Chinese Manufactured Accordion Model List

[Soulsaver]

The following is a list of accordion models/makers thought to originate in China.
This is not an attempt to qualify the good or bad - just inform of the country of manufacture.
How you use the info. will be down to your own interpretation and research - and possibly the input from the members on the board.
The list has been gathered from previous posts by the members; often from memory so there is room for error.

Corrections/enhancements/additions welcomed.

Ill edit it to include info from later following posts or from the discussion here: http://www.accordionists.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1526&hilit=pearl+river .

And a big THANKS to JimD who provided much of the info. Much appreciated JIm. :tup: :tup:


Aidi
Aliante
Aileen
Baidi
Baile (or sometimes listed as Balie, or Bailie)
Baronelli (Barronelli?)
Bellini http://www.accordionists.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1584&start=100
Belmont
Black Diamond
Bonetti
Brandelli
Canarino
Cantibile (18/09/15)
Castellani (reputedly aggregating manufacturers in Italy, which may (or not..) include Chinese manufactured instruments/parts- see page #7)
Cavalier
Chanson
Cipelino/Cipalino
Cotati
Del Sol
DLuca
E. Soprani (Circus model range) but Italian manufactured models still being sold. (April 2018)
Elane
Estrella (18/09/15)
Excalibur (most models)
Fenix/Michael/Veneza (not Venezia which is Italian)
Fever
Firotti (old models are east German but new models are likely Chinese using the now defunct brand name; see page 10)
First Act
Firston
Gallini Pic added page 11; 09/12/16
Gararda (M. Gararda - seen listed on eBay Australia Feb 2016)
Giovanni (There are older Italian Giovanni accordions. Chinese I have seen have the typical Parrot like, 70s Scandalli like, register switches).
Golden Cup
Golden Lion
Goldstar
Heimond
Hohner (German, but some models, recent and lower end, inc Nova & Bravo, are produced in China, Ed)
Honica / Hohnica - see post 07 Aug 15
Hsinghai
J.Meister
Jessy
Jinbao
Jixing
KGD
M. Gararda - seen listed on eBay Australia Feb 2016
M-zutx (Amazon) Page 7/8
Meister, J (J.Meister)
Michael/Fenix/Veneza (not Venezia which is Italian)
Mirage
Morelli /Mirelli
OEM
Padova
Paganini
Parrot
Pearl River
Peredie
Primo
Rizatti
Revel
Rossetti
Rossini
Scarlatti (some models, maybe all)
Serenelli (was a quality Castelfidardo maker from the 30s until 1963; recent branded product is likely Chinese - Page 11, post 01 June)
Sila (Pic posted Sat Feb 27, 2016)
Skyline
SofiaMari
Sonantti (see link added 16 Nov 2016, page 11)
Sonata
Songlin
Sonor
Soprani (see post 16Sept15)
Startone
Starwave
Stella (not to be confused with Weltmeister Stella which is German manufacture, see pic in thread, July 9 2014)
Stephanelli
Stewart
Studio http://www.accordionists.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1584&start=100
Sunrise
Talents
Tombo (think Japanese but believe mostly made in China), also seen as Tombo Soprano.
Tslents
Veneza/Michael/Fenix (not Venezia which is Italian)
WYKDL page 7/8
Yingjie
Yuewie

 

[JIM D.]

The Chinese " Honica " and "Stella " can be added.

 

[lasvegascolonel]

Yes, Jim D. made a good list. Some of these are Chinese brand accordions while others are European brands made in China. Good job, JIm.

 

[goldtopia]

Theres a Chinese Stella and a German Weltmester Stella unrelated to each other. It is likely the Chinese hijacked the name Stella then because of that Weltmeister dropped the name Stella or renamed it, If I'm wrong I stand to be corrected.

 

[kimric]

Sunrise ,is one for your list.

The Bonetti guy is a real piece of work, they have changed their name a couple of times. For a while they were going under the name Morishi which was a actual Italian company at one time. I believe they also were also the same people who went by "by Italian design" which was printed on their accordions.
I think they have been slapped with law suits at least a couple of times.

 

[Soulsaver]

The Chinese Honica and Stella can be added.

For clarity/accuracy Jim - Is there a Hohner Hohnica not made in China? Or Hohner Hohnicas are made in China? Or is there a Honica (note spelling differnece) made in China. Or all Hohnicas are made in China?

