[David Brancazio]

Greetings folks,

I’m a Boston-area mechanical engineer and keyboard player that plays melodica year-round in several street/marching bands (all associated with the HONK! Festival of Activist Street Bands, which started here). These bands are acoustic, mobile, and theatrical. I learned melodica because it’s too hard to wheel a keyboard down the street (I actually did try that). At first I was frustrated because it’s very hard for an un-amplified melodica player to compete with trumpets, saxophones, snares, sousaphones, etcetera. Even my solos were barely audible. Blowing as hard as possible tends to bend the notes flat, too. Over the years I’ve made some substantial improvements, starting with ditching the inlet tube and blowing straight into the instrument, then cutting away most of the back cover of the Hohner 32’s I play to directly expose the valves. Most recently, I located larger bore corrugated plastic tubing (and adapted it to fit onto the instrument. I find this allows me to play just as if I were blowing directly into the instrument, but now I can play with two hands, “Japanese style,” if I want to. (Thanks, Gianluca, I bought your book!).
Anyway, I’d like to purchase a 37-key instrument, and I’m wondering if anyone has suggestions for one that might be best-suited for competing with louder instruments!

[Lowboy]

Hi David,

The Hohner Melodica Piano 36 is one of the loudest melodicas I have ever heard without being too harsh. Big, full, bright sound. Professional quality. It will easily keep up with horns. You would have to buy one used, however, as they went out of production some time ago.

By the way, I live in near Springfield. Maybe we can hook up one of the days. I am a technical writer that works near Worcester a lot. I have heard about HONK.

I happen to have two Hohner Melodica Piano 36s for sale and both are in great shape. You could try them before you buy one.

There are other options for loud melodicas and I will leave it to others with direct experience to talk about those.

Here is a photo of a Hohner Melodica Piano 36.

Lowboy

https://kpbwva.dm.files.1drv.com/y4mtO4PGUzXBtyBW19MO4PcngQ-O9MpuMmfaUESaxeP9fG8TGFfCdma7ALtyNupZRFrtxxF5ZNy4cK4cgXvFBpEH3ngQ4FNS7s5t5EysNaNXAGfad-FOIjkzeRbFPn2XlRjW_LVxsaDiMJXRJwnw5Zqx0xkgkxFInpikMGG_Zka5j3B8FmY9wqYG9MPQPl93LFx7izEF6W9O3fnAC8mCinROA?width=1500&height=1007&cropmode=none

[David Brancazio]

Thanks Lowboy! I’d like to talk to you more about the Hohner 36’s. I’d contact you directly if I could figure out how…

[Alan Brinton]

Lowboy is definitely a reliable source for the Hohner Piano 36, David. If that doesn’t suit your fancy, let us know. I have some older Suzukis, one of which might suit your purpose.

[Lowboy]

Hi David,

Respond to my Craigslist ad (link below) and I will send you my email address.

https://westernmass.craigslist.org/muc/d/ludlow-hammond-organ-player-seeks-blues/6795202364.html

Lowboy

[David Brancazio]

Thanks, Alan. One of Lowboy’s Hohner Melodica Piano 36’s is heading my way!
-Dave

[Author]

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