Hohner Verdi V serial location

[pilagou]

Hello. Newbie here. I just bought my first accordion and starting to learn. I am trying to get more information on the model but it proved harder than I thought. What I know is that it is a Hohner Verdi V. But despite turning it around and looking everywhere I found no serial nor additional info. Any help appreciated

 

[Dingo40]

Welcome, pilagou!

 

[Michiel]

Hi. The serial number should be on the back of the bass section close to the bottom. It can be very shallow. What more would you like to know? It is normally a very fine instrument, well made. Looks like this one had at least some beatings on the outside, that's a shame.

 

[pilagou]

Hi. The serial number should be on the back of the bass section close to the bottom. It can be very shallow. What more would you like to know? It is normally a very fine instrument, well made. Looks like this one had at least some beatings on the outside, that's a shame.

Thanks. I did find it but very very shallow indeed. Would anyone here have a clue about the approximate age of the instrument. The serial is 541-009. I looked around on the internet to find the same model but no luck. There are some similar looking but not identical. It's mostly curiosity on my side. And yes, this accordion saw some hard days. It was serviced by the person that sold it and, at least to my newbie hears, it sounds great.

 

[Ikesaccordions]

This series might have the bass switch module that wears out and can't be replaced, as Hohner was bought by humans who don't support the older models. I have a Verdi of that series, but smaller, and I've been brainstorming to figure out a way to fix that.

 

[debra]

This is indeed one from the oldest generation that has the white oval register switches. It will be in need of some attention. Apart from the cosmetic issues on the grille stripes the bellows tape needs replacing. This indicates that the instrument has been used a lot and accordions do wear out from use, so it may need more in the way of repairs. Not only the bass switch mechanism wears out. The master palm switch is also known to break.

 

[Ikesaccordions]

This is indeed one from the oldest generation that has the white oval register switches. It will be in need of some attention. Apart from the cosmetic issues on the grille stripes the bellows tape needs replacing. This indicates that the instrument has been used a lot and accordions do wear out from use, so it may need more in the way of repairs. Not only the bass switch mechanism wears out. The master palm switch is also known to break.

Paul thanks.
I meant also when one is played a lot, if it has the usual mechanism which transfers the treble switch program through the fondo to the internal slides, it is made with a plastic body and metal rotating parts, so that it wears on the plastic body and quits working accurately, and Hohner no longer makes that so-called "Steering Box" as far as I know.
Even if there were some left in Germany, we in the U.S. and Canada are only allowed to buy parts from the exclusive U.S. dealer who doesn't offer to order special parts outside of their catalog.
I thought of a novel way to possibly fix it, as most Atlantic Hohners have the same issue, but haven't yet put my idea to the test.
I have a Swiss made Hohner Musette IV 4/5 LMMM that could use one.
Another thing that wears out are the rubber key lifters I think are called Wechselgummis which have two different hole sizes. When these wear out, people try to fix them with shoe glue or whatever, but they have to be replaced. The only ones I have are with the smaller hole size so I've had to ream them occasionally. There is a way to make the from a mold, but I've never tried that.

 

[debra]

Paul thanks.
...
Even if there were some left in Germany, we in the U.S. and Canada are only allowed to buy parts from the exclusive U.S. dealer who doesn't offer to order special parts outside of their catalog.
...

You might try your luck with https://www.hohner-cshop.de/ which has some common parts to fix older Hohner accordions. They for instance have https://www.hohner-cshop.de/Akkorde...ilzringe-weiss-rund-zu-Diskant-Klaviatur.html which are I believe the "key lifters" you mention, but these are felt used on later models, not the older rubber-like ones that dry out and break.
It's sad to see that Hohner doesn't supply more parts for their older instruments. Some parts are fairly generic and some non-generic parts for Hohner can still be ordered from the Italian parts store Carini (carinidena.it), but parts for older Italian accordions are more readily available than parts for old German ones.

 

[Ikesaccordions]

I did try it. (The thing you mentioned)

 

[pilagou]

Ick… all the replies are quite frightening. So far most things work on mine…. save for the palm switch unfortunately. We’ll see what the future brings.

 

[debra]

Ick… all the replies are quite frightening. So far most things work on mine…. save for the palm switch unfortunately. We’ll see what the future brings.

