Hohner Atlantic IV Musette - which model to choose?

[Pinu]

good evening,
I am looking for a Hohner Atlantic IV with triple-reed Musette tuning. I then want a very nice wet tremolo tuning, something around +-15 (or 18).
which Atlantic do you suggest me?

I also read that the normal Atlantic is having metallic box and the deluxe a wooden box. Which one is better to have a shap and clear musette?

what about having more power ? which model would-be better?

which kind of reeds are mounted in the various models?

are the reed waxed or riveted? if there is a choice, which would be the best?

 

[Pinu]

any hohner expert out there?! I am sure there many in this forum

 

[Glug]

The Atlantics with the black treble register keys have a sordino - a treble 'mute' slider which makes the treble more mellow.
You can see the black slider switch above the treble registers in this advert: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hohner-Atlantic-IV-De-Luxe-Accordion-only-5-days-/134079862073. Only trouble is that's LMMH, I don't know if the musette version also had that feature.

Really old Atlantics were wooden but since at least 1959 they have been "Atlantic Construction" which is metal:

 

[Walker]

Well I am no expert on the Hohner Atlantic, and cannot tell you anything new. In truth, it is not a model that has interested me because of its experimental materials, particularly Dr. Paul Dorner's die-cast aluminium case. My understanding is that the instrument was designed to be simpler and cheaper to make than having a traditional wooden case. They seem to have been a fairly mass produced instrument. However, if the tone is pleasing to your ears, then that is all that matters.

For me, I look for traditionally crafted accordions, particularly based on the Italian tradition. I would include the Hohner Morino and Gola models in this classification also. I think the Morino VM has a particularly excellent tone in musette voice. It looks glorious in the red celluloid version, made for the German market in the late 1940s and 1950s. For bright musette, there were also the vintage northern Italian accordions like Ranco Antonio Supervox and Cooperativa from Vercelli.

There are many great musette accordions, old and new. All the best in your journey of discovery.

​

 

[Decbox]

The Atlantics with the black treble register keys have a sordino - a treble 'mute' slider which makes the treble more mellow.
You can see the black slider switch above the treble registers in this advert: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hohner-Atlantic-IV-De-Luxe-Accordion-only-5-days-/134079862073. Only trouble is that's LMMH, I don't know if the musette version also had that feature.

Really old Atlantics were wooden but since at least 1959 they have been "Atlantic Construction" which is metal:

I've had several Musette Atlantics and they all had the Sordina roller blind.

 

[Pinu]

Well I am no expert on the Hohner Atlantic, and cannot tell you anything new. In truth, it is not a model that has interested me because of its experimental materials, particularly Dr. Paul Dorner's die-cast aluminium case. My understanding is that the instrument was designed to be simpler and cheaper to make than having a traditional wooden case. They seem to have been a fairly mass produced instrument. However, if the tone is pleasing to your ears, then that is all that matters.

For me, I look for traditionally crafted accordions, particularly based on the Italian tradition. I would include the Hohner Morino and Gola models in this classification also. I think the Morino VM has a particularly excellent tone in musette voice. It looks glorious in the red celluloid version, made for the German market in the late 1940s and 1950s. For bright musette, there were also the vintage northern Italian accordions like Ranco Antonio Supervox and Cooperativa from Vercelli.

There are many great musette accordions, old and new. All the best in your journey of discovery.

​

agree. I have already some Italian boxes, but I wanted to experiment something a bit different. the metallic box wa something that intrigued me...at least on paper...

 

[Pinu]

I've had several Musette Atlantics and they all had the Sordina roller blind.

good to know. is the sound with the sordina truly mellower? what about sound power: reduced a lot?

since you had many, which serie(s) is (are) the best? and why?

which type of reeds are there? are they waxed or pinned?

I also read there was a special serie in which the reeds were all mounted per block, something like bayan-style. are your of this type or single italian-style?


sorry for the one million questions, but I do not find in every corner someone that has/had many Atlantic. many thanks in advance

 

[debra]

good evening,
I am looking for a Hohner Atlantic IV with triple-reed Musette tuning. I then want a very nice wet tremolo tuning, something around +-15 (or 18).
which Atlantic do you suggest me?

