Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a German company that makes musical instruments. It was started in 1857 by Matthias Hohner, who lived from 1833 to 1902. The company is owned by Matth. Hohner AG. Hohner began in Trossingen, a town in Baden-Württemberg. The company has made many types of instruments, including harmonicas, kazoos, accordions, recorder flutes, melodicas, banjos, electric and acoustic guitars, basses, mandolins, and ukuleles (under the brand name Lanikai). Hohner is best known for its harmonicas.

From the 1940s to the 1990s, the company also made electric and electronic keyboards. In the 1960s and 1990s, it created several popular keyboard instruments, such as the cembalet, pianet, basset, guitaret, and clavinet. In the 1980s, some Casio synthesizers, like the Casio HT-3000/Hohner KS61midi and the VZ-1/HS-2, were sold as Hohner products.

Today, Hohner makes harmonicas, melodicas, accordions, and recorder flutes.

History

Clock maker Matthias Hohner started making diatonic harmonicas in 1857 with help from his wife and one employee. Six hundred fifty harmonicas were made in the first year. Hohner harmonicas became very popular, and during his lifetime, Matthias built the largest harmonica factory in the world. During the American Civil War, Matthias Hohner sent harmonicas to family members in the United States, who gave them to soldiers.

In the 1920s, Hohner began making chromatic harmonicas, which differ from the usual diatonic type because they can be played in any key. A famous musician named Borrah Minevitch said he sold his design for the chromatic harmonica to Hohner.

In 1964, Hohner released "The Beatles Harmonica Kit," which was sold in a blister package, similar to most Hohner harmonicas today. The kit cost $2.95 and helped Hohner achieve a new wave of popularity for the harmonica in both the United States and Europe.

Matthias Karl Eduard Hohner, born on December 21, 1898, and died on December 27, 1977, was a descendant of the original founder, Matthias Hohner. He was one of the last members of the Hohner family to manage the business. He worked for the company starting in 1968 and became president in the 1980s until 1986, when he left. His son, Matthias Francisco Hohner, was the first direct descendant not to join the family business. Many other descendants of the founder still work as members of the "Deutsches Harmonika Museum" and the "Hohner'sche Familienverein."

In 1989, a German company named Kunz-Holding GmbH & Co., which makes wood products, gained majority ownership of Hohner by buying 67 percent of the company. The Hohner family kept an 8 percent share.

In 1997, a Taiwanese company called KHS Musical Instruments bought majority ownership of Hohner from Kunz through a company named HS Investments Group, based in Tortola. The company became profitable again in 2001 after more than 20 years of losses. By 2012, HS Investments Group owned 75 percent of Hohner.

Diatonic harmonicas

"The Marine Band" is the basic model in Hohner's line of harmonicas. Officially called the Marine Band 1896/20, it was introduced in 1896 and has 20 reeds. This model has been used as a base for many other Hohner harmonicas over time. It also has tuning variations, such as the 1896N for the natural minor key and the 1896H for the harmonic minor key.

The Marine Band has been Hohner's most popular harmonica for many years. It is made in Germany with a wooden comb. Many blues and rock musicians use this model. Notable users include Bob Dylan, Brian Jones, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Little Walter, and Neil Young. There are several versions of the Marine Band.

The Special 20 (model #560) was introduced in the mid-1970s. It uses the same reeds as the Marine Band but has a plastic comb instead of a wooden one, and its edges are rounded. This was the first Hohner harmonica with a plastic comb, which made the instrument more airtight and prevented the wood from swelling when it absorbed moisture. Made in Germany, this model became a favorite among rock and blues players. Most harmonicas produced today are based on the Special 20. A well-known user is John Popper. Like the Marine Band, the Special 20 has tuning variations, such as the #560C for country-style tuning and the #560N for natural minor tuning.

The Marine Band Deluxe includes all the features of the original Marine Band but has tighter construction and a new cover design that increases volume.

The Marine Band Crossover uses the same reeds as the Marine Band but is made with a water-repellent bamboo comb.

The Marine Band Thunderbird is a low-pitched 10-hole diatonic harmonica introduced in 2011. It has a bamboo comb like the Crossover and a conical-shaped lower cover plate. Designed by harmonica player Joe Filisko, this plate helps reduce rattling caused by low-frequency notes. It is available in low major keys A through F, as well as low B-flat and E-flat, and double-low F.

The Marine Band 364 has 12 holes and is available in natural keys C, G, and D.

The Marine Band 365 has 14 holes and is available in keys C and G.

The Marine Band Soloist (364s) is a 12-hole chromatic harmonica without a button. It is available in key C.

