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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Chromatic?
Chromatic?
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A440
25 posts
Aug 13, 2012
4:55 AM
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I've been playing diatonic harp for years - blues, folk, country, rock, mostly using MB Deluxe and Special 20. I've never touched a chromatic in my life. Now I'm interested in trying one, mainly for blues-rock-R&B, but also to venture into jazz.
Chromatic players out there... which harp do you recommend???
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chromaticblues
1299 posts
Aug 13, 2012
4:58 AM
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Hohner CX12
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robbert
114 posts
Aug 13, 2012
7:06 AM
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I learned the note layout on the C diatonic and the C chromatic at about the same time.
The intervals remain the same for any key diatonic and the same goes for chromatic...but on chromatic I get confused when playing in a different key other than the key the harp is based in, so for anything other than 3rd pos. blues, I stick to a C chromatic.
Knowing the note layout allows me to venture into other keys, providing I know those scales, because I know when to press the button to get whatever #s & bs I need.
Jazz can modulate quickly from one key to another, in any given song, and on chromatic it's easier to accomplish those changes than on diatonic...although Howard Levy might disagree!
I don't know what chromatic harp jazz players say in general, but I know Toots Theilemans and Clint Hoover both use C chromatics.
For playing 3rd position blues on chrom, it's probably good to have a selection.
I prefer the 4 octave version, to have that nice low end available, and I like the Hohner Professional 2016, which you can sometimes find on Ebay, as they've been out of production for decades.
Chromatic harp is cool. Have fun with it!
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smwoerner
95 posts
Aug 13, 2012
11:36 AM
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If you're looking for something inexpensive to start on you might want to consider a Swan. There is a good write up on the Swan 1248-6/7 on the Slidemaster site. I've just ordered one to have as a carry around harp as the 16 holes I normally use are a bit large.
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laurent2015
374 posts
Aug 13, 2012
7:46 PM
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@A440: I'm not going to mention a brand, but just an advice: before playing your chrom, don't ever forget to warm it up.
The current valves are not the past quality, and they easy stick if you start playing from cold.
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1283 posts
Aug 13, 2012
8:12 PM
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Laurent, what you said about current valves not being of past quality, there is a valve you do not know about. Actually, very few people know of it.
There is a valve that appears to be unstickable when installed correctly. Wally Peterman - dynamite chord player, but engineer by trade - designed it and makes it in Indiana, but doesn't sell it direct. Contact Danny G at newharmonica.com. He sells them. In my opinion, they are better than any valve made in the history of the world. They have the air-seal of leather, the non-curling of, well, nothing, because I've not seen any windsaver so curl resistant. You look at them and they look gorgeous, because they are always laying flat.
Wally makes them in different thicknesses, really thick for Polyphonias, then on down in thinness.
Every valve I put on any harmonica I put valves on get the Wally Peterman valves. They are the most reliable valve I have ever seen. I hate to admit it, but they actually seal better than leather. The required point of contact is so small, you can have only a very, very, very narrow sliver of valve touching the reedplate and they will seal. Best valve I have ever seen and I have seen probably every type of valve out there.
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David
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Last Edited by on Aug 13, 2012 8:17 PM
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jbone
1033 posts
Aug 13, 2012
9:54 PM
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i DO have opinions! based solely on my own experience which is as follows: started with a chrometta 8 by hohner. went to a chrometta 12. contrary to what some may think, this is a very easy-to-play harmonica and sounds very good. pretty inexpensive for a beginner chro.
i actually had bought a hohner 270 in D before the chromettas but had just no idea what to do with it. i eventually ruined it trying to seal the comb. i recommend NOT taking a chromatic apart and trying to seal the cheepass wood comb by n=any means. play it or find a different harp. which is what i did. after i managed to wreck a reed or 2 on the chromettas, i "discovered" hering 5148 chromatics and got a couple of them. managed to wreck reeds there too but i must stress that it was my overbearing playing style and not the harp's fault at all. i then learned about just not overdrawing, on any harp, period. i still have a C baritono hering 48 model which i like a lot. but meanwhile i bought a couple of suzuki csx class chromatics. one is in middle C and is a nice harp, the other is in G and i love this harp. i had a guy give me a 270 because he didn't want to bend his mind around to figuring out 3rd position. i still have it and if you want to pay shipping i will GIVE it to you. but be warned, it tastes like the wood comb, not very pleasant. still, a free chromatic if you're interested. it's in middle C as well, which is the typical key for a chromatic.
my one question for you- and you don't need to even answer it here- is if you are familiar with 3rd position playing on a diatonic? a chromatic seems to be just made for 3rd. i have done a bit of first and just a tiny bit of 2nd on chromatic but they just shine out in 3rd. the possibilities are huge. jazz, country, folk, blues, funk, etc etc etc.
so for my money i would buy a suzuki csx in C. or get my mitts on a free hohner 270 just to explore possibilities. just my 1/50th of a buck.
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laurent2015
375 posts
Aug 14, 2012
3:18 AM
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ElkRiver, thank you for that tip.
You know my first harp ever was a chromatic and I bought several others in the eighties.
The last ones were Larry Adler professionnal 12/16 and I NEVER warmed them up before playing, and never had any sticking valves problems.
Now, I'm afraid of this: the presence on the market of guys who have the tips and materials to improve our instruments MAYBE allows firms like Hohner or others to operate less carefully when they make harps.
The trend could be more and more shit out of the box.
But yes, we all know that basically, harps are not expensive, so firms sell you the basics...
Am I wrong?
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jbone
1034 posts
Aug 14, 2012
3:33 AM
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i for one will NOT buy junk. this is why i have not bought a marine band in at least 15 years. you may get my money once but if you do, it will be the last time.
i also don't believe in working on ANY harp out of the box new.
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The Gloth
676 posts
Aug 14, 2012
6:13 AM
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For my money, I'd buy a Suzuki too. Probably I'll do one of these days, I had dropped the chrom for diatonics but now I want to play it again ; but my Larry Adler is getting tired.
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A440
26 posts
Aug 14, 2012
6:50 AM
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions... keep 'em comin'! It sounds like my initial thinking: key of C, plastic comb and play 3rd position. It sounds like the Suzuki and CX12 are good bets. It sounds like the Chrometta 12 might a safe bet as well, to get started. Anyone use the Seydels?
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chromaticblues
1301 posts
Aug 14, 2012
6:56 AM
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If money is an issue (and when isn't it). The Hohner 260 is IMHO the best of the "cheap" chromatics. Even though the comb is wood it is not a leaky terrible harp like they use to be. I bought a new one a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised!
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laurent2015
376 posts
Aug 14, 2012
7:47 AM
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In twelve holes version, I own the Seydel Deluxe, that sounds crystal-clear.
If you want to play blues, I think that the Hohner CX12
would be better: it sounds "deeper" and can be "bent" easier than others, IMO.
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bluesharper
229 posts
Aug 14, 2012
8:28 AM
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What about playing a 16holer? If you would start on that I would recommend the Super 64, awesome harp!
On the subject of a 12 holer I would advise starting out maybe on a Hohner 270, I also quite like the Cx-12, which I found to be alot better than the 270, but right now for me its that 16 holer! and compared to the Cx-12 the 270 is a good bit cheaper, Ive heard good things about some Suzuki and seydels chromes aswell. Personally though I would get a 270 since your only starting out and I would really take Jbones offer on that free 270 chrom so then at least if you don't like it you have only payed the shipping.
Good luck on your chromatic harmonica ventures its an awesome instrument!
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