Re: [Harp-L] new topic ...Ask'n about different 280 hohner 64 chromonica's

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

The red box one with the narrower mouthpiece is the older one and is considered more valuable. The one with the alligator pouch is the more recent one (my first one was like this). Somewhere during the red box period (1950s) Hohner changed the design in at least two stages.

Look into the holes of the red box harp. Do the open square-ish holes inside the round mouthpiece holes zigzag up and down from hole to hole like they do on the alligator pouch harp? If so, you have a transitional model from a period when Hohner was in the middle of changing the design from straight tuning to what's called cross tuning, but hadn't yet changed the mouthpiece.

However, if all the top halves of the holes are  open with the slide out, and all the bottom ones are open when the slide button is pressed in, you have the older straight-tuned design, probably on a wooden body. Some players value this older design, which is rarer. Do not use it to repair the other one. Restore that one. You can still get parts to fix the alligator one, as it is very close to the current design.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Wed, 11/25/09, eben ross <ebenross@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

From: eben ross <ebenross@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] new topic ...Ask'n about different 280 hohner 64 chromonica's
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 4:46 PM

I forgot how to join in the conversation.....
i have been reading the posts for the last month and now would like to ask about

The older and larger Hohner button chromatic harmonica....64 Chromonica no. 280
which came in a plastic alligator case and and the newer one in a red box which seems smaller and the mouthpiece is narrower. Any noise from the neighbors about the difference. I got the red one on eBay with the idea of putting the parts on a 60's model i got as a kid...don't look like the holes will line up.......anyway for today it is just a bit of talk...until I the clear the table and get the tools and alcohol and get to work. thanks for comments    WBjr  





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