Hi everyone. I was just given an unplayed Hohner Auto-Valve harp 105/40 in the key of G. It's around 25 years old and was never played. I don't know much about it but I think it's supposed to be a note and it's octave in each hole. Tuned like a regular diatonic but with double the reeds. When I blow in the lower holes I can hear the octave thing but mid to higher holes its hard to get it to sound like both notes are playing. I think maybe the higher octave becomes less noticeable. It's a little out of tune unless it's my playing but it has sat for 25 years in the box. Can anyone give me any insight into these? Does anyone else have one? Is there any technique tips you could spare? Can't find anything on these.
There is a discussion on this topic over at Slidemeister.org, under the section "Diatonic Discussions"
Last Edited by AppalachiaBlues on Mar 06, 2018 1:53 AM
I bought one, some 20-25 years ago. Totally worthless crap -- bordering on unplayable -- that nevertheless cost me quite a bit. An insult. Now, there was a down period in the Hohner QAS for a considerable time, and maybe my instrument, and yours, were produced at that time, but I will never take any such chance again.
Those Auto Valve/Marine Band Concert models were all tuned to 7LJI so on that note about tuning, don't jump to conclusions and they've never been tuned to equal temperament or a compromise tuning ever. I have one that goes back over 30 years and for some genres, it can be good for that but bending the note is different because each hole represents an octave and so you can't bend both notes but it takes a bit of work and you can get one of the notes to bend but you can't play them hard at all.
Here's a tune that Little Walter recorded behind Muddy Waters using one for most of the tune and it's the only time he ever recorded using one:
---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
It's basically a harp better suited to old-timey Americana than most anything else. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I somehow got ahold of one from a friend a long time ago. Kinda fun to play. Good for cajun tunes. It came in several different keys, I remember, and I always wanted to make mine country tuned rather than Richter for more melody playing, but I never got around to it as it's not an easy harp to take apart. Quite a leaky instrument, and as Barbeque Bob says it's difficult to bend, and you have to play gently with a wide mouth. I think I took the windsavers off mine so I could play it louder, as the thing was so leaky anyway, it barely made a difference and at least the notes wouldn't choke out. I did use it on a nice original recording in an Americana style, very subtley, as a background texture. It's kind of down in the mix, and I was but I was going for an accordian thing. I would advise you to hang on to it and play around with it. You may enjoy it.
Hey thanks a lot for all your responses and links too everyone. I had to go to you tube to look up the songs you sent as they were unavailable at least to me in Canada here. I listened to the Muddy Waters tune but couldn't find the Blu Lu one. Sounds like it's a limited instrument vs a regular diatonic. Tuning wise after I took the cover plates off looked around and put them back it improved for a while then sounded off again after a while. I think it might just be from spit or technique issues with this different harp. Anyways thanks again for all the input and I have an idea of what I have now.
If you remove the outside valves on the first 6 holes, you can get regular draw bends if you isolate either the top or the bottom row. For awhile I explored doing that, and then playing one row at a time - like having a regular and high harp 9or low harp, depending on the key) all in one, and then you can combine the two octaves for a big band/horn section effect.
I have a few of them and a few of the Marine Band Concerts. I like them. Thanks for the LW Bob. I believe the Seydel Concerto is what has filled that niche now. I bet that is a fine instrument.
i had one as a kid and was mesmized by it, along with an Echo harp. I bought one on sale as they have been discontinued for super cheap. I replaced the comb and it plays pretty darn good. i understand the Amish are big fans of these harps.
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Mar 07, 2018 8:22 AM
I think because we’re on this “Modern Blues Harmonica forum, most of you are missing the point to this special harmonica, the Auto-Valve-Harp,... This organ-tone harmonica is not and was never meant to be a reed-bending blues experience. There are many different uses for harmonicas and this one, the Auto-Valve-Harp was meant to be played using the tongue lifting method, (also known as tongue blocking), where you form a seal with your lips and tongue to block certain holes, then quickly lift your tongue off and back on to create a “slap” or “oom pah” rhythmic effect, which the Auto-Valve-Harp, with its duel octave deliverance, does spectacularly. When a musician blames their instrument for their inadequacies, it’s often a reflection of the, “a bad workman blames his tools” principle, meaning they’re avoiding taking responsibility for either their ignorance to that tool or their own shortcomings and limited skills to use that tool. A true harmonica player, while embracing their own style and type of harmonica they use, should not put down some instrument that they don’t understand just because it’s different, I’m still a student in the school of harmonica playing, and I’ve never had a minor-key harmonica, but that doesn’t mean I think they’re terrible by nature of their deliverance, only that I haven’t experienced the nuances of that harmonica. It is awesome to hear the sounds that can be made when using the ‘blocking’ method and have four notes, let’s say a G note having three octaves at the same time, (one note is repeated) and when you lift your tongue momentarily to include a C and E, it can be as glorious a sound as an accordion, which I believe was its intended usage. I love playing church hymns and polkas using the Auto-Valve-Harp and I’m sorry to have to school the dogmatic or narrow-minded, but when played any instrument with good intent, maybe find out the capabilities and facts surrounding that instrument before tearing it down or dismissing it as, ‘Totally worthless crap —bordering on unplayable.’ Like the 364 Marine Band or the Chromonica 270, the 105/40 Auto-Valve-Harp is a special instrument for a limited audience that is looking for a particular sound through the unique features it offers.
Glad you crypt dug this thread. I real like octave harmonicas and have used them a lot over the years.
I have had auto valve and marine band concerts, but liked the Huang cathedral concert better
Bushman has a fantastic version called the Knittlinger octave harmonicas. I think it is by far better than any octave harmonica built before it.
Can be so fun for zydeco too! ---------- www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Mar 15, 2025 5:46 PM
Gnarly
Alternatetuning
3180 posts
Mar 15, 2025
6:34 PM
Looks like the Bushman only comes in C and D at this point. I am currently repairing a pair of G Autovalves for a customer, not my favorite to work on, but they are quite popular with some folks.
I bought one new way back when they were something you could go into the music store and buy. Good for accordion type stuff. Holes 8 9 & 10 the upper octave is pretty much inaudible except maybe for dogs. I think Winslow Yerxa wrote about Big Walter Horton using one on a track with Muddy Waters. But basically for folk songs & tunes.
