Matzen
78 posts
Mar 17, 2011
1:54 AM
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I was wondering if someone could explain the differences between the Hohner 270 and the 270 Deluxe? I hope to be in the market for a chromatic soon, and I am trying to figure out what to go with! It's my understanding that the the 270 Deluxe only comes in "C", but that's all I know! Any info would be great!
Thanks!
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Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2011 1:55 AM
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Stevelegh
96 posts
Mar 17, 2011
2:12 AM
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Round holes. Much more comfortable. Worth the bit extra. I would take the trouble to set it up, or spend a bit more and get one from Tony Dannecker. I bought I 270 Deluxe off him and it's great.
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Matzen
79 posts
Mar 17, 2011
3:39 AM
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Is it wierd to transition from square to round holes or round to square holes at all?
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Last Edited by on Mar 17, 2011 3:40 AM
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Stevelegh
98 posts
Mar 17, 2011
7:41 AM
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Hi Matzen,
Firstly, I'm not much of a chrom player, I do a few Stevie Wonder tunes and can rattle out a blues in Dm, but I don't play 'properly' as in theory / scales / transposing etc.
Personally, I find the square holes feel like you've got a giant diatonic in your mouth, where the round holes aren't so cumbersome. Also you can stick your tongue right into the sqauare holes up to the slide, which means you can pinch it when you push the button in. If you're a pucker player, that isn't so much an issue, although if you're looking to play using all the techniques, I'd imagine some tongue blocking will be required.
Seeing as you'll be spending quite a bit anyway, for the extra cash, I'd go for the Deluxe.
I hope this helps.
Steve
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tmf714
542 posts
Mar 17, 2011
9:02 AM
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From Coast to Coast Music-
Hohner believes that the Deluxe version of the traditional Chromonica 270 has set another milestone in the manufacturing of top quality wooden-bodied chromatic harmonicas. The Chromonica 270 Deluxe incorporates a variety of improvements on the original classic 270 design, which optimize handling and ensure greater volume and faster response, while retaining the rich and powerful Hohner classic sound. It is the ideal harmonica for established chromatic harmonica styles and also well suited to more contemporary playing techniques.
Features:
* Assembled with 5 reed plate screws to maximize airtightness and facilitate maintenance.
* Chrome plated mouthpiece featuring round holes for greater playing comfort.
* Extra thick brass reedplates (1.2 mm) for a full, powerful sound.
* Smooth and silent slide mechanism.
* Natural finished sealed pearwood body with rounded edges for improved ergonomics.
* The slide assembly can be installed for left handed use.
* The tested cover design is stable and robust and is attractively engraved.
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RT123
98 posts
Mar 17, 2011
9:19 AM
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The first 12 hole Chromatic I started with was a Suzuki Chromatix SCX-48 and I loved it. You can get them online for under $150.00. I still have it and play it often. I also have a Suzuki Serius S48 but that will set you back closer to $500.00. Try the Chromatix, I am sure you will like it. ALmost all Chroms are in C
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barbequebob
1599 posts
Mar 17, 2011
9:43 AM
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The other difference is that, like the Toots Hard Bopper model, it uses a thicker reed plate, but also long slot reeds, wheras the regular 270 uses the standard thickness and short slot reeds. The 270 Deluxe at this point is only available in C.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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barbequebob
1600 posts
Mar 17, 2011
9:45 AM
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The other difference is that, like the Toots Hard Bopper model, it uses a thicker reed plate, but also long slot reeds, wheras the regular 270 uses the standard thickness and short slot reeds. The 270 Deluxe at this point is only available in C.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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chromaticblues
710 posts
Mar 17, 2011
2:23 PM
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This is a case of Hohner getting it right! Absolutly right! The whole idea of the 270 Deluxe was to make a standard Hohner style Chromatic with the CX-12 Gold reedplates and reeds. The 270 Deluxe also has round holes like the CX-12. These two harps sound very different, but are very similiar. The CX-12 is just to different for alot of people so they built a version of it with their best selling Chromatic (the 270). Now thats smart! I personally like the CX-12 better. The CX-12 doesn't have that accordian sound that traditional chromatics do. It does have a plastic type acoustic tone that alot of people don't like, but it doesn't come thru amped! I don't know why? The CX-12 is tuned to 444 A. Which I HATE! What a pain in the ass it is to retune a chromatic! I tune it down to 442 A. I don't know what the 270 Deluxe is tuned to.
