Help: Hohner banjo

Subject: Hohner banjo
From: Lee Shore
Date: 17 Aug 01 - 08:16 PM

Can anyone out there tell me anything about the 5 string banjo made by Hohner...when it was made and how it's regarded? There's no mention of it on the Hohner website, and I'm stuck out here in Ukuleleland where nobody's ever SEEN a banjo. I'm guessing it's probably closer to the cheapo end of the scale, but it's about as good a banjer as I am a picker. I'd just like to know a bit more about it.

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Aug 01 - 08:42 PM

Got any more details? I've just tried a search on Hohner banjo on google and come up with one place where mention of an instrument made in Japan which was fitted with a flat head tone ring which apparrently played well and another site (OK the model was a tenor) was a Korean 1990's made thing with an alloy construction - looked a cheapy. I would guess Honer have had these things made or badged in the East for some time and quality could be variable.

The only Hohner stringed instruments I have come accross have been guitars and all bar one has really (at least IMO and I'm expecting to get flamed) have been in the "boxwood" category. The exception which someone I knew found was a real gem, very well made and with a good tone.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 17 Aug 01 - 08:46 PM

Oh, should add, in spite of my saying "cheapy", some of the alloy construction tenors I have come across do play rather well. I've yet to find one that I would go out and choose for tone but I can't knock these onese as playable instruments.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: Lee Shore
Date: 17 Aug 01 - 09:32 PM

Thanks Jon, Sounds like mine is probably the Japanese Hohner. Flat head tone ring, yes. Tenor no. The tone, while not a Stelling by any means, aint half bad. And as I said, it's about as good a banjer as I am a picker. I'm looking forward to moving to the Mainland in a few months, where I can walk into numerous shops and actually handle banjos and learn some stuff. Meanwhile, all you Mudcatters are a very knowledgable and helpful bunch of folks, and I do appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: GUEST,Rex at work
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 10:23 AM

I had a Hohner banjo back in the seventies. Hmm, that's over 20 years ago. Anyway it was made in Germany and built like a tank. Good tone and it played well but it had a peculiar appearance to the tone ring and flange. Then there was the neck, it was thin (1/6 inch or so) layers of maple laminated together. You could have put cables on for strings and not warped it.

Rex

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 10:33 AM

Rex, ever come across a Framus?

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: GUEST,Rex at work
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 10:39 AM

A Framus? Nope, not a banjer. I have seen the guitars. I mentioned above that Hohner banjos were built like a tank. Well so were Framus guitars. I have to get back to work now.

Rex

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 11:14 AM

And so were Framus banjo's... Wonder if they made some for Hohner?

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: bill\sables
Date: 20 Aug 01 - 08:28 PM

I once had a German Framus long neck. It was built like a tank and the skin tensioners were on the front of the pot, they were tightened by means of an allen key

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: Lee Shore
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 04:09 AM

Rex, I think you hit it for me. Does the peculiar looking tone ring and flange you refer to look like gear teeth? My Hohner does have the laminated neck, and it is solidly built.

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: Rex
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 12:19 PM

Yes it did look sort of like gear teeth. And as Bill Sables said of his Framus, the tension ring was adjustable from the top by allen screws. So it seems Hohner banjos and Framus banjos were kin. I wonders, who begat who?

Rex

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: GUEST,Donovan
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 02:39 AM

I've recently been given a Hohner banjo which was my fathers. It is from the late seventies and has a beautiful appearance. Unfortunately I dont know how to play yet, so I am not sure how good it will sound.

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: Glen Reid
Date: 03 Sep 02 - 10:34 PM

I once built a mandolin neck and mounted it on a Framus banjo body for an elderly gentleman up this way.The origional Framus banjo neck was made of the variety mentioned earlier(laminated layers of 1/16 thick maple or birch veneers, which was virtually warp proof) The one most astounding feature of this instrument when completed and strung up with the Mando neck, was the ear piercing volume of the little bugger. Havent heard anything to match it since.This thing would have been a natural in a Celtic bar band, on a rowdy night. Glen

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: GUEST,Longarm
Date: 04 Sep 02 - 03:32 AM

I bought a Framus long neck banjo in 1967 and am still playing it(at the moment in a Cajun band called 'cahoots' which works out of Perth western australia. If you go to our website www.thecahoots.com there is a picture of the band with me holding said instrument. As everone said the thing is built like a tank and still going strong with the original plastic skin,much better than velum('Oh' I hear the purists say but it's a brighter sound and it NEVER moves! Played it in all sorts of tunings the lowest being open D. Hope this has been of interest to someone!

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 12 - 07:45 PM

my husband has purchased a Hohner banjo it said made in japan. it has a maple leaf on the neck it is five string. can anyone give us any info on this

Subject: RE: Help: Hohner banjo
From: GUEST
Date: 10 May 12 - 03:23 PM

Im pretty certain I have the banjo you are talking about. Its a blonde tiger maple hohner, with a bowtie inlay and a maple leaf on the headstock. This was my first banjo, and actually think so highly of it, it will probably be my last. I have no idea when or where it was made, as the only word on or inside the banjo is the word hohner on the headstock. I bought it about 10 yrs ago used, and by its appearance I estimate it was made in the 70s, maybe early 80s? Although well built, its fairly light compared to the other banjos I have played. In fact, I have bought/ sold a deering seirra and a rb250 because I liked the sound of the hohner better. Sounds crazy, I know, but its true. Its a very bright sounding banjo, and really is one of my favorite possessions that I have. If u wanna know anythg else about this banjo, feel free to email me at [e-mail] hope I could help