TBird
122 posts
Mar 04, 2015
4:51 PM
|
Someone just gave me a Tombo Unichromatic! I’m pretty excited about it. I’ve always wanted a chromatic, but have always been too satisfied with playing diatonics to justify such a purchase. I’m also excited because I’m just starting to get comfortable playing in 3rd position, so that should be helpful, right?
Here’s what I’m wondering:
1) This thing needs some work especially in the windsaver department. Of course, I will do a little shopping around on my own, as I know several good chrom techs have been mentioned on this forum, but is there anyone (willing to work on Tombos) who immediately comes to mind? Someone who does a good basic poor man’s “Get Your Old Neglected Chromatic Up And Running” service?
2) Does anyone have any thoughts on this particular model (No. 1248 I believe)? I mean... I guess I don’t REALLY care. It's all I've got, so I plan on playing the crap out of it no matter what anyone says. :) But if anyone has any first-hand experience with a Unichromatic I’d be curious to hear about it.
3) And finally… How the heck do you play this thing? I’m (sort of) kidding. I’ll figure it out. I plan on starting with the chromatic section of Winslow’s Blue Harmonica for Dummies book, and just accepting that it will take a lot of time and practice. However, if there is any valuable information that can aid me in the learning process, I’d love to know about it.
Thanks!
T.Bird
----------
Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
|
TBird
123 posts
Mar 04, 2015
4:53 PM
|
----------
Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
|
2chops
354 posts
Mar 04, 2015
6:40 PM
|
@TBird...The Harp On! Site at angelfire.com has a TON of great chrom info. It's all about chromatic. Scales, cleaning, theory and on and on and on. I refer to it often.
Playing 3rd on a diatonic is pretty much like playing the chrom with the button not pushed in. Get acquainted with the Be Bop scale to get a feel for wht you can do working the slide.
I'm not a harp tech. So I'll leave those questions to the guys here who know what they are doing in that realm. Have fun with it.
----------
I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
|
shakeylee
135 posts
Mar 04, 2015
7:48 PM
|
i love the look of that harp!! nice comb!!
i would think you could buy some wind saver valves and fix it yourself.
----------
www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Mar 04, 2015 7:48 PM
|
TBird
124 posts
Mar 04, 2015
8:02 PM
|
Yeah, that crossed my mind Shakeylee. I think I would enjoy working on it myself (and saving the money), but not being a chrome player, I'm not sure I would know what I was aiming for as an end result. Also, I was hoping to find someone who might be able to straighten the deformity in the top cover plate. Although that top picture makes it look worse then it is and it's really just cosmetic anyway. I probably shouldn't bother.
Thanks 2chops!
T.Bird
----------
Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
Last Edited by TBird on Mar 04, 2015 8:02 PM
|
Dr.Hoy
5 posts
Mar 04, 2015
8:33 PM
|
You now have a harp that can play in all keys! Provided you stick with it, you'll have an interesting time learning how to play it, congratulations.
Last Edited by Dr.Hoy on Mar 04, 2015 