I also read that the normal Atlantic is having metallic box and the deluxe a wooden box. Which one is better to have a shap and clear musette?

what about having more power ? which model would-be better?

which kind of reeds are mounted in the various models?

are the reed waxed or riveted? if there is a choice, which would be the best?

The Atlantics all have a metal body. The de luxe model has better quality reeds.
The Atlantic uses half-length reed blocks which allows for the use of cheaper wood without warping becoming an issue. (Full length reed blocks are more prone to warping and therefore require the use of stronger wood.) The reeds are normally waxed, in all generations of Atlantic.
The original Atlantic IV has the sordino or "jalousie" that allows you to remove a bit of the extreme sharpness of the Atlantic sound. Many people have the sordino closed all the time.
Hohner later came out with the Atlantic IV N which (probably in a cost-cutting effort) no longer had the sordino and simply always sounds quite sharp.
The original Atlantic had foam pallets that disintegrate over time. Most Atlantics still in use have had the pallets replaced by felt by now, but it is something to check when buying an Atlantic. (The N always had felt.)

 

[Pinu]

The Atlantics all have a metal body. The de luxe model has better quality reeds.
The Atlantic uses half-length reed blocks which allows for the use of cheaper wood without warping becoming an issue. (Full length reed blocks are more prone to warping and therefore require the use of stronger wood.) The reeds are normally waxed, in all generations of Atlantic.
The original Atlantic IV has the sordino or "jalousie" that allows you to remove a bit of the extreme sharpness of the Atlantic sound. Many people have the sordino closed all the time.
Hohner later came out with the Atlantic IV N which (probably in a cost-cutting effort) no longer had the sordino and simply always sounds quite sharp.
The original Atlantic had foam pallets that disintegrate over time. Most Atlantics still in use have had the pallets replaced by felt by now, but it is something to check when buying an Atlantic. (The N always had felt.)

you comments on the body, block type and length and type of reed-block connection are very clear. thanks a lot.

I am the confuse on the Atlantic N: is better to take since has the felt or not to go because there is not sordina? where is the trade off?

In an ideal case in which all models would be available, which Atlantic you would suggest?

 

[debra]

you comments on the body, block type and length and type of reed-block connection are very clear. thanks a lot.

I am the confuse on the Atlantic N: is better to take since has the felt or not to go because there is not sordina? where is the trade off?

In an ideal case in which all models would be available, which Atlantic you would suggest?

In my opinion (having played and worked on both) the original Atlantic IV is better than the IV N because of the sordino. But if the IV still has the foam (+leather) pallets then these need to be replaced by felt (+leather). That's not a tremendous repair job.
And the "de luxe" version is definitely worth the extra cost over the regular one. The "Artiste" reeds in the de luxe model are simply very good quality reeds.
Another thing to watch out for is rust. You need to check the reeds, inside and outside, for rust. In case there is rust on the reeds, don't buy!

 

[saundersbp]

You need to check the reeds, inside and outside, for rust. In case there is rust on the reeds, don't buy!

There's rust and there's rust. I got a killer deal on an ancient Pigini converter (£1000). The reeds are slightly rusty and the instrument has performed with really heavy playing without fault. To my ears it sounds rather better than modern Pigini which I attribute to the rust - perhaps a deluxe option . I will of course report back in case of a catastrophic failure over the coming decades......

 

[Pinu]

In my opinion (having played and worked on both) the original Atlantic IV is better than the IV N because of the sordino. But if the IV still has the foam (+leather) pallets then these need to be replaced by felt (+leather). That's not a tremendous repair job.
And the "de luxe" version is definitely worth the extra cost over the regular one. The "Artiste" reeds in the de luxe model are simply very good quality reeds.
Another thing to watch out for is rust. You need to check the reeds, inside and outside, for rust. In case there is rust on the reeds, don't buy!

thanks for the suggestions. I will look to comply with these easy guidelines.

what's about the age?!
I have seen that basically there are 3 "ages" of the outer part at least: 1-outside gold with black chore switches 2-grid type with black chore switches 3-grid type with white gola-type chore switches

which one to choose?

anyone here going for the metal box over the wooden one? why?

