Melodion or Melodica?

Suzuki Melodion vs. Hohner Melodica

I'm looking to pick up a melodica to finish up some dub tracks I've been tinkering with, and the only one the shop has is a Suzuki alto melodion. Is anyone familiar with these? I'd like to emulate the sound Augustus Pablo had, and I read he used a Hohner Melodica, but I haven't been able to find any kind of comparison online. Do you think it'll do in a pinch?

posted by Hoopo (4 comments total)

Not exactly an answer to your question (I've never heard what the Suzuki sounds like), but could you order online? Musician's Friend has the Hohner Melodica here.
posted by edlundart at 12:04 AM on March 14, 2009

They look pretty similar to me. I doin't expect the sound making mechanism would be that different so either would probably do.

Does it really need to sound exactly like a Hohner Melodica?
posted by mary8nne at 5:41 AM on March 18, 2009

No, no...it doesn't have to sound exactly like a Hohner--I record on my laptop using an internal mic so I can't be that picky. I'm just a little concerned that it will sound unlike the instrument I hear in 70s dub. Most of what I've been able to find on the melodion and melodica says that it's considered a kind of a "learning" or "starter" instrument, so I wasn't sure if there was any kind of standard melodica sound or if it varied greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer and primarily served to teach students about keys/woodwind instruments rather than making nice sounds.

[I'm pretty sure that last sentence could use some punctuation, but I'm not sure where]

Also, thanks edlundart...I may just order one.
posted by Hoopo at 7:05 PM on March 18, 2009

The outcome: I just got the Suzuki Melodion and it's pretty much exactly what I wanted--they're essentially the same thing. But it's now the end of the month so the amnesty challenge is over. I guess that's fate telling me "Punch 'em in the Dub" should never be.
posted by Hoopo at 5:48 PM on March 31, 2009