Gsweng
Tele-Holic
Well, on closer inspection of the hg-370, it’s probably Jacaranda rosewood. This was used quite a bit in the 70s in Japan on some of their higher end guitars.
Hohner Owners
- Thread starter LGOberean
- Start date
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Looking forward to pictures Greg! I have only bought an Italian HG-01 Contessa for fun and I'm using it for guitar work. The thread is https://www.tdpri.com/threads/ladder-braced-guitar-repair.1161699/#post-12623710
Gsweng
Tele-Holic
Looks entertaining. Bill, can you send me an invite to your MySpace that has the Hohner info? My old laptop completely croaked and I lost all my old files. I need a pdf and Word copy of the Guide. Much appreciated!
There is a guitar on shop Goodwill for a Japan model I have not seen. Looks like HG-310. Something different if someone wishes to expand their collection.
https://shopgoodwill.com/item/218499995
https://shopgoodwill.com/item/218499995
finalcircuit
TDPRI Member
I saw pictures of what I presume is the same guitar a couple of years ago - it had exactly the same undulation in the model ink stamp. I came to the conclusion that FW656 is a Terada own brand model number mistakenly put on a Hohner. Proof if you needed it that some Hohner acoustics were made at the Terada factory. Crazy that such an interesting guitar ended up at Goodwill.
finalcircuit
TDPRI Member
Somebody on the Hohner forums has a G220TB and is trying to work out what it is. It's the first time I've run across the model, but of course there's one on here as well.
My guess is early 1980s Japanese, based mainly on the logo, tuners, the model number and the microswitches. I get the feeling that there was a period in the early 1980s when Hohner were trying to figure out what to do with their guitars - Japanese production was getting more expensive, they were experimenting with Korean production, maybe the relationship with Moridaira was not as close as it had been. So you see short run or one off experiments - trying different colours, adding a pickup to existing acoustics, making blingier versions to impress at trade shows. Unltimately the answer to what to do was to go all in on Korea and produce the Hohner Professional range.
The shape of the G220 is somewhat reminiscent of an Aria PE series, which were being made in the Matsumoku factory in the early 80s. So I wonder if this is one of those short run experiments from say 1981-1982, in this case getting Matsumoku to make them a guitar which is cheaper and more "modern" than the ones they were getting from Moridaira. If that's the case, probably all it achieved was to sour the relationship with Moridaira even further.
Thanks as always for providing a safe space for my wild speculations.
Most Palone
NEW MEMBER!
Hi @Most Palone, first welcome to the forum! Second, I would love to have some pictures. Ideally we would like to keep them in the same format in the guide. If you wish to have a copy of the guide, please PM and I can send it to you. The forum doesn't allow for large files and I would need to email it to you.
Teut-Hohner
TDPRI Member
There is a nice 1977 HG300 at goodwill (listed as a HG800).
Auction is ending 16 FEB
Auction is ending 16 FEB
finalcircuit
TDPRI Member
That first one is a 310, surely? The 810 was an archtop electric.
I haven't checked in for a while and hope everyone's doing well.
I ran across a public Hohner sighting and thought I'd share. I ran across this on American Idol (I know, I'm hanging my head in shame). Looks like a 930 from photos on his Facebook (Bryson Quick). He has a few videos their also.
I ran across a public Hohner sighting and thought I'd share. I ran across this on American Idol (I know, I'm hanging my head in shame). Looks like a 930 from photos on his Facebook (Bryson Quick). He has a few videos their also.
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Gsweng
Tele-Holic
Not sure, the sides almost look like mahogany. Could be a 905 or 940. I like seeing Hohners out and being played.
Muddyshoes
Tele-Holic
Hello Gents, how has everyone been? I know I have been MIA for quite awhile, as usual, life get's in the way of my playing and posting. I bought a second home down in Santa Cruz CA so the wife and I have been busy with that. Man, I hate to have to rebuild my calluses, I lost them completely GRRR But we are back to playing again. Anyway Bill, Greg, have either of you wanted to try and reduce the size of the tone bars on your guitars? I was to the point that I was going to do it on my HG-950 but I just couldn't pull the trigger so the guitar sat in my music room strings off and just ready to be done for a couple of months and when the other house came along well that project to a back seat. I have done a lot of research and I am convinced by reducing the size of those 4 small tone bars that will remove some of the stiffness and allow the top to vibrate more and produce more head room opening up the tone.
I have consulted some well known guitar builders in my area and I am getting a mixed bag of answers. But here is the thing, I have gone through my other guitar and the common denominator is the tone bars are SO much smaller in those guitars. Don't get me wrong I do love the tone of my HG-900s but I know in my heart there is more dynamic range to be had, I am not talking volume they are plenty loud, my goal to open up the top. Now, I know one of the benefits to a stiffer top is less chance for the guitar to start and cave into it's self and needing a neck reset. As I lay a straight edge down the fret board the angle is still perfect just right to the top of the bridge. So these were built (if cared for) that they may never need a neck reset, heck 47 years old and the angle is still spot on.