The Marine Band 365 Steve Baker Special (365/28 SBS) has the same construction as the Marine Band 365 but is tuned to lower pitches in natural major keys. It is available in keys C, D, G, A, and F. This model was developed with help from Steve Baker, a harmonica player and designer who also worked on the Marine Band Deluxe and Crossover models.

The Marine Band Octave has two rows of reeds tuned an octave apart. It is available in keys C and G.

In the mid-1990s, Hohner created a series called the Modular System (MS) to compete with the Lee Oskar Harmonica System by Tombo. This system allows parts to be swapped between models.

The Blues Harp has been around since the 1970s. It was similar to the Marine Band until the 1990s, with differences in cover plates, varnish, and shape. Johnny Cash promoted the Blues Harp at one time. In the 1990s, it became part of the Modular System. It is now interchangeable with other MS models but remains popular among players.

The Pro Harp has glossy black cover plates and a plastic comb. It is popular with rock and roll players. It was originally handmade and later adapted to the Modular System.

The Cross Harp was nearly identical to the Pro Harp but used a wood comb and thicker reed plates. It had a greblon-coated cover plate and was discontinued in 2011.

The Big River Harp is a less expensive alternative to the Blues Harp. It is popular with beginners and some experienced players because of its louder sound. It has a plastic comb and metal cover plates.

The Blue Midnight was released in 2011 and is available in key C. It has stainless steel cover plates and a translucent blue plastic comb for a brighter tone. It also uses "Chicago tuning" and is now available in other keys.

The 225 – Deuce and a Quarter was a limited edition model on the Modular System. It had a black plastic comb, chrome-plated reed plates, and cover plates with art resembling a vintage car emblem. It was only available in key A.

The Meisterklasse is a high-end model with chrome-plated cover plates, an anodized aluminum comb, and thick nickel-plated reeds. It has full-length cover plates and is now part of the Modular System.

The Old Standby is a model loved by many players. It was made in Germany with a wooden comb until the 1990s. Country musicians like Charlie McCoy preferred it over the Marine Band. In the 1990s, it was made in China with a plastic comb, which reduced its quality.

The Golden Melody, designed by Frank and Cham-Ber Huang, has a curved shape. It uses equal temperament tuning, making it better for playing melodies and solos.

The XB-40, short for "Extreme Bending-40 Reeds," has 40 reeds instead of the usual 20. It was designed by Rick Epping to make note bending easier. It can produce all notes of the chromatic scale through bending. It was discontinued in 2013.

The American Ace has been a popular beginner model for decades. It was originally made in Ireland with a wooden comb but is now made in China with a plastic comb.

The Pocket Pal is a shorter harmonica, making it easier to carry. It is made in China, which some players dislike, but it is affordable and has good quality. Like the Old Standby, it is made in China.

Other harmonica types

Hohner makes several types of harmonicas, including diatonic, chromatic, and tremolo models.

The Chromonica, now discontinued, had 40 reeds and could play two and a half full chromatic octaves. It was the original Hohner chromatic model, available in the keys of C or G until recently.

The Discovery 48 is a beginner-friendly chromatic harmonica with 48 reeds. It includes full-length cover plates, 1.2mm reeds found in higher-end models, and a mouthpiece that can be flipped for use on either side.

The Super Chromonica 270 has 48 reeds and spans three octaves. The Super Chromonica 270 Deluxe is an improved version with stronger reedplate attachments, thicker reedplates, round holes in its chrome-plated mouthpiece, a smoother slide mechanism that can be adjusted for left-handed players, and a rounded comb for easier handling. The Deluxe model is also available with gold-plated mouthpieces and cover plates, called the Super Chromonica Gold.

The Educator 10 is a 10-hole, 40-reed chromatic harmonica made with a plastic comb. It lacks valves or windsaver technology found in other chromatic models. Its 10 holes make it smaller than most chromatic harmonicas, making it simple and affordable for beginners and diatonic players transitioning from smaller 10-hole instruments. Like the Chromonica, it can play two and a half full octaves.

The Koch Chromatic and Slide Harp are designed like chromatic harmonicas but use Richter tuning, common in 10-hole diatonic models. Both are 10-hole models with pearwood combs. The Slide Harp is no longer produced.

The 64 Chromonica is a four-octave chromatic harmonica in the key of C. It has 64 reeds on a plastic comb and includes an extra octave below middle C, increasing its versatility.

The CX-12 is a 12-hole, 48-reed chromatic harmonica with a one-piece plastic housing and an ergonomic slide button. It is available in multiple keys, including tenor-C. The standard model is charcoal black, while a gold version is only available in the key of C. A version called the CX-12 Jazz has a red and gold housing, improved ergonomics, and reed offsets that help produce a better tone for jazz players.

