sonny3
201 posts
Jul 30, 2014
2:20 PM
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Anyone play these and what kind of music can you play with them? Thinking about getting one for a different sound.Also what model harps are good? Thanks
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GMaj7
480 posts
Jul 30, 2014
4:54 PM
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Seydel has a couple different models that are really nice.. They have the Fanfare and the Fanfare-S.. Both are built on a 270 chromatic frame and the only difference is that the Fanfare-S model is stainless steel. Most come in SOLO tuning although Seydel has them in other tunings, as well.
I have several in stock as well as several in different tunings and configurations. Hohner and Seydel also make a 2-sided tremolo which is a lower end version but essentially comes in C and G. I have a bunch of those, too.. I'll sell cheap...
Personally, the only time I've really heard them played well in a modern context is by Mickey Raphael on a few tunes. There are some Asian players who do some good work using trems..
Personally, I like OCTAVE harps much better. They are constructed the same way except the notes are an octave apart. I think the sound is much more useable in a band and provides a good synth pad.. as well as accordion....
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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nacoran
7890 posts
Jul 30, 2014
6:17 PM
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I've got a couple cheap tremolos, and a pair of Huang Musettes that are designed to be played in a pair to be chromatic (C and C#).
If you tongue block octaves on tremolos you can get some really nice organ like sounds.
I seem to remember that Asian vs. German tremolos one tended to be a much wetter tuning (more wah) but I don't remember which was which.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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A440
186 posts
Jul 31, 2014
4:48 AM
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@sonny3 - good to see this thread pop up. I am also looking at picking up both a Tremolo and an Octave. Growing up, I remember my grandfather playing country-folk-gospel on a tremolo, and I think it will be fun to experiment with one. My initial research surfaced the Seydel Sailor, Hohner Echo, and Suzuki Humming as three obvious candidates. Anyone in the forum have any experience or recommendations?
I also tend to agree with Greg's comment - an Octave harp would be more useful in a band, and in songs where you might normally use a bluesharp. Maybe the Octave is the harmonica equivalent of a 12-string guitar? The Seydel Concerto looks interesting, since it is Richter tuned and set up with 10 holes like a diatonic. So I'm thinking it would be easy to use, moving from a bluesharp. Again, any experience from the forum would be appreciated...
Last Edited by A440 on Jul 31, 2014 4:50 AM
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rbeetsme
1569 posts
Jul 31, 2014
5:36 AM
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GMaj7
482 posts
Jul 31, 2014
5:42 AM
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Here's a sample of me playing the old hymn on a Hohner Auto Valve and a Rack. This particular one I tuned to Melody Maker and plays well in 2nd pos. I have a bunch of these...
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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HarveyHarp
596 posts
Jul 31, 2014
8:13 AM
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Well, I have a Hohner Echo Harp, which is a double sided C, G. I think mine is old, because it has bell metal reeds. Nacoran is right, the Hohner has a much stronger Tremelo than my others. It is tuned Diatonic.
I have two Suzuki Humming tremelos. They are both Harmonic Minors, G and A, and are really cool for playing 1st position Minor tunes, such as spoonfull, St James Infirmary etc. and I think some cultural tunes. I like to play Hatikva on it. I don't think that you can play anything meaningful in 2nd position.
Then I have a Suzuki Tremelo Old Timer, I think, which is Solo Tuned, and also a Suzuki Baritone, Solo tuned. The Baritone to me is a work of art, and I love the sound.
Do I need them, no. Do I play out with them, not yet. Would I like to sell them. Heck No. They are fun to sit around and play.
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HarveyHarp
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barbequebob
2666 posts
Jul 31, 2014
10:24 AM
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Whenever I do Slim Harpo's classic, Raining In My Heart, I often use a Hohner 2409 tremolo harp. Hohner tremolo harps are usually tuned to just intonation and they'e fun for imitating an accordion, especially when playing chords. The notes can be bent, but NOT the two together (which each reed plate is tuned up diferently in terms of standard pitch in order to produce the tremolo effect), but just an individual reed, but it will NOT respond to that technique if you play it the way most players tend to play, and that's with too much breath force.
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STME58
1009 posts
Jul 31, 2014
12:02 PM
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"There are some Asian players who do some good work using trems.. "
In China, if you go into a music store and ask for a harmonica, they will point you to a tremolo. Blues harps are a bit harder to find.
In talking with some of my Chinese co-workers, I found that a tremolo harmonica is used to introduce 3rd and 4th graders to music much like I have seen the recorder used in schools in California. This may account for having more good tremolo players in China.
The last time I was in China I bought a couple of Guo Guang tremolos for about $3.00 each and a Suzuki Study-24 for about $8.00. I use play the Suzuki a bit. It is a fun and interesting sounding harp. The cheap ones are quite out of tune and I haven't taken the time to tune them up.
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The Iceman
1879 posts
Jul 31, 2014
12:09 PM
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My first visit to Trossingen for the World Harmonica Championships in the early 90's was my first experience with tremolo harmonicas.
I wandered away from the blues guys and watched a few Asian performers. Was blown away by the beauty of this instrument. Nothing like it.
Classical players would play and switch harmonicas constantly during the song. Not only was it audibly fantastic, but also visually beautiful with their precise hand movements during switching.
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The Iceman
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nacoran
7893 posts
Jul 31, 2014
3:10 PM
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Iceman, I think form follows function even in cover shape. The tin sandwich cover with that little finger ridge/flair on the back makes it clumsier to use two harps compared to the flat covers on most tremolos.
