Harmona-Weltmeister 602 models

[Deleted member 48]

Anyone tested or played the Weltmeister 602 models ? 60/72/II/3 - 60/72/III/5 ?

http://www.akkordeon-klingenthal.de/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=73
Weltmeister Romance 602, 60/72/II/3 chromatic button accordion, C- fingering (french fingering), 72 basses, 60 treble buttons, 2 sets thomann of discant reeds, 4 sets of bass reeds, 3 treble registers, weight 6,8 kg, black, inc. straps and case

The Hohner Nova accordions are made in their China production site.
I was told all Weltmeister models are still made in Klingenthal , Germany. Can anyone confirm this info?

The Harmona-Weltmeister models have 5 rows, where the Hohner Nova only have 3 or 4.

Only few video and sound files available:
(5 row model)

(this is a 3 row model)

The Weltmeister Rubin, a piano 60 bass model:

 

[kimric]

I was told all Weltmeister models are still made in Klingenthal , Germany. Can anyone confirm this info?

I have been to the factory twice,and they do everything there except make the reeds. They let me film when I was there, and this footage was later used in a film by Steve Mobia .

 

[goldtopia]

This is true. I also read somewhere that when Hohner moved to China many of their employees went over to Weltmeister thus producing a new improve breed of Weltmeisters. I did not know they don't make their own reeds. It would be interesting to know where they get them from. It may be that reed making being a specialist product is also bought in by some other accordion manufacturers

 

[Deleted member 48]

Thanks, they have a lovely sound the Weltmeister 602 and 603 Romance 5 row models.
I saw the You Tube video, good footage.
On their forum and website Harmona Weltmeister confirms all their own Weltmeister models are made in Germany.
Except the Walther piano series, but these are not the same quality, these seem to be made in a Czech production site.

Here I read about the reeds used by Weltmeister:
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.music.makers.squeezebox/2007-10/msg00178.html
The most common reeds I see in Weltmeisters are the Czech reeds from
Harmonikas in Louny, or Antonelli reeds from Italy - in most models
normal (COM) reeds or sometimes TAM.

http://www.harmonikas.cz/de/home.html

http://www.accordions.com/vociarmoniche/de.htm

There is something attractive to the Klingenthal/Zwota/... region of accordion makers. They have a charming tremolo tuning (8+8), comparable to the Hohner Starlet 40 or Hohner Student IV.
Is it me , but I have the feeling my French musette waltzes sound better on Hohner Starlet 40 and Weltmeister models, than on my French 8+8 60 bass...
The French tune their 8+8 accordions a little bit sharper, the tremolo or Schwebung is not the same as the German way of Schwebung tuning.
Strange isnt it?
I had the same experience when playing French musette music on a 80 bass Max Schramm piano accordion from Klingenthal (made in the 1970s or 1980s ?), I couldnt put this piano accordion aside. And you have to know, I am a C-system CBA player for more than 20 years.... It was the tuning that got me addicted.

When I start playing French musette waltzes on my little Hohner Starlet 40, I just cant stop playing. I keept telling myself, ok, this is the last one...
The Weltmeister and Hohner accordions have a way in tuning accordions that get you addicted in a positive way !

Anyone knows what the exact Weltmeister 602 and 603 models tremolo tuning is ? And what is the influence of the reeds quality on this tuning?
Their way of German tuning gives the accordion a convivial or joyfull quality, that is ideal for a cheerfull evening of music.

 

[BobM]

The Weltmeister and Hohner accordions have a way in tuning accordions that get you addicted in a positive way !

Anyone knows what the exact Weltmeister 602 and 603 models tremolo tuning is ? And what is the influence of the reeds quality on this tuning?
Their way of German tuning gives the accordion a convivial or joyfull quality, that is ideal for a cheerfull evening of music.

I have a Weltmeister ACHAT which has the standard German tuning, slower than the Italian. You can specify your type when ordering. But confusingly, on the website, the link to Tuning is about a choice of Octave or Musette reeds, rather that the vibrato rate.

Weltmeister is a good solid brand, I broke a spring on the RH ad they sent me the replacement part very quickly, and it was a simple job to fix.

http://www.squeezydoesit.com/id22.html

 

[Deleted member 48]

Just discovered on the Weltmeister website they have a range of Russian Chromka models, 5,8 kg, with typical Russian tremolo tuning:
http://www.akkordeon-weltmeister.de...aleksandra-2525iii5-tremolo-tuning-p-128.html

Check the Russian folk tune video on this hyperlink, nice tune, I recognize the tune, but forgot the name of the folk tune.

This tuning seems sweeter than the original Russian Tula models tunings, more friendly to the ears.

Theyve got to have some reallly good tuning machines and personnel at Harmona Weltmeister in Klingenthal...
Anyone already seen their tuning skills?

 

[lasvegascolonel]

The only "weakness" I've heard about Weltmeister is that, unlike Hohner and a few others, they don't have a big setup in the U.S.; i.e. no service center with parts and not too many dealers. Still, accordion repair people can service them. I know that new Weltmeister accordions have a two-year warranty, unlike Hohner, Roland and a few others who have a weaker warranty. Some dealers in the U.S. who sell Hohners extend the factory warranty for a total of two years.

 

[kimric]

I carry weltmeisters,and have a good inventory of parts at my shop in Oakland CA. I bought out the inventory of the Weltmeister warehouse in Utah when it closed. Parts are not really a problem in that like most accordions the repairs are expendable things like bellows gaskets ,valves, and reeds.

 

[Deleted member 48]

Accordions sold in the European Union should have the minimum 2 years guarantee by EU law.
This applies to all accordion producers and sellers in the EU, not only Weltmeister but also the Hohner sites inside EU has to follow these laws.
Hohner cant have a weaker warranty within the EU, this would be against the law, and I am pretty sure Hohner wont violate EU laws.

It should also be noted that some accordion manufacturers/producers/sellers could use off shore techniques, so we should compare international laws on consumer protection.

The 2-year guarantee is an EU-wide minimum, and the laws in some EU countries may offer you longer limitation periods.
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/consumer_topics/buying_goods_services_en.htm

 

[Deleted member 48]

Here is some info on the HS Investment Group, who took over Hohner in 1997

Since 1996/7 about 70% (now over 72%) of the shares of Matth. Hohner AG have been owned by HS Investment Group Inc, a company registered to Tortola, tax paradise in the British Virgin Islands.
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Rec/rec.music.makers.squeezebox/2007-12/msg00028.html

We should look under what consumer protection laws the Hohner instruments fall, that are made in Taiwan or China, and thus made and sold outside the EU.
Maybe guarantee is under 2 years outside the EU...