All in all I would say the 270 Deluxe is a better harp for most peopole. The CX-12 is great, but you have to dedicate yourself to it and learn how to produce a big tone or it will sound like shit! It naturally is brighter because it is so wide open in the back. The CX-12 is so air tight you can take the windsavers off the blow reeds (half valved). I put scotch tape on one side of the slide and put vaseline on both sides of the slide. That cuts down on air loss and the vaseline also cuts down the slide down the slide noise a little. You have to clean it once in awhile and reapply, but its easy. You can't leave it in the sun or a warm place with the vaseline thats all.
All this might sound like alot of crap to go thru, but I can play my chromatic with diatonic type bends from the 1 to the 10 hole. I mean the bends sound like I'm playing a diatonic!
So with this in mind the greater question is: OK well how much do one of those cost? and thats why I played the Hohner 260 for years!
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tmf714
543 posts
Mar 17, 2011
4:04 PM
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The Deluxe 270 is tuned to A=442Hz. This is the best
chrom for blues I have in my arsenal. Just hoping they start to offer alternate keys-.
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Matzen
81 posts
Mar 17, 2011
7:24 PM
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I was looking at the CX-12. James Conway was nice enough to show me his (he plays with my girlfriend's band every so often). He also showed me how easy it was to take apart to clean. I thought that was great. I'd have no idea how to take apart a 270 to clean, and then be able to get it back together! I just don't know if I'm keen on the sound of the CX-12(for blues anyway), and the mouthpiece looks so huge to me!. As far as other brand harps... I would like to stay with hohner 'cuz I can get a super good price on them right now. I guess that the Deluxe sounds like the best option. Hope they come out with more keys soon!
Thanks for the great info everyone!
-Ryan
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apskarp
434 posts
Mar 18, 2011
2:15 AM
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Btw,
I have on sale one 10-hole Chromonica (G) and one 12-hole 270 (C). These are old harps that I have cleaned, changed the broken valves and sealed the combs. If you live in Europe it might be feasible to buy one from me. I've sold two of these with 3-month guarantee and neither one has been returned.
So the price is 50 euros / harp and it comes with 3-month guarantee - if something goes wrong, I'll repair it for free in that timeframe.
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Last Edited by on Mar 18, 2011 2:18 AM
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barbequebob
1601 posts
Mar 18, 2011
7:20 AM
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On Hohner's newer chromatics, they completely changed the reed profile and some old school chromatic guys have mentioned that they now play more like a Hering and erings were usually easier to play out of the box than Hohner's and you could get a bit more bending capability than with Hohner.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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MP
3597 posts
May 02, 2018
4:29 PM
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If 270 Deluxes have thicker reed plates (1.2 mm) then how thick are the plates of regular 270s? Thanks!
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Reasonably priced Reed Replacement and tech support on Hand Made Series Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas.
'Making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time.
Click MP for more info. Aloha Mark
.
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barbequebob
3504 posts
May 03, 2018
9:47 AM
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Much the same as most of their diatonics, 0.90mm but not more than 1.0mm.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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MP
3600 posts
May 03, 2018
2:26 PM
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Thanx Bob! That's pretty thick.
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Reasonably priced Reed Replacement and tech support on Hand Made Series Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas.
'Making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time.
Click MP for more info. Aloha Mark
.
Last Edited by MP on May 03, 2018 2:58 PM
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BnT
164 posts
May 03, 2018
5:17 PM
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I have several chromatics from Suzuki, Hohner, and Seydel. A lot of the decision is just personal preference (or cost - unlike candy bars it gets pretty expensive to buy a multiple chromatics to taste test). If you're interested, I've got two brand new Seydel Chromatic Deluxe harps for sale - a B (3rd position, band in C) and E (band in F) at $135 each or two for $250. Check it out.
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/msg/d/new-seydel-chromatic-deluxe/6574646050.html
A "C" is the standard and it's fine, but I don't do a lot of songs with the band in D. I have and don't care for the feel or sound of the CX12. My Suzuki SCX48 is great, but it wasn't out of the box, and a Suzuki engineer at SPAH had to take it apart twice and spent over 45 minutes on it to make it "great". I have had several 270 / 270 Deluxe and find them adequate. I played Hohners for 40 years and I'm not impressed with current day product. Seydel puts out a good chromatic and I have a couple. All this tells me is that I have too many chromatics.
Good luck choosing right.
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BnT
Last Edited by BnT on May 03, 2018 5:18 PM
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