The palm switch is not the most difficult repair. (You do need to disassemble the keyboard to reach it though, and oh, yeah, to diassemble the keyboard you first need to disassemble the register mechanism...

 

[Dingo40]

You do need to disassemble the keyboard to reach it though, and oh, yeah, to diassemble the keyboard you first need to disassemble the register

Phew !

 

[PhiliGol]

The serial is 541-009. I looked around on the internet to find the same model but no luck. There are some similar looking but not identical. It's mostly curiosity on my side.

Hi Ike
Maybe it's redundant information as it may have been mentioned in other threads.
If you want to know some details of your particular instrument you can contact HOHNER give them your serial number and they'll send someone into their catacombs to look up their records and print it on a certificate. Certain effort which is not for free, actually they charge €30,- / US-$ 35,-
https://www.hohner.de/en/service/accordion/vintage-accordions

 

[dak]

It may be worthwhile to mention that the Verdi V was a mass-manufactured large entry-level model from a time of significant hand assembly. That means that the (machine-made) reed plates will tend to be of worse quality than today's entry material, and the general assembly will likely be somewhat better, specifically using better wood quality internally than modern entry-level models. It will tend to be more durable than its modern cousins, but since it has already seen a lot of play, its mechanics will have worn down to some degree already. Significant repairs would likely cost more than the instrument's worth, so it makes a reasonable learning instrument also for mechanics. The reed response will be such that the instrument will not on its own tease the player into exploring the fine points of dynamics and articulation and bellows control.

According to the model list I have here, the Verdi V was mainly produced 1956–1961, with some in 1973. Your register switches look of a newer type to me than what I associate with those instruments, so I consider it possible for it to be of the last run. As mentioned, the definite answer can be gotten from Hohner for a price by sending them the serial number. Other info in the model list is just that it has 41 keys, 120 basses and 4 treble reed banks, but that would have been easy to figure out within minutes anyway.

If there aren't glaring faults, it should be good for quite a bit of learning.

 

[JerryPH]

As far as the Hohner certificates go, they offer limited info. Here is an example from one of our forum members:




If what they offer is enough for your needs, it may be worth it, but if you require more technical info, likely a good accordion tech can give you some more pertinent data about what is inside your accordion, including it's approximate market value.

 

[debra]

It may be worthwhile to mention that the Verdi V was a mass-manufactured large entry-level model from a time of significant hand assembly. That means that the (machine-made) reed plates will tend to be of worse quality than today's entry material, and the general assembly will likely be somewhat better, specifically using better wood quality internally than modern entry-level models. It will tend to be more durable than its modern cousins, but since it has already seen a lot of play, its mechanics will have worn down to some degree already. Significant repairs would likely cost more than the instrument's worth, so it makes a reasonable learning instrument also for mechanics. The reed response will be such that the instrument will not on its own tease the player into exploring the fine points of dynamics and articulation and bellows control.
...

My wife played a Verdi V for many year. I have also worked on some other Verdi accordions (the Verdi II is very popular around here).
Even though Hohner placed the Atlantic series above the Verdi (certainly price-wise) I find that the Verdi accordion are better quality. They have far better full-length reed blocks compared to the half-size soft-wood blocks in the Atlantic. The Verdi has a nice wooden treble and bass housing as opposed to the cheap to produce pressed aluminium bodies of the Atlantic, which often suffer from air leaks and which is the main source for the undesirably sharp sound of the Atlantic as well.
The reeds in all lower-end Hohners (Student, Verdi, Atlantici...) are not very good, but they can work pretty well when care is taken about the voicing. The reeds can be made to respond consistently. One would almost start thinking that they are not made consistent in the factory in order to draw customers towards more expensive models. (The same issue exists with the Morino, which only has tipo-a-mano reeds in order to draw customers towards the Gola.)
The reeds are a fairly loose fit causing them to use more air than high-quality reeds, but at the same time it also means that these reeds never fail to play, even when it gets too cold for comfort. The Verdi series is a great stage accordion (for light music) because it is so robust and reliable.
The most important consideration when choosing a Verdi is to make sure you get the original "made in Germany" version, which has the gold trim as shown in the picture by pilagau. Hohner moved production to China and produced Verdi accordions there, without the gold trip, and of lousy quality compared to the old ones.