Hey on a side note, I see Larry has not checked in in a VERY long time. Does anyone know if he is ok? I know that Lee has decided to thin the forest as he liked to put it, so his interest may have changed a bit. Anyway I hope everyone is doing good and healthy.
I have consulted some well known guitar builders in my area and I am getting a mixed bag of answers. But here is the thing, I have gone through my other guitar and the common denominator is the tone bars are SO much smaller in those guitars. Don't get me wrong I do love the tone of my HG-900s but I know in my heart there is more dynamic range to be had, I am not talking volume they are plenty loud, my goal to open up the top. Now, I know one of the benefits to a stiffer top is less chance for the guitar to start and cave into it's self and needing a neck reset. As I lay a straight edge down the fret board the angle is still perfect just right to the top of the bridge. So these were built (if cared for) that they may never need a neck reset, heck 47 years old and the angle is still spot on.
Hey on a side note, I see Larry has not checked in in a VERY long time. Does anyone know if he is ok? I know that Lee has decided to thin the forest as he liked to put it, so his interest may have changed a bit. Anyway I hope everyone is doing good and healthy.
Hi David,
Glad to have you back at it and have fun building the calluses. I think you need to get yourself a folk guitar to travel with that keeps the fingers hardened. I got a Seagull S6 folk that I love since I like to fingerpick.
First, the question about Larry. The last I checked on him about a month ago, he is doing well. He is less engaged with gigging and he simply has not felt like posting here. I think he has had some conflict with the moderators but he is still playing at the home. There is a thread here, where I reached out to him via email. https://www.tdpri.com/threads/lgoberean.1170465/
With Lee, I have not heard much. He has reached out to me to send the Hohner guide. I think he is out pursuing Morris guitars now. However, I am sure he kept the real Hohner treasures.
With modifying the tone bars, I have done that. I did it to the Hohner Essential HW90 that I had. I sanded down the tone bars (I can't say which since it was so long ago) and it was a very slow process. I could not see what I was doing since this is all in the sound hole. I would sand some, put strings on, test, repeat. When I got close I put on strings and played for a couple of months and then adjust. It was a fun project. It did impact the sound but in a good way. I was playing it and a person said they said had some of the best tone they had heard. The guitar was good to start with but it was indeed better. So I sold it to him.
That being said, it is a risky endeavor. If you do too much, then it falls apart structurally or if it was imbalanced, it will change the sound. Basically, I got lucky. Would I do it to my existing Hohner? Nope. Would I do it to a cheaper all laminate guitar to see if I can make it better? Sure.
I hope this helps. I think if a seasoned luthier wouldn't do it, I would respect that. I would look for a different guitar. I figure our hearing changes over time and our preferences. For example, you couldn't pry the HG300LE from my hands but then I found my Martin OOO-15M. Then I found my Seagull S6 Classic AE that I got the Seagull S6 folk and they have me smitten. Love cedar and cherry as well as the 1.8 nut for my mitts. Unfortunately, it dings easily. Now my HG300LE stays in Drop D tuning and I use it for those songs.
The Hohner HG guitars are sweet though. They still have a special place in my heart.
Glad to have you back at it and have fun building the calluses. I think you need to get yourself a folk guitar to travel with that keeps the fingers hardened. I got a Seagull S6 folk that I love since I like to fingerpick.
First, the question about Larry. The last I checked on him about a month ago, he is doing well. He is less engaged with gigging and he simply has not felt like posting here. I think he has had some conflict with the moderators but he is still playing at the home. There is a thread here, where I reached out to him via email. https://www.tdpri.com/threads/lgoberean.1170465/
With Lee, I have not heard much. He has reached out to me to send the Hohner guide. I think he is out pursuing Morris guitars now. However, I am sure he kept the real Hohner treasures.
With modifying the tone bars, I have done that. I did it to the Hohner Essential HW90 that I had. I sanded down the tone bars (I can't say which since it was so long ago) and it was a very slow process. I could not see what I was doing since this is all in the sound hole. I would sand some, put strings on, test, repeat. When I got close I put on strings and played for a couple of months and then adjust. It was a fun project. It did impact the sound but in a good way. I was playing it and a person said they said had some of the best tone they had heard. The guitar was good to start with but it was indeed better. So I sold it to him.
That being said, it is a risky endeavor. If you do too much, then it falls apart structurally or if it was imbalanced, it will change the sound. Basically, I got lucky. Would I do it to my existing Hohner? Nope. Would I do it to a cheaper all laminate guitar to see if I can make it better? Sure.
