I'm now the proud owner of what i consider the absolute finest Chromatic harmonica i've EVER played- sixteen holers included. Even Hohners flagship Chromatic the Super 64X- and that is saying a lot because the 64X is a mofo harp. i somehow don't care for Seydel chros. they sound cheap to my ears. nice action on em though.
I can't say enough about the Gregoire Maret G-48 12 hole.
Gorgeous blue full length covers. superb slide action. excellent air tightness, lots of volume despite it's beautiful but dark tone. I mean really dark. this harp doesn't get squeaky in the high register either. the harp has some wieght to it and the cover plate supports are an excellent idea that i'm surprised no one ever thought of before. two square brackets support each cover and are extremely functional.
it is L 559.99 i'll see what that is in USD. EDIT that's $871.00 and some change.
It was a gift. i could never justify such anexpensive chro since my 64 rocks and i have a gorgeous pre-war Chromonica.
The G-48 kicks the pre-war Chromonica six ways to Sunday. i've never found a Suzuki, Seydel, Lee Oskar, Herring, or anything that beats a Hohner diatonic- Well, The B-Rad but they are out of business.- not much luck w/ the chros either. It's taken 41 years but i'm a convert. Suzuki makes the finest chromatic harp ever. oh, well ---------- MP affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info- repair videos on YouTube. you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Last Edited by MP on Aug 22, 2013 1:01 PM
MP, do you know how the Suzuki Sirius line stacks up to the Maret? I've had my eye on the S-56S for a long time, but I could never justify the expense.
I bought a Super Chromonica some time ago, because I'd read that it was like the Marine Band of chromatics and I rather like Marine Bands (I have 20 or so), but I was pretty disappointed in the tone, even after taping the slide.
The R&D that Suzuki Japan put into the G-48 was used to develop the Sirius--there are a lot of similarities. The covers look plain compared to the Gregoire, but smudge much less--I like them, in fact, I like everything about the Sirius.
270 Super Chros kinda leave me cold but there is a Super Chro Deluxe that i've only heard good things about.
never tried the Sirius. It appears Gnarly knows about its provenance and so i'd go with what he says. And Gnarly, i've never seen a harp smudge as much as my Gregoire but i have this habit of wiping down harps to the point of neurosis. i understand there is a G-48W. the W meaning that it has rosewood cover plates.
PS so honker, sell your Super Chro and save up for the Sirius. Being- as Gnarly says- the design and components were inspired by the Maret i'd say you can't go wrong.
Caveat- I play Chromatic every single gig so i need one. Never buy something you don't have a very good reason to own. ---------- MP affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info- repair videos on YouTube. you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Last Edited by MP on Aug 23, 2013 11:56 AM
I have two G-48s. One for backup. This a very excellent harp. My favorite out of my CX-12s and Stever Malerbi Customized 270, which is quite nice as well. I thought about picking up a Sirius, but can't afford it. Plus I figure the G-48 is good enough.
Congrats on scoring that magnificent piece.Can't see ya doing a Greg Maret style song it,but someday post MP blowing the blues on the jazziest looking thing around.
The Sirius models do play and sound differently from the G-48 and come in 12, 14, and 16 hole sizes.
The G-48 is cross tuned while the S-(i.e., Sirius)48 is straight tuned. The S-56S is also straight tuned; only the S-64 is cross tuned.
I like the G-48 a lot but prefer 16-hol harps for much of what I play. Th S-56 (14-holes) is an amazingly good instrument and so is the S-64 (16 holes). I've never played the S-48.
Filip Jers plays the G-48, the S-48, and the S-64. He characterizes the Sirius sound as more compressed and punchy than the Maret. His favored ax for amplified situations is currently the S-48 as he feels it can cut through the sound of a band. ---------- Winslow
sometimes i don't go online for a day or so because i think it is healthier for me. @ capnj- all your harps are fixed and had their second tuning. if they are holding by Friday i'll send them out. besides yours, i have about 30 in various tuning stages. tune wait, tune wait. ;-) Anyway... like Winslow, i really like having 16 holes on a chro. in another thread people were praising the Seydel Super Six diatonic but i need all 10 holes on my diatonics too. SOoo tomorrow night i'll take the 12 hole Maret on its first gig and see how much i miss that real low octave on my Hohner 64. it hasn't seen any real action yet because i,ve had to replace a whole lot of windsavers; This is too beautiful a harp to buzz,and just slightly gap some reeds to my taste.
free advice- don't get addicted to 16 holers just cuz you saw a pic of Little Walter playing one. i almost feel short changed w/out that low octave....almost. It is Sooo gorgeous in sound and playability i might soon learn to forget all about them. ---------- MP affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info- repair videos on YouTube. you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Last Edited by MP on Aug 27, 2013 2:29 PM
I know what you mean, MP, about the 12-vs-16-hole thing. There are times when I really like the compact size and flexibility of a 12-holer, and other times when I really need the wider range (and sometimes beefier sound) of a 16. Fortunately, even high end chromatic harmonicas are much less expensive than sports cars . . . ---------- Winslow
