very high-end model (7565). It is Hohner's premium 14-hole chromatic (56 notes). Like its diatonic sibling, it features an anodized aluminum comb, and chrome-plated brass cover plates and mouthpiece. The cover plates extend the length of the comb. Essentially, it looks like a bigger version of the original diatonic Meisterklasse introduced in the 1980s (but which was later revised for the MS series reed plates). 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

1102-429: Is amplified through electromagnetic pickups, circuitry and a speaker system, making it the world's first commercially available electric piano. Many types were initially designed as a less-expensive alternative to an acoustic piano for home or school use. Some electric pianos were designed with multiple keyboards that could be connected for use in school or college piano labs, so that teachers could simultaneously instruct

1160-462: Is available is the natural keys of C, G, and D only. The Marine Band 365 has fourteen holes and is available in keys C and G only. The Marine Band Soloist (364s) is the same as a twelve-hole chromatic harmonica without a button. Available in key of C. The Marine Band 365 Steve Baker Special (365/28 SBS) possesses the same construction as the original 365, but with low pitched tuning to their natural major keys, available in C, D, G, A, and F. It

1218-462: Is essentially an electric clavichord . A rubber pad under each key presses the string onto a metal anvil, causing the "fretted" portion of the string to vibrate. This is detected by a series of pickups, which convert them into an electrical signal. Joe Filisko Joe Filisko is an American blues harmonica player and maker of customized harmonicas based in Chicago , Illinois . In 2001 he

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1276-549: Is named for, and was developed in part by noted harmonicist Steve Baker, who resides in Germany and has contributed to the design of several other Hohner harmonica models, including the Marine Bands Deluxe and Crossover. The Marine Band Octave has two rows of reeds tuned an octave apart. Available in the keys of C and G. In the mid-1990s, responding to the competing new Lee Oskar Harmonica System by Tombo, Hohner introduced an interchangeably parted series known as

1334-406: Is often frowned upon by professional 48 chord players. For Hohner's 150th anniversary in 2007, the company began manufacturing Limited Edition Diatonic harmonicas all tuned to the key of C major only. The "Gold Edition" harmonica is based upon the MS reed plates. It features a crystal glass comb and engraved gold-plated cover plates. The bottom cover plate has the serial numbers from 1 to 150. It

1392-504: Is packaged in a leather case with an anniversary booklet. Electric piano An electric piano is a musical instrument that has a piano -style musical keyboard , where sound is produced by means of mechanical hammers striking metal strings or reeds or wire tines, which leads to vibrations which are then converted into electrical signals by pickups (either magnetic, electrostatic, or piezoelectric). The pickups are connected to an instrument amplifier and loudspeaker to reinforce

1450-578: 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. Like the Old Standby, the Pocket Pal is designed for use in country music. 38C , also known as the Mini Harp , is Hohner's least expensive model. With four holes,

1508-455: Is the curve-framed Golden Melody. 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 music players such as Charlie McCoy preferred the Old Standby. In the 1990s, Hohner began manufacturing this model in China on

1566-484: Is unlike any other diatonic made. Released in 2003, it was specifically designed by harmonica specialist Rick Epping to simplify proficient bending of the notes. To make this possible, the XB-40 uses forty reeds as opposed to the usual twenty found in most ten-hole diatonics. With these bending capabilities, the XB-40 gives access to all the notes on the chromatic scale through bending the natural tones of each hole. This model

1624-592: Is used to provide chordal and rhythmic backing in an ensemble, much as rhythm guitar might do. Jerry Murad's Harmonicat's 1947 "Peg O' My Heart" was played on a Chord, with a cleverly arranged sequence of chords that produced the impression of a melody. Hohner's main Chord is known as the Hohner 48, because it plays 48 chords. Hohner from the 1930s to the late 1960s also produced the Polyphonia No. 8, which played 36 blow-only chords, in three rows. The concept failed and

1682-461: Is used. The tone produced resembles that of the Wurlitzer but brighter and with less sustain, largely owing to the design having no sustain pedal mechanism. The same firm's " Cembalet " uses rubber plectra and separate urethane foam dampers but is otherwise almost identical. Hohner's later "Pianet T" uses silicone rubber suction pads rather than adhesive pads and replaces the electrostatic system with passive electromagnetic pickups similar to those of

1740-591: Is water repellent. The Marine Band Thunderbird is a model of low and super-low pitched 10-hole diatonic harmonica that was introduced in 2011. It possesses a bamboo comb like the Crossover, and a conical shaped lower cover plate. Designed by noted harmonica player and customizer Joe Filisko , this plate helps reduce any rattle caused by the low frequency tone produced by the reeds. It is available in low major keys A through F, as well as low B-flat and E-flat, and double-low F. The Marine Band 364 has twelve holes and