 

[debra]

thanks for the suggestions. I will look to comply with these easy guidelines.

what's about the age?!
I have seen that basically there are 3 "ages" of the outer part at least: 1-outside gold with black chore switches 2-grid type with black chore switches 3-grid type with white gola-type chore switches

which one to choose?

anyone here going for the metal box over the wooden one? why?

The grid type with black switches is the youngest that came before the Atlantic N series. The one with white Gola-type switches is the N. You may not like the N because its sound is too sharp. As far as I know all Atlantics are "Metalbau", not likely because it produces such a nice sound (it doesn't) but because molding a piece of aluminium is much cheaper than creating a wooden box. If you do want LMMM I would rather recommend a Verdi V, which has an all-wooden housing and it has good quality full length reed blocks. Sadly I don't believe the Verdi V ever came with a "de luxe" option to get Artiste reeds.

 

[Decbox]

It might be worth looking for and old Hohner Musette IV made in Switzerland. They have a timber body I had one of these and it had higher quality reeds than I expected. They had a dot punched on them similar to a Morino reed I believe. All my old Atlantics had similar reeds. My more modern one has H reeds. Or is it T? I can't remember....lol

 

[Glug]

My 1959 Lucia has H reeds in the treble and T reeds in the bass.

I believe the theory was H reeds respond faster and T reeds are louder.
I think H reeds are no longer available, but T reeds are.

edit: for clarity H and T are types of machine reeds produced by Hohner - they are stamped with 'H' and 'T'.

 

[Pinu]

Sorry for the ignorance: what are the H and T reeds?

I only know the classic classification used in italy: A Mano, Tipo A Mano, Durall
How the Hohner are related to the one above?

 

[debra]

Sorry for the ignorance: what are the H and T reeds?

I only know the classic classification used in italy: A Mano, Tipo A Mano, Durall
How the Hohner are related to the one above?

Both H and T reeds are machine reeds (not a mano, not tipo a mano). An optical difference I have noticed is that the H reeds on a reed plate are parallel to each other, whereas the T reeds have a rectangular wall in between the two reed tongues on both sides so the center of the tips of the reed tongues are a bit closer together than the rivets. I have no idea why this was done.

 

[Pipemajor]

Both H and T reeds are machine reeds (not a mano, not tipo a mano). An optical difference I have noticed is that the H reeds on a reed plate are parallel to each other, whereas the T reeds have a rectangular wall in between the two reed tongues on both sides so the center of the tips of the reed tongues are a bit closer together than the rivets. I have no idea why this was done.

I too don't know the difference between the two, and your excellent description is hard for me to visualise .
Would it be possible for a photo or sketch of the two for the sake of ignorami such as myself as, I'm sure, others, so we fully understand.

 

[Glug]

Here's a Hohner T reed plate:

HOHNER SPAREPARTS + MERCHANDISE | T-Reed Plates | purchase online

Reed Plates - T-Reed Plates. HOHNER SPAREPARTS + MERCHANDISE

www.hohner-cshop.de

HOHNER SPAREPARTS + MERCHANDISE | ACC. T-REED 26/16/2.4mm (22.16) | purchase online

ACC. T-REED 26/16/2.4mm (22.16) - including valves, colour can vary, dimensions subject of tolerances

www.hohner-cshop.de

 

[debra]

Here's a Hohner T reed plate:

HOHNER SPAREPARTS + MERCHANDISE | T-Reed Plates | purchase online

Reed Plates - T-Reed Plates. HOHNER SPAREPARTS + MERCHANDISE

www.hohner-cshop.de

HOHNER SPAREPARTS + MERCHANDISE | ACC. T-REED 26/16/2.4mm (22.16) | purchase online

ACC. T-REED 26/16/2.4mm (22.16) - including valves, colour can vary, dimensions subject of tolerances

www.hohner-cshop.de

Excellent pictures. You can clearly see how the reeds are closer together at the tip than at the base. Instead of being parallel to each other (meaning the wall in between them then gets wider towards the tip) the two reeds (or holes in the reed plate) form more of a trapezoid than on other types of reeds, including H reeds.