BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian

Subject: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Luke
Date: 29 Dec 00 - 09:19 AM

I found a very nice old Hohner Mark IV melodian at an auction here in Ohio. It has a little wear but seems very much in ship shape. It's kinda grey mother of toilet seat. Can someone tell me of it's value. I am interested in selling it only cuz I'm sure some Irish player in the world would really like to make great music on it. I can only marvel at it's wonder and wish I had time to learn a new instrument.

Luke

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Luke
Date: 29 Dec 00 - 09:21 AM

I'm sorry, It is a Club IV forgive me.

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Luke
Date: 29 Dec 00 - 09:36 AM

I'm sorry, It is a Club IV forgive me.

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 29 Dec 00 - 10:37 PM

Luke, how's it tuned?

R

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Frank Maher
Date: 29 Dec 00 - 10:42 PM

What Key is It in????

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: roopoo
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 01:33 AM

I'm certain Bill Sables has a grey one. I think his is C/F, but that doesn't mean yours is. Sometimes the original tuning is stamped in the leather of the bass strap, just at the bottom end.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 05:32 AM

G'day Luke,

Club models can be a trap, as regards keys. C/F is common and not too popular in Irish music ... but ones that slipped in from northern European usage can be in Bb/Eb!

No matter what keys they are in, they will be in two rows pitched a fourth apart, with some extra semitones in the short third row ... not the two rows pitched a semitone apart (B/C; C/C# or, sometimes nowadays, C#/D or D/D#) that are favoured for Irish style playing.

Here in Australia, I know people who would, if necessary, retune to suit different style players, but it's not cheap or practical unless the instrument was a real bargain.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 06:15 AM

Just to add to the confusion, Hohner used to make an 'Erika Club-Modell', which was in the same body as the G/D pokerwork, but it was finished in plain polished wood.

It had two and a half rows, with a key in the middle of the Eb row that played Bb note in either direction. This key was marked with cross-hatching...

The 'half' row was accidentals, and on the bass end the layout was similar to the G/D pokerwork, except that the basses which would play F in both directions on the G/D played Ab on the 'pull' and Db on the 'push' (if you catch my drift?!).

If anyone needs more detail (can't think why!), PM me and I'll email you a key 'map'; if anyone has any other information about unusual production models, I'd be interested (not one-offs! There are too many!).

BTW does anyone know if Willi Daneker is still around? He was Hohner UK's repair/tuning technician, from whom I used to get all my spares, and lots of interesting information, key maps, etc...

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 06:43 AM

On the subject of re-tuning, major changes (Eb/Bb to G/D for example) are not usually economic, as too many new reedplates would be needed.

The risk of reeds becoming unreliable with a pitch change of more than a semitone, particularly down, is not worthwhile - changing the reedplate for the correct one is wiser.

However, the reed block itself may not accept a lower-pitched reedplate, as it may be significantly longer than the original. Whilst it is possible to modify the woodwork, it isn't really worth the effort (and expense if you aren't able to do it yourself).

Shorter (higher pitched) reedplates aren't a problem, as they can be 'extended' by a piece of stiff card, or a small wooden block could be inserted. That would depend on how good a job you were capable of - the wooden block improves the 'attack', as the cavity is smaller.

Tuning reeds is fairly easy.

To take the pitch up, insert a piece of stiff card under the free end of the reed to hold it away from the reedplate, and gently file away some of the tip with a fine Swiss file. Do not make the reed shorter, or alter its profile, just make it thinner.

If a reed has suddenly dropped in pitch, tuning is a waste of time - it will break, as metal fatigue has occured. Gently pulling a reed out to about 30 degrees should not harm it. If it breaks, it was already fatigued!

To take the pitch down, support the reed with card as before, and use the broken end of a Swiss file to make scratches along the reed near to the rivetted end. Do not file across, as this will weaken the reed.

Tuning reeds needs experience - practice on old ones first, if you can.

If you have an older melodeon or accordion with leather valves, it is well worth changing them for the newer plastic ones. All the farting noises will disappear (particularly in the bass end), and the instrument will be much more responsive.

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Luke
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 11:32 AM

OK<

There is a stamp on the bass strap that says BEs/F. I hope that means bflat eflat f, cuz those are the chords it seems to want to play. The thing seems to play mostly in bflat cuz the relitive minor available appears to be gminor. I do not even really no enough to hold this thing right while checking it out. I've seen them played and played with the players of them but it feels really foriegn to me in my hands.

It is grey and has 2 and a half rows of melody buttons.

How am I doin??

Luke

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 12:05 PM

Have a ball with it. I'm pumping away on one I picked up a couple of months ago.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: BS: Hohner Mark IV Melodian
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 12:28 PM

Sadly, you've got an instrument nobody really wants...

Putting a price on it is entirely down to what someone is prepared to pay. Maybe it would be okay for a beginner to practice on, but only if they were planning to move on to a G/D later.

It would not be practical to 're-tune' it to G/D, as the two tunings have no reedplates in common; the woodwork would be okay, though, as the reedplates are all longer in the Eb/Bb. Best leave well alone...

Out of interest, is there a button in the middle of the 'middle' row which plays the same in both directions (probably marked)? If so, I can email you the key 'map' if you like (PM me with your email address). If not, I can send you a key map anyway, and you could tell me what's different! Never know - might come in handy!

As regards playing it - you will need at least one body strap, with your right arm through it, steadying the instrument against that strap with the palm of your right hand, or your right thumb (as you improve). If there is a thumb loop on the right hand (melody) side, ignore it - most people remove them completely.