1798-520: The 1956 sessions included on his second album Super Sonic Jazz (a.k.a. Super Sonic Sounds ). The popularity of the electric piano began to grow in the late 1950s after Ray Charles 's 1959 hit record " What'd I Say ", reaching its height during the 1970s, after which they were progressively displaced by more lightweight electronic pianos capable of piano-like sounds without the disadvantages of electric pianos' heavy weight and moving mechanical parts . Another factor driving their development and acceptance

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1856-425: 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. The Little Lady is very similar to the 38C, but on a pearwood comb and with different cover plate art. It is technically a playable harmonica, but it is generally regarded as a knick-knack piece that can be used as personal jewelry. It is also available as a keychain. The Little Lady holds

1914-462: 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, but it currently remains the standby of many players who use MS harps. The Pro Harp features lacquer-coated cover plates with a glossy black finish and a plastic comb. Since its inception, it has become

1972-457: The Educator 10, both are also 10-hole and built on a pearwood comb. The Slide Harp has been discontinued. The 64 Chromonica is a four-full-octave harmonica in the key of C. With 64 reeds on a plastic comb, it boasts an extra octave below the middle-C note, giving it an accentuated versatility. The CX-12 is a 12-hole, 48-reed chromatic, uniquely designed with a one-piece plastic housing and

2030-534: The Hohner brand. Nowadays, Hohner produces harmonicas, melodicas, accordions and recorder flutes. Clock maker Matthias Hohner began crafting diatonic harmonicas in 1857, assisted by his wife and a single employee. 650 were made in the first year. Hohner harmonicas quickly became popular, and in his lifetime Matthias built the largest harmonica factory in the world. During the American Civil War, Matthias Hohner distributed harmonicas to family members in

2088-472: 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, and the Blues Harp's profile was thinner as well. At one point, Johnny Cash promoted

2146-590: The Rhodes Mark 7, followed by an offering from Vintage Vibe . The Neo-Bechstein electric piano was built in 1931. The Vierlang-Forster electric piano was introduced in 1937. The RCA Storytone electric piano was built in 1939 in a joint venture between Story & Clark and RCA. The case was designed by John Vassos , the American industrial designer. It debuted at the 1939 World's Fair. The piano has normal strings and hammer action but no soundboard. The sound

2204-548: The Rhodes. The Pianet T has a far mellower sound not unlike that of the Rhodes instruments. None of the above instruments have the facility for a sustain pedal . A close copy of the Cembalet is the "Weltmeister Claviset", also marketed as the " Selmer Pianotron". This has electromagnetic pickups with a battery-powered preamplifier, and later models have multiple tone filters and a sustain pedal. Although not technically pianos,

2262-522: The Suette Piano, another reed electric piano that was made in Brazil in the 1980s. The tuning fork here refers to the struck element having two vibrating parts. In Fender Rhodes instruments, the struck portion of the "fork" is a tine of stiff steel wire. The other part of the fork, parallel and adjacent to the tine, is the tonebar, a sturdy steel bar which acts as a resonator and adds sustain to

2320-552: The United States who in turn gave them to the soldiers. In the 1920s, Hohner began manufacturing chromatic harmonicas , which unlike the "standard" diatonic form can be played in any key. Famous harmonicist Borrah Minevitch claimed he sold his design for the chromatic harmonica to Hohner. 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

2378-542: The Wurlitzer but with electromagnetic pickups similar to the Rhodes piano . In 2015, Brazilian inventor Tiago Valente created the first prototype of the Valente Electric Piano, an electromechanical instrument where the hammers strike reeds, similar to the ones used in a Wurlitzer. In 2020, the Valente Electric Piano was launched commercially; at the time of launch, Valente said that he took inspiration from

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2436-423: The actual electro-mechanical instruments in the 2010s, due to the small size, light weight, and versatility of digital instruments, which can produce a huge range of tones besides piano tones (e.g., emulations of Hammond organ sounds, synthesizer sounds, etc.). However, some performers still perform and record with vintage electric pianos. In 2009, Rhodes produced a new line of electro-mechanical pianos, known as

2494-459: The blister. Like the 1896, the Special 20 also has tuning variations available, like the #560C in country styled tuning, and the #560N in natural minor. 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. The Marine Band Crossover also features the same reeds, but is made on a bamboo comb that

2552-578: The design and development of the original instrument for the Cannon Guild Company, a premier harpsichord maker located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This instrument had an aluminium bar frame, a spruce wood soundboard, bar magnetic pickups, and a Plexiglas (clear plastic) openable lid. The prototypes and design were sold to Baldwin who made some modifications, and then manufactured the instrument under their own name. Hohner's " Clavinet "

