[Lamar]

Hi PeeCee – I’m one of that guys that did the vinegar wash on a 60s Piano 36. I haven’t opened this one, but I have opened two other ones, and they had foam-like stuff between the compartment walls and the back cover.

I later found out that this stuff is similar to, or is, accordion sealing tape. Maybe that’s what you’re seeing? I ordered some from Amazon but haven’t actually used it yet.

I will now sneak back under my rock and let somebody knowledgeable about your exact model chime in. 🙂

[Lamar]

That looks much better than I was imagining. 🙂

[Lamar]

Hi, James,

I haven’t been involved with melodicas for very long, but in my experience the key sizes between the current Hohner Airboard, Enforcer, and Performer, Suzuku Melodion 37, Hammond Pro and Pro HP 44, Yamaha 37 ERB, and older Hohner Piano 36 are all comparable. I have one Hohner Piano 26 that has much smaller keys. I think the current models are about 70% to 80% of piano size.

If there’s a rule for this that I don’t know, maybe somebody else will chime in with the details.

I’ve fiddle-farted with pianos for around fifty years now, but I’ve recently taken up organs. (Their keys are not exactly piano-sized, either, but closer than melodicas.) By the way, I have a couple of modern Roland compact synths (DS-61, VR-09B, and FA-06) that don’t have full size keys, either.

[Lamar]

It worked. It worked great. Rather than mint, I added a few drops of essence of almond into the rinse water. All the notes and key action is working fine. I have a slight leak under one of the strap attachments, but I haven’t worked up any enthusiasm about going for it yet.

My next job is to deodorize the case, which also is by far the nicest case I have out of three Piano 36 cases.

Thank you, Melodica-Me!

[Lamar]

Thank you. I will try exactly that and report back. Thanks again!

[Lamar]

Hi, Mark,

I have an M37C Melodion and a Hammond Pro 44 HP V2. The Hammond has studs for inexpensive guitar straps and that’s what I use to play it. (I’ve been experimenting with playing with both hands.) The Hammond is by far my favorite melodica to play. I LIKE having that octave below middle C, and the reed response is quick without any excessive air requirement. I also ordered a spare set of reeds for it (from Japan), as I intend to keep it at least until the cows come home.

[Lamar]

Hi, Tony C – I ordered a set on eBay from merchant takak2015. Here’s a link to his shop on US eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/takak2015?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

It took about a week to get them from Japan. You might want to check and see if the merchant is active in the US. I see a current listing for them ($136) on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HAMMOND-44-PRO-44H-lead-plate-set-ELECTRIC-MELODION-Melodica-keyboard-harmoniica/112411295593

It came in shrink wrap. I’ve also seen them listed in a plastic bag like a slide rule might have come in. (Yes, I’m ancient.)

[Lamar]

Being the first air-blown instruments I’ve ever played (I’m 61 now), I’m enjoying the light feel of blowing into the 44HPv2. Thank you for a comprehensive answer and the pictures.

[Lamar]

I have a broken reed on my 1899 Kimball reed org. It makes a sucking sound when I press the key, as the reed has too much room for air passage, so it does not oscillate. Since it is on the celeste rank, I haven’t worried about it. And the reed organ works on lower pressure pulling the air through the reed.

The melodica is like an European harmonium, which drives the reeds with pressure. I’m confident you would hear the effect of a broken reed.

[Lamar]

I went for SLS plastic polished white on the elbow. $14 for three, and they sent one extra.

Hehe – you could build a spit trap out of a (largish) plastic pill bottle. Give it that pro look. 🙂

[Lamar]

As an aside, I’m impressed with just how softly I can play the Hammond. My modern Performer 37 will puff past the reeds at soft wind velocity that makes sound on the Hammond. I know we get what we pay for, but what engineering makes the Hammond more sensitive?

So have we ascertained that the only mechanical difference between the 44H and the 44HP are the perforated case and the number of mouthpieces?

(Oh, and the Performer 37 comes with a very nice case. It’s a little nicer than the Hammond case.)

[Lamar]

I think that if something was loose in there, it would have to be from the reeds or keys, since everything in the melodica is there to support that linkage. Except the spit valve, of course. Yes, I did mean shake it. I’ve read about people actually whirling their melodicas to get the last few drops out… so shaking it won’t hurt it.

I’m glad it’s okay.

[Lamar]

Hi, Clep – Just wanted to let you know that I had some elbows for my Piano 36 made using your hohner_mpiano_36_elbow_v2.sti file and they work great. I put a spare hose from my Suzuki M27C and Hammond 44HPV2 in a coffee cup of hot water for a minute and then stretched it over the fitting. It wasn’t difficult. Thank you.

[Lamar]

Hello, Olivier.

The odds are if you don’t feel anything cracked or missing on the outside, and the plastic case and keys are intact and smooth, and all the keys play, and the spit valve works, and it has no new rattles inside, then you have not damaged it. Go ahead and play it.

At least it wasn’t your Hammond.

[Lamar]

Hi, Henry, I see a plethora of plumber’s tape out there. What’s the name of what you used, and is it silicon based? Thanks.

On second thought, the silicons look like they stick to themselves more than they do other items. I wonder exactly HOW that is useful for plumbing.

[Author]

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