I hope this helps. I think if a seasoned luthier wouldn't do it, I would respect that. I would look for a different guitar. I figure our hearing changes over time and our preferences. For example, you couldn't pry the HG300LE from my hands but then I found my Martin OOO-15M. Then I found my Seagull S6 Classic AE that I got the Seagull S6 folk and they have me smitten. Love cedar and cherry as well as the 1.8 nut for my mitts. Unfortunately, it dings easily. Now my HG300LE stays in Drop D tuning and I use it for those songs.
The Hohner HG guitars are sweet though. They still have a special place in my heart.
Muddyshoes
Tele-Holic
Hi Bill,
I tried to respond the next day after you responded to my text, but the webpage kept closing down on me over and over, I could never understand why, so, I just stopped trying till now. Glad to hear Larry is doing well, yeah, I had a little tiff with a mod awhile back. Glad to hear Lee is still guitar hunting, I do remember playing a few Morris guitars back in the late 70s into the 80s that where very good quality instruments. What sold me on the Hohner HG-900s was the all wood construction.
Bill, I did find a small V block plainer that would work but I have to admit I chickened out. I know it will be quite a task but, I feel I could open the guitar up more. I have had this idea in my very empty head to do this for a very long time, I have compared the bracing on this HG-950 to all of my high end guitars and the tone bars are just so much bigger. I did a side by side tone test about 20 years ago My HG-950 going against a new Martin D-28, new HD-28 and a new HD-28V. Now I have to take in account that the Hohner has had many years of playing time so naturally the guitar should sound more opened up than a new guitar. To my ears the Hohner sounded better than the D-28 and the HD-28 but the HD-28V had it beat just more open and fuller, the same tone just more open and resonant. I inspected the inside of those guitars checking for any clues that would help me understand what made them different. The D-28 was straight braced and the X brace was in the middle position, the HD-28 was scalloped and I can't remember the X position But I sure do remember the HD-28V X brace was forward shifted and the braces were scalloped. Now the the Hohner has rear shifted X brace and the braces are scalloped, the big difference was the tone bars, the Hohner was just so much bigger. I know their is a balance and if you go to far the guitar become muddy sounding. What I have found out is you do NOT want to reduce the height of the brace just the sides is were you would remove material. But, I am still chicken to do it....I keep telling myself DON'T TRY TO FIX WHAT IS NOT BROKEN...I should change my screen name to "Chicken Little" LOL.
I tried to respond the next day after you responded to my text, but the webpage kept closing down on me over and over, I could never understand why, so, I just stopped trying till now. Glad to hear Larry is doing well, yeah, I had a little tiff with a mod awhile back. Glad to hear Lee is still guitar hunting, I do remember playing a few Morris guitars back in the late 70s into the 80s that where very good quality instruments. What sold me on the Hohner HG-900s was the all wood construction.
Bill, I did find a small V block plainer that would work but I have to admit I chickened out. I know it will be quite a task but, I feel I could open the guitar up more. I have had this idea in my very empty head to do this for a very long time, I have compared the bracing on this HG-950 to all of my high end guitars and the tone bars are just so much bigger. I did a side by side tone test about 20 years ago My HG-950 going against a new Martin D-28, new HD-28 and a new HD-28V. Now I have to take in account that the Hohner has had many years of playing time so naturally the guitar should sound more opened up than a new guitar. To my ears the Hohner sounded better than the D-28 and the HD-28 but the HD-28V had it beat just more open and fuller, the same tone just more open and resonant. I inspected the inside of those guitars checking for any clues that would help me understand what made them different. The D-28 was straight braced and the X brace was in the middle position, the HD-28 was scalloped and I can't remember the X position But I sure do remember the HD-28V X brace was forward shifted and the braces were scalloped. Now the the Hohner has rear shifted X brace and the braces are scalloped, the big difference was the tone bars, the Hohner was just so much bigger. I know their is a balance and if you go to far the guitar become muddy sounding. What I have found out is you do NOT want to reduce the height of the brace just the sides is were you would remove material. But, I am still chicken to do it....I keep telling myself DON'T TRY TO FIX WHAT IS NOT BROKEN...I should change my screen name to "Chicken Little" LOL.
Teut-Hohner
TDPRI Member
Hi @Teut-Hohner and thanks for posting a fine collection! How long have you been collecting and which guitar is your favorite? The 360 looks very nice. I hope you having fun playing them.Hello all,
It has been a bit quiet on this forum.
To help you pass time, here is something to look at.
Teut-Hohner
TDPRI Member
Funny you single out the 360. It is my absolute favorite.
It all started with a $100 HG300 that I bought on Craigslist to get myself away from the desk and to pick up where I left off as a 14-year old. That was about 4 years ago. I cannot say my guitar skills have much improved, but I am having fun.
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