2610-527: The distinction of being the first musical instrument to be played in outer space . In addition to diatonic harmonicas Hohner also produces other types such as chromatic and tremolo harmonicas . The Chromonica , no longer in production, contained forty reeds and played 2½ full chromatic octaves. This was the original Hohner chromatic model, available until recently in C or G. The Discovery 48 an entry level chromatic harmonica, aimed at beginners. Contains forty-eight reeds featuring full length cover plates,

2668-519: The following are electric harpsichords and clavichords. Baldwin's "Solid-Body Electric Harpsichord" or "Combo Harpsichord" is an aluminum-framed instrument of fairly traditional form, with no soundboard and with two sets of electromagnetic pickups, one near the plectra and the other at the strings' midpoint. The instrument's sound has something of the character of an electric guitar, and has occasionally been used to stand in for one in modern chamber music . Roger Penney of Bermuda Triangle Band worked on

2726-526: The late 1920s; the 1929 Neo- Bechstein electric grand piano was among the first. Probably the earliest stringless model was Lloyd Loar 's Vivi-Tone Clavier. A few other noteworthy producers of electric pianos include Baldwin Piano and Organ Company, and the Wurlitzer Company. Early electric piano recordings include Duke Ellington 's in 1955 and Sun Ra 's India as well as other tracks from

2784-400: The president till 1971 when he died. His son Matthias Francisco Hohner belonged to the first generation of direct descendants who did not enter into the family business. Many direct descendants of the founder are still active as members of the "Deutsches Harmonika Museum" and the "Hohner'sche Familienverein". In 1989, a controlling interest in Hohner was acquired by Kunz-Holding GmbH & Co.,

2842-524: The revised version (still carrying the same 580 model number) is now on the modular system, made in Germany. One other feature that sets the Meisterklasse apart from most other Hohner harmonicas are its full-length cover plates, which extend all the way to the ends of the harmonica's comb rather than sharply angling down before the ends to form an adjoining surface parallel to the reedplates and comb. The only other Hohner harmonica possessing this quality

2900-501: The same 1.2mm reeds found in the deluxe and a reversible mouth piece. There is also a Super Chromonica 270 which contains forty-eight reeds and spans three octaves. The Super Chromonica 270 Deluxe is an updated improvement on the Super Chromonica, featuring tighter reedplate fixtures, thicker reedplates, round holes in its chrome-plated mouthpiece, a smoother slide mechanism which can be remounted for left-handed use, and

2958-452: The sound sufficiently for the performer and audience to hear. Unlike a synthesizer , the electric piano is not an electronic instrument . Instead, it is an electro-mechanical instrument. Some early electric pianos used lengths of wire to produce the tone, like a traditional piano. Smaller electric pianos used short slivers of steel to produce the tone (a lamellophone with a keyboard & pickups). The earliest electric pianos were invented in

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3016-430: The sound. The tine is fitted with a spring which can be moved along its length to allow the pitch to be varied for fine-tuning . The tine is struck by the small neoprene (originally felt) tip of a hammer activated by a greatly simplified piano action (each key has only three moving parts including the damper). Each tine has an electromagnetic pickup placed just beyond its tip (see also tonewheel ). The Rhodes piano has

3074-537: Was discontinued in 2013. Shortly before production officially ceased, Suzuki Music released a similar model the SUB-30. 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 unusual because it

3132-478: 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 for its higher natural volume. 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

3190-686: Was named "Harmonica Player of the Year" by the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica . In addition to performing, and building customized harmonicas, he also teaches at the Old Town School of Folk Music . The Hohner harmonica company describes him as the world's foremost authority on the diatonic harmonica . He designed the distinctive conical cover plates of

3248-428: Was put out in 2007 and 2008. It was made on a black plastic comb, with chrome-plated reedplates, and black powder-coated coverplates with art resembling a vintage car's hood-emblem. It was available only in the key of A. The Meisterklasse is a high-end harmonica featuring chrome-plated cover plates, an anodized aluminium comb, and extra thick 1.05mm nickel-plated reeds. Originally issued as a more compact, unique model,

3306-424: Was the first Hohner 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

3364-436: Was the progressive electrification of popular music and the need for a portable keyboard instrument capable of high-volume amplification. Musicians adopted a number of types of domestic electric pianos for rock and pop use. This encouraged their manufacturers to modify them for stage use and then develop models primarily intended for stage use. Digital pianos that provide an emulated electric piano sound have largely supplanted

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