Product: Hohner Cembalet
Price Paid: 50 (pounds sterling) used
Submitted
04/29/2003
at
09:08am
by
Cornelius J Rat (alias)
Email: corneliusjrat at yahoo<dot>co<dot>uk
Ease of Use
:
10
This electric harpsichord device predates synthesisers. There is one sound. I have no manual, but the tremolo control is clearly labelled "On" and "Off". This make it very straight-forward to use.
Features
:
1
The Cembalet is fully polyphonic. The keyboard action is harpsichord-like. The only built-in effect is the tremolo which has two settings: on and off.
Expressiveness/Sounds
:
5
As it is a harpsichord-like instrument with reeds plucked by neoprene pluckers, it is not touch sensitive in any way. Foam dampers on each key mute the note when the key is released. The tone is fairly distinctive but invariable.
Reliability
:
10
Over a period of many years the foam dampers may rot and need to be replaced. The neoprene pluckers will also wear with use and need replacement - good luck finding any ! If not stored carefully, the steel reeds may rust, affecting tone. The device contains a valve pre-amp so needs to be powered up regularly to keep the capacitors in good shape.
Day-to-day reliability is excellent.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I bought the last set of pluckers from the UK support organisation in Coldharbour Lane, London now long gone. They were very friendly and helpful but, as I say, long gone.
Overall Rating
:
6
I don't think I could replace it. It was probably not worth it as an investment compared to the JTM 50 I foolishly sold around the same time, but it's been a fun thing to have.
Mostly I play guitar, though I have a simple Clavinova, and I also have an old Yamaha PSS680 from the days when I was dabbling with MIDI interfaces.
I like the tone, I like the tremolo, but it weighs a ton; and some sort of touch sensitivity would be nice. I seldom play it these days because of the difficulty of finding parts - I'm afraid of wearing out the pluckers. Like any real mechanical instrument, the notes aren't 100% consistent, which is part of its charm.
I wish it had the original stand......
I'd love to hear from any other owners.
