[Alan Brinton]

While Suzuki identifies the 1961 A-34 as its first Melodeon, one of its historical charts shows these 1961 alto and soprano models:

For the past year or so, I have been trying to determine whether these existed only as concepts or prototypes, but have found absolutely nothing. Until now, that is. I now have had the good fortune to acquire one, which the seller identifies as one of a handful that were produced for market testing. Without further ado, here it is:

[Alan Brinton]

This model is a close copy of the the very first Hohner Melodica, the HM-900, except that the key range is different, an octave up from its alto sibling, which has the same range as the Hohner HM-901. It is known that Suzuki honcho Manji Suzuki obtained a Hohner HM-900 in 1959.

The Suzuki has a brighter, less muted sound than the Hohner. This one is in playing condition, though not as good playing condition as my Hohner button models — though those were almost certainly produced much later, as the Hohner button models were still being sold until at least the mid-1970s.

For those who are not familiar with the Hohner button models, it is clear from how the buttons work that they were designed to be played with both hands, black keys with the left hand. The same is true of the Suzuki.

[Alan Brinton]

This Suzuki came without a mouthpiece. The Hohner mouthpiece fits it, but a shade too loosely.

[Alan Brinton]

Argh! The Suzuki is a 1960 model, not 1961. So it is the first Suzuki Melodion (or one of two).

[Author]

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