[Harp-L] Hohner innovation?

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

John Potts writes:

"Innovation does not appear to be part of the Hohner business  
philosophy."


Um, what?

I've certainly been critical of some of Hohner's products and business  
decisions in the past, but saying that they are not an innovative  
company or that Hohner doesn't consider innvation in their business is  
just plain wrong.

Recent innovations include the XB-40, an entirely new type of  
harmonica with no precedent whatsoever; the CX-12, the most radical  
rethink of the chromatic harmonica since at least the CBH-2016  
(another Hohner product).  I may not care much for the actual product,  
but the MS series was certainly an innovative idea and a direct  
response to market pressures and desires.

Of these three examples, the first two really have only two  
competitors in terms of truly new ideas for the harmonica--Suzuki's  
Overdrive and SCT-128 tremolo-chromatic.  Most other recent products  
from various companies are more like the MS in terms of innovations:  
fine tunings of the basic harmonica designs either by using new  
materials or more precise manufacturing.  Little as truly radical as  
either the CX or the XB.

And this is not to diss other companies--just that saying  "Innovation  
does not appear to be part of the Hohner business philosophy." Is  
simply inaccurate and illogical.


JR Ross