 

[Soulsaver]

I know little about Italian manufacturers producing selected models in China, for instance - so if that is a factor, I'll need to be informed for it to be included.
And if we have the knowledge about which Hohners are made in China, I'd rather include it, than imply the whole of the Hohner catalogue.. I believe the Bravo 48 is, but the 120 may not be. Or is it the whole Bravo range? And I believe with less certainty that the late model Concerto and Student was/is?

 

[JIM D.]

The Chinese Brand name "Honica" has no relation to Hohner -- just another ripoff miss-spelled name. They take Italian brand names such as Rosati and use it on their products miss-spelled as Rossetti. :twisted: :lol: :twisted:

 

[Soulsaver]

Stella: Welmeister (left)& Chinese on right

 

[lasvegascolonel]

I know little about Italian manufacturers producing selected models in China, for instance - so if that is a factor, Ill need to be informed for it to be included.
And if we have the knowledge about which Hohners are made in China, Id rather include it, than imply the whole of the Hohner catalogue.. I believe the Bravo 48 is, but the 120 may not be. Or is it the whole Bravo range? And I believe with less certainty that the late model Concerto and Student was/is?

Hohners website mentions those made in Germany but doesnt specifically mention the Chinese-made Hohners. I can tell you that Hohner told me the Bravo and Amica lines are all made in China with German machines/supervisors. The Atlantic is the entry level Hohner for German-made accordions. I would think just because a Hohner is made in China would not make it a Chinese accordion anymore than an iPhone is a Chinese phone or a Toyota is an American car. Does place of manufacture dictate the nationality of the product? Of course, it is easier to generalize and lump them altogether. Accuracy may be less important than convenience, especially since there are so many Chinese-brand accordions.

 

[Soulsaver]

"Accuracy may be less important than convenience...."
Maybe why Hohner don't admit to making in China on their website or on the boxes?

 

[lasvegascolonel]

Good point, Soulsaver. Nowhere on the Bravo lines does it say "China" except the packing box. Quite a bit of German writing too. Would they, daresay, be trying to fool us? I found my Bravo had a few needed adjustments from the Chinese factory. Fortunately, Hohner has a large service and parts center here in the U.S. I was quite happy with what they did to my accordion to bring it up to the condition it should have been when it left China. I wrote to HohnerUSA and Hohner Germany and told them they need to check on the quality of their Chinese exports. Hohner Germany never replied. HohnerUSA apologized and quickly offered to mend the minor defects.

 

[kimric]

Most of Hohners stuff is made in China, with some of high end stuff being made in Italy. Hohner was largely bought out by a Chinese firm in the late 90s http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/matth-hohner-ag-history/ .
The quality has been pretty good, but I have seen a drop off in the last 2 years , and the prices have doubled in the last 10 years.
As I understand it the factory in Germany was shuttered last year, this was the QC point for a lot of the stuff out of China.

 

[JIM D.]

Kimric ; I'd like to thank you for the post. My comments on Hohner products and their quality have been ignored for some years now. The high class or well made Hohner accordions were always made in Italy as their German production site's were never geared up to produce the same quality as the Italian firms produce. When a Italian made product with the Hohner Badge applied on it and offered for sale on the market, the price will not only double but sometimes triple the price of the same accordion with the original makers brand name on it. I find it sad to see a firm with 100 years of history to plant their flag in China.

 

[kimric]

After talking with the people at Hohner at some length earlier this year it seemed like I might get somewhere, but it amounted to almost nothing.
I don't sell "as is" (pointless ,they would just come back for repairs) accordions and many of the Hohners including the $2000+ Tex-Mex instruments need at least 1hr of tuning out of the box , and sometimes a lot more.
It is not possible to sell them at a price anywhere close to what they go for on line since I can't factor in the labor. I actually make more money rebuilding vintage Hohners and selling them.
I don't think the Hohner USA people have any real control over what goes on overseas was the general impression I got, and I don't think they really care about small music stores ,as they represent a small fraction of sales. It remains to be seen what the shake out will be if stores stop carrying certain brands , as that may be the only place people can try one.

 

[JIM D.]

And four more for the list - "Golden Lion" -- "Yingjie" -- "Firston" -- "Baidi"

 

[Soulsaver]

Added in, Jim Thanks.

 

[JIM D.]

And Three More -- "Fever" -- "Mirage" -- "Del Sol"

 

[Soulsaver]

Thanks Jim :tup:

 

[JIM D.]

Well it seems in my rush to post I've missed a few -- "Jessy" -- "Skyline" -- "Sonor" -- "Padova" -- "Revel" --"Yuewie" -- "Jinbao" -- "OEM" -- "Tslents" -- "Songlin" -- "Jixing" -- "KGD" -- "Stewart" -- and -- "Talents" .