Nibiria
31 posts
Aug 15, 2014
10:41 PM
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Sorry for any typos i'm writing this on a tablet. Is there a good chromatic harp for under $200? All I could find was the Horner Educator and I'd like something a little higher quality. I saw a Huang for about 120ish but I can't find anywhere to buy it. Does anyone have any ideas?
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BluesJacketman
202 posts
Aug 15, 2014
11:55 PM
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Get a second hand Hohner 64 chromonica. Clean it up and it will be great.
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Gipsy
88 posts
Aug 16, 2014
12:43 AM
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I'm not sure of prices where you live, but a bit of general advice. Don't go too cheap, and don't be tempted by any harp without wind savers as they are way too leaky.
Also unless you know where the harp is coming from I'd advise against buying second hand. I'm not suggesting this on health grounds, but because if there's a problem with the harp it can be a devil of a job sorting it.
I've got several chromatics. My favourite is my Hohner 260, 10 hole harp. It's missing the last notes of the 3rd octave, but it's small enough to get a good cup, and it's small size makes it easy to carry around. I think this model is in process of being discontinued, so if you decide on one you may have to search around.
My best chromatic is a a seydel Saxony set up by Ben Bouman. It's an awesome instrument.
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GMaj7
496 posts
Aug 16, 2014
6:09 AM
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The Seydel Deluxe is the ideal model for this price range
It comes with stainless steel fasteners and screw assembly which makes routine maintenance much simpler.
Acrylic comb and smooth slide assembly as well as easily available and economically priced replacement parts.
There is a round hole mouthpiece upgrade that is really nice, too.
Although it is a brass reed harp, I go back with stainless when I repair a bad reed as the slot dimensions are uniform with the Saxony
I have pictures and more info as well as pricing on my web site
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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robbert
337 posts
Aug 16, 2014
6:53 AM
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Hohner Discovery 48 is an excellent harp for the money if a three octave suits your purposes. Sounds good, dependable, durable, plays well.
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Thievin' Heathen
366 posts
Aug 16, 2014
7:54 AM
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I have a Huang 1248 which I can't seem to where out. IMO, the upside to buying used chromatics is a lot of them are low mileage garage queens.
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Nibiria
32 posts
Aug 16, 2014
8:30 AM
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So another question, then. What are "wind savers?" which harps do and don't have them? Thanks!
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Thievin' Heathen
368 posts
Aug 16, 2014
9:00 AM
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Wind savers are those little white pieces of plastic you see on the reed plate when you look in the back door of chromatics. They act as reed valves to close air flow through the inactive reed slot which is sharing a comb chamber with the reed you happen to be playing at the time.
The harp without wind savers which immediately comes to mind, for most of us (I think), is the Koch 10-hole Richter chromatic. I have one, and used to really like it, but since replacing the cracked comb it seems a little leakier than I remember it being. I think proper reed gap is crucial to these. I seem to recall reading somewhere that Little Walter used one of these on some recording(s) and I am anxious to get mine set back up properly so I can get back to noodling around on it to discover what possibilities may be hiding there. I believe Seydel has a Richter tuned chromatic in their line and it probably has wind savers and it is probably not in my near future budget.
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SmokeJS
285 posts
Aug 16, 2014
9:05 AM
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Greg, great looking introductory chromatic. Being in Toronto I'm more likely to purchase in Canada. Do you know where the round hole mouthpiece could be sourced here?
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GMaj7
497 posts
Aug 16, 2014
9:15 AM
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SmokeJS I'm sure that there are Canadian partners that sell there. I try to steer business to those who participate in the forum.
Shipping to Canada from the U.S. Does have challenges and costs but I can assure you that the personal attention and time spent guiding you to the right product is worth a few extra dollars. At least that is the feedback I get from my Canadian customers.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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SmokeJS
286 posts
Aug 16, 2014
9:58 AM
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Canadian source may sound easy but often can be frustratingly difficult.
Can you tell us the advantages of replacing the standard square hole mouthpiece with one that has round holes? Thanks!
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Gnarly
1092 posts
Aug 16, 2014
10:44 AM
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Suzuki SCX is a great harp for less money.
Comes in 12, 14 and 16 hole flavors, with a one year warranty that makes playing blues a whole lot less worrisome.
Warranty includes reed failure!
Ask your favorite vendor for details.
Oh yeah, it's got round mouthpiece holes--and a two piece slide/mp combo that is very airtight.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Aug 16, 2014 10:45 AM
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Kingley
3672 posts
Aug 16, 2014
11:16 AM
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Personally I'd recommend any of the Hohner Chromonica range. I particularly like the 270 Deluxe.
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WinslowYerxa
691 posts
Aug 16, 2014
12:01 PM
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Seydel Deluxe is good and so is Suzuki SCX-48. Both excellent builds, easy to service, and available for less than $200.