The Meisterklasse chromatic is a high-end model with 14 holes and 56 notes. It uses an anodized aluminum comb and chrome-plated brass cover plates and mouthpiece. The cover plates extend the length of the comb, making it larger than the original diatonic Meisterklasse from the 1980s.

Tremolo harmonicas have two reeds for each note in each channel. One pair of reeds is used for blowing notes, and another pair is used for drawn notes. These pairs are slightly tuned apart to create a tremolo sound.

Popular tremolo models include single-sided or double-sided Echo harps. Single-sided Echo harps can be combined into quadruple or sextuple "corncob" setups, with each row in a different key.

The Chord Harmonica consists of two harmonicas connected by a hinge. Together, they can play 48 chords. Each chord uses 4 holes, and the instrument is 23 inches long. It is used to provide background music in ensembles, similar to how a rhythm guitar might. Jerry Murad's Harmonicat's 1947 song "Peg O' My Heart" was played on a Chord Harmonica. Hohner's main Chord model is called the Hohner 48 because it plays 48 chords. From the 1930s to the late 1960s, Hohner also made the Polyphonia No. 8, which played 36 blow-only chords in three rows. This model was not successful and is often disliked by professional 48-chord players.

For Hohner's 150th anniversary in 2007, the company produced limited-edition diatonic harmonicas, all tuned to the key of C major.

• The Gold Edition was limited to 150 pieces.
• The Chrome Edition was limited to 1,857 pieces.
• The Standard Edition was also produced.

The Gold Edition harmonica uses MS reed plates and has a crystal glass comb with engraved gold-plated cover plates. The bottom cover plate includes serial numbers from 1 to 150. It comes in a leather case with an anniversary booklet.

The Chrome Edition also uses MS reed plates and has a crystal glass comb with specially engraved chrome-plated cover plates. The bottom cover plate includes serial numbers from 1 to 1,857. It also comes with an anniversary booklet.

The Standard Edition model has a clear acrylic comb and a specially engraved top cover plate. It is sold in 12-piece wooden anniversary boxes.

Artist series harmonicas

Hohner makes many harmonicas designed by well-known musicians.

Larry Adler, a classical harmonica player, created his own series of harmonicas, which are still made by the company. These harmonicas can play all notes and have either 12 or 16 holes.

Toots Thielemans, a jazz musician, also has a line of chromatic harmonicas. His models include Mellow Tone, which is used for classical music, and Hard Bopper, which is used for modern music.

Stevie Wonder uses two Hohner harmonicas, the 64 Chromonica and the Super 64, on all his recordings since the 1960s. These instruments can play a wide range of notes.

Steven Tyler, the lead singer of Aerosmith, owns two types of diatonic harmonicas. These are the Artist Series and the more expensive Signature Series.

Bob Dylan, a folk musician, also has a Signature Series diatonic harmonica. He also owns a Collection that includes seven different harmonicas.

Guitars

Hohner produced guitars from the late 1950s until about 2015. The company stopped making guitars in 2015. During this time, several Hohner companies, including those in Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, commissioned or designed guitars.

The earliest known Hohner guitars were made for Hohner London, a branch of the UK company M. Hohner Ltd., around 1960. These early guitars were named after London areas, such as Kingsway and Farringdon. A later group of guitars had more unusual names, like Amazon and Zambezi. By 1962, Hohner London focused on selling Kay guitars, and production of its own guitars decreased.

The US company M. Hohner Inc. had a partnership with Sano Corporation in New Jersey to make accordion amplifiers under the Contessa brand. In the 1960s, Sano also imported Zerosette guitars from Italy, which were sold as Contessa guitars by Hohner. By the late 1960s, Contessa guitars, including solid body, semi-acoustic, and acoustic models, were sold in the US and Europe. These guitars were made or ordered by companies like Eko and Framus. Steve Vai’s first guitar was a Contessa HG-200.

In the early 1970s, Hohner continued making classical and folk guitars under the Contessa, Contessa By Hohner, and Hohner Contessa names. By 1974, some guitars were made in Japan. That year, M. Hohner Inc. registered Hohner International as a trademark for musical instruments. The Contessa name was no longer used, except for a few classical guitars. From 1975 onward, most guitars had the Hohner name on the headstock and Hohner International branding on the soundhole label. Guitars were made under the Hohner brand until 2015, when Hohner left the guitar market entirely.

By 1975, all Hohner guitars were made in Japan. In 1976, new models like the 300 Limited Edition and 700 series acoustic guitars were added to the product line. In 1977, Hohner introduced electric guitars that copied popular Fender and Gibson models. Some electric guitars were made at the Moridaira factory in Matsumoto, while others were made at the Terada factory or by unknown factories.