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Nate
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hannes
32 posts
Jul 31, 2014
4:50 PM
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One of the most stunning examples of what Iceman is referring to:
I've played around with octave and tremolo harps every now and then, here's my opinion about the models I've tried, maybe it will be helpful to you:
Seydel Concerto: very airtight and loud, sound almost like a Cajun accordeon. Big holes and thick mouthpiece may take some time getting used to. I have two of those, one in C and one in D retuned to easy third tuning. On both harps I removed the valves from the higher reed plate to enable regular bends, did some gapping to even out the response between the valved and the unvalved reeds, but never used them a lot. I would be willing to sell or barter, contact me offlist if you're interested.
Hohner Autovalve: Sound is richer and softer than the Concertos. Unsealed wooden comb and nails are the biggest drawback, on the model I had the comb started protruding in the middle after a while.
Suzuki Humming Tremolo: Very pure and "classical" sound, a bit expensive for casual use. Asian 21 hole layout for single note playing.
Tombo Band 21: Same layout as Suzuki Humming, inexpensive alternative, still very airtight but not as beautiful sounding.
Here's another example of tremolo playing in Irish music on one of the more expensive Tombo models:
Both Tombo and Suzuki also make Octave harmonicas with the same Asian layout as their tremolo models.
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jnorem
477 posts
Jul 31, 2014
5:02 PM
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What kind of harmonica is Akemi Iwama playing? It appears to be a chromatic tremolo.
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hannes
33 posts
Jul 31, 2014
5:17 PM
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She is switching back and forth between several tremolos to get the notes and chords she wants. This seems to be a common way to play tremolo harmonica in Asia, usually with a C and a C# harmonica as shown here:
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GMaj7
484 posts
Jul 31, 2014
5:24 PM
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I have some Seydel Concertos for sale and they are priced right.
These are the older style so they are tuned RICHTER SHIFT. They sound and play great. They are on the same body as a modern Concerto so the reed plates are interchangeable. It is just that several years ago, these harmonicas were slightly different tuning scheme.
Anyhow, I have (Bb), (B), and (C). Several folks have bough them and have come back for more.
Email for price and info
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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Gipsy
84 posts
Aug 01, 2014
1:13 AM
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Tremelo harmonicas and octave harmonicas are great fun. They both provide a different sound to the 10 hole diatonic harp, perhaps slightly fuller or more chord like.
If you can pick your melodies from the middle and top octaves of the 10 hole harp you'll soon pick it up. In a camp fire type situation they are superb. In particular I love my 32 hole Hohner Comet. It's small enough to carry around easily.
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GMaj7
485 posts
Aug 01, 2014
4:04 AM
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Here's some information on Octaves from my web site as well as a You Tube video I did on some custom built Octaves.
Here's a demo of some custom Hohner Auto Valves I built. I am taking a few to SPAH. The link below has more information and some additional photos.
http://1623customharmonicas.com/2014/03/15/the-hohner-auto-valve-octave-harp/
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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A440
187 posts
Aug 01, 2014
7:20 AM
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Greg - nice playing and great tone with that Auto Harp on BeThou My Vision --- that's directionally the sound and style I'm after - its not too far from what I remember my grandfather playing.
@hannes - thanks for sharing your views on the different harps - very helpful
I do not see the Auto Harp on Hohner's website, so I assume that means its no longer being produced. Does anyone know if the Unsere Lieblinge has a similar sound?
@harveyharp - an interesting idea - tremolos in minor keys!
Last Edited by A440 on Aug 01, 2014 7:29 AM
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GMaj7
488 posts
Aug 01, 2014
8:22 AM
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A440 - Thanks for kind words.
I have a BUNCH of Hohner Auto Valve harps for sale ..
Hohner isn't making them anymore so I went around and picked a bunch of from various sources.
Also have some nice low priced Concertos which are every bit as good and have the replaceable reed plate options.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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A440
188 posts
Aug 01, 2014
12:17 PM
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Sounds good Greg - you've sold me on the Auto Valve.
I'll e-mail you towards the end of the month.
When did Hohner stop producing the Auto Valve harp?
Last Edited by A440 on Aug 01, 2014 12:20 PM
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MN
327 posts
Aug 02, 2014
1:32 AM
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I use those two-sided Hohner tremolo harps a lot (stole the idea from Mickey Raphael). You can hear me use it on "Stand By Me" at 9:10 at this link: http://player.piksel.com/player.php?video_uuid=l7629xuf&categoryId=59073
Click on the "Music" tab at this link and then play "Offertory and Anthem 7-27-14."
Last Edited by MN on Aug 04, 2014 7:19 AM
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Thievin' Heathen
353 posts
Aug 02, 2014
9:22 AM
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I have a Hero (made in Shanghai) Tremolo C that I have had so long I can't remember where I bought it. It was certainly not a long considered purchase because I have very few cheap Chinese harps, but I am amazed at the quality. It does not get played much, but it has lasted at least 25 years. I also have a Suzuki 2 Timer A, which looks remarkably similar to the Hero. May be that if you are selling tremolos in Asia, they better be good ones.
That's just my perspective, tremolo trivia. I only noodle around on them, but I think practicing on them helps with breath control when I switch back to 10 holes.
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MP
3252 posts
Aug 02, 2014
11:21 AM
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Nice stuff Greg!
If I remember correctly, I saw several Huang Tremelos in James Harmons cigar box? about 15 years ago.
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jbone
1719 posts
Aug 02, 2014
7:52 PM
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I have 2, one is an Echo, the curved one, the other is apparently pretty old, at least say 20 or so, wood comb. I'm willing to let them go real cheap if anyone wants them. jawbonesixtyathotmaildotcom.
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MN
332 posts
Aug 13, 2014
7:19 AM
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I just stumbled across the video I mentioned above. Here's the direct link. I come in with the tremolo harp at 3:35.
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