For the music band from Cologne, see Höhner.
Not to be confused with
Höfner.
Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner (1833-1902), [1] Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and melodeons. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the harmonicas used by professionals. The company also makes kazoos, recorder flutes, melodicas, guitars, bass guitars and ukuleles (under the brand name Lanikai), along with its one million harmonicas a year.
During the 1960s and 1970, the company also manufactured a range of innovative and popular electromechanical keyboard instruments; the Cembalet, Pianet, Basset, Guitaret, and Clavinet.
The roots of the Hohner firm are in Trossingen, (South Germany).
Popular Diatonic Harmonica Models
The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular model for generations. Made in Germany on a wood comb, most blues artists play a Marine Band.
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 players preferred the Old Standby. In the 1990s, Hohner began manufacturing this model in China on a plastic comb with a significant decrease in quality. Among harmonica fans the downgrade remains unpopular.
The Blues Harp has been around since the early 1970s. Made in Germany on a wood comb, this model has thinner reeds which allow easier bending of notes. The harmonica's profile was thinner as well. At one point, Johnny Cash promoted the Blues Harp.[2] In the 1990s, Hohner made the Blues Harp part of its Modular System (MS) line. This new Blues Harp lost its uniqueness and is interchangable with the other models in the MS line.
The Special 20 was introduced in the mid 1970s. It was the first harmonica to have a plastic comb, which not only made the instrument more air tight, 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.
Golden Melody, designed by Frank and Cham-Ber Huang, has a revolutionary curved shape that makes it the most comfortable harmonica to hold and play. This German made, plastic comb model has a slightly different tuning than other diatonic harmonicas, making the Golden Melody better suited for playing single note melodies and solos.
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.
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References/Notes