Acoustic guitar production began moving to South Korea as early as 1978, though electric guitars remained in Japan until at least 1983. By 1985, Hohner introduced Korean-made electric guitars, including a budget line called the SE range (known as the Arbor Series in the UK) and a Professional range. The Professional range included guitars based on technology licensed from Ned Steinberger and models like ST, TE, and L. These guitars were made at the Cor-Tek factory in South Korea, which is also known as Cort Guitars.

In 1990, Alan Entwistle, an English guitar maker, joined Hohner UK. He brought his ATN tone shaping circuitry, which was added to the ST59 model as the ST59-ATN and to a new model, the JT60-ATN. These models helped Hohner UK influence guitar production for several years. The Revelation series of guitars, designed in the UK and made at the Delicia factory near Prague, was introduced. In 1994, Hohner set up a Custom Shop in Bedwas to make custom guitars. To distinguish budget models from higher-end guitars, Hohner introduced the Rockwood brand in the mid-1990s.

This is likely the earliest Hohner guitar, made in the second half of 1960. It has a hollow body, a birch neck, and a single pickup. The pickups and electronics were made by the Weill company, which had worked with Burns London. Assembly was likely done by Stuart Darkins, a furniture manufacturing company.

The HG-320 was part of the Limited Edition Series of acoustic guitars introduced in 1975. It was made in Japan and resembled a Martin D-41. The guitars had solid spruce tops, rosewood or maple backs, and decorative inlays. Early models may have been made by smaller shops, while later models were likely made at the Terada factory.

The HG-490 was a version of the HS Anderson HS-1 Mad Cat, made by the Moridaira/Morris factory in Japan around 1977. It copied the Fender Telecaster’s design but had a unique body made of Birds’ eye maple and walnut. The guitar had decorative binding and leopard print pickguards. It sold for about 80,000 yen or $800.

Musician Prince owned a Hohner HG-490 in the late 1970s and considered it his favorite guitar. Although few original models were made, Hohner and others produced many versions starting in the early 1980s. Hohner reissues include the Hohner THE Prinz, Hohner TE Prinz, and Hohner The Artist HTA490. Prince had multiple copies of the guitar made, making it hard to determine when he used an original.

The Hohner Professional B2 was a headless bass introduced in 1985. It used a bridge licensed from Steinberger and had options for passive or active pickups. It was a popular, more affordable alternative to Steinberger’s headless basses and was made until at least 2012.

The JT60 was designed in the UK but made in South Korea from 1991 to 1996. It resembled a Fender Jaguar but had a F

Accordions

The Hohner Electravox is an electronic accordion created in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It has one channel (combined left and right hand) or two channels (separate left and right hand channels, allowing volume to be adjusted independently). It includes 92 bass and chord buttons, a keyboard percussion effect for the bass buttons and keyboard, a vibrato effect with slow and fast settings, and a separate power supply unit that sits on the floor. The Electravox had 16', 8', 5 1/3', and 4' registers. The tuning could be changed to match another instrument, such as a piano or organ. However, this required replacing all 12 master tone generators using a special tool.

Notable Hohner players

During the 20th century, many early blues harmonica players used Hohner Marine Band harmonicas because these were the most widely available at the time. However, as other harmonica companies grew and Hohner introduced new models, players began to prefer different types of harmonicas.

• Carlos del Junco – A blues harmonica player is known for playing a Golden Melody, similar to his mentor Howard Levy.
• Howard Levy – A harmonica player who performs in many musical styles is known for playing several brands but considers the Golden Melody his favorite.
• Jerry Portnoy – A blues harmonica player primarily uses the Hohner Marine Band Crossover model, which he praises highly. He has performed with artists such as Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, and others.
• John Popper – The lead singer of the jam band Blues Traveler is known for playing a Special 20 harmonica.
• Brandon Santini – A blues and roots-rock harmonica player and vocalist is endorsed by Hohner and plays Hohner Special 20 and Hohner Rocket harmonicas.
• John Sebastian, Sr. – A classical harmonica virtuoso who passed away was known for playing a 64 Chromonica. He also worked with Hohner to improve the instrument’s lower range.
• John Sebastian – A harmonica player who performs in folk, rock, and blues styles has mainly used Hohner Meisterklasse and Marine Band harmonicas, sometimes with custom modifications.
• Neil Young – A rock, country, and folk musician is known to play a Hohner Marine Band harmonica in the key of G.
• Bobby Darin – A versatile artist released the Blues album "Commitment" in 1969. Many songs on the album, including "Me and Mr. Hohner," feature his use of harmonicas.