Avoid any unvalved chromatic. It will gush air due to leakage and will leave you gasping to produce a weak sound. Hohner Educator and Seydel Standard fall in this category. The under-$100 stuff (Swan among others) is very chancy. Some report good experiences but my direct witness is of unrepairable manufacturing errors.
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Winslow
SPAH connects the world of harmonica
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
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GMaj7
498 posts
Aug 16, 2014
3:00 PM
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The mouthpiece upgrade for the DeLuxe is a round hole version that is a little more comfortable to play.
I don't think it is necessary but my customers almost always ask for it.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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SmokeJS
287 posts
Aug 16, 2014
3:10 PM
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Winslow, over on BH.com you suggested not forgetting the Hohner CX-12. Given I'm not a fan of wood combs might the CX-12 be an even better good bet in the not too much over $200 category for a 12 holer? As a bit of a traditionalist I very much like the look of the Seydel but practicality is always appreciated.
Last Edited by SmokeJS on Aug 16, 2014 3:21 PM
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WinslowYerxa
693 posts
Aug 17, 2014
11:10 AM
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The CX-12 is also a good choice. However, not all blues players like its fat, non-traditional sound for third position blues. You can hear the difference between the CX-12 Jazz and the 270 Deluxe in the review I did for HarmonicaSessions awhile back:
http://archive.harmonicasessions.com/dec09/Yerxa.html
In both playing examples, the first verse is played with a clean sound, and then the sound goes to a more dirty, distorted sound.
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Winslow
SPAH connects the world of harmonica
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Aug 17, 2014 11:14 AM
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A440
190 posts
Aug 17, 2014
11:27 AM
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Winslow, and others - any opinions on the 270 Deluxe versus Seydel DeLuxe?
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WinslowYerxa
696 posts
Aug 17, 2014
3:45 PM
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It's been awhile since I played the newer versions of the Seydel Deluxe (i,e., since the replacement of the original wood comb with the translucent plastic one) so I can't really say much except that it seems to be a decent instrument.
The 270 Deluxe delivers that classic Hohner bite, though I think it could be made more airtight. Te round hole mouthpiece is nice and of course the all-screwed together construction makes it much easier to service than the traditional nailed-together 270.
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Winslow
SPAH connects the world of harmonica
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Aug 17, 2014 3:47 PM
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Nibiria
33 posts
Aug 18, 2014
8:45 AM
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Is this site reliable?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-traditional-instruments/hohner-270-super-chromonica-chromatic-harmonica
I only ask because they have the 270 priced RIDICULOUSLY cheap, cheap enough for me to buy right off the bat if it's good.
Forgot to mention, the Seydel Deluxe is priced about $20 higher. Which is a more reliable instrument in your experience?
And there's the Huang 1248 if that wasn't enough choice I guess, but I don't know how reliable it is.
Last Edited by Nibiria on Aug 18, 2014 8:55 AM
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arzajac
1448 posts
Aug 18, 2014
9:40 AM
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Winslow, that's a great article. Those clips are of a CX-12 Jazz. How does the sound compare with the regular CX-12 - is there any difference? I think I like the sound of the CX-12 better than 270.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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WinslowYerxa
698 posts
Aug 18, 2014
10:13 AM
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Musician's Friend is a nameplate for the same company that owns Guitar Center. That's a great price, but they're offering a wood-combed instrument with nailed-on reedplates. This makes it hard to service - and re-assemble into an airtight condition. The Seydel Deluxe is screwed together for easy servicing, with a stable, non-swelling, non-shrinking, non-cracking acrylic comb.
Have you compared Rockin' Ron's prices? He's dedicated harmonica merchant and very reliable. His prices are usually competitive, but the present offer at Musician's Friend looks like a blowout special.
http://www.rockinronsmusic4less.com/
The only difference between the regular black CX-12 and the Jazz is that the shell is painted a different color and the mouthpiece is chamfered on the outside. All other details are the same and the sound is no different.
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Winslow
SPAH connects the world of harmonica
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Aug 18, 2014 10:22 AM
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Slimharp
380 posts
Aug 18, 2014
10:35 AM
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Last Edited by Slimharp on Aug 18, 2014 10:11 PM
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Gnarly
1093 posts
Aug 18, 2014
11:36 AM
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Ron's got the SCX 12, 14 and 16 models for $176, 200, and 220.
I use the SCX-56 as my carry around chrom, it holds up well.
I am also the guy who will repair your new Suzuki if something goes wrong (chromatics require more care than diatonics), as my day job is working for Suzuki.
One year warranty--
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GMaj7
500 posts
Aug 18, 2014
1:26 PM
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Nibria posted a link with some great prices. It is - of course - an open forum so i might offer to those seeking a chromatic purchase to consider giving the business to those who participate in the forum.
There are several newer players that are members and they ask A LOT of questions and get a lot of good and free advice from some of the members who happen to be harmonica retailers, dealers, customizers and even employees of the companies.
I would ask Nibria and others like him to consider giving them the business.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
Last Edited by GMaj7 on Aug 18, 2014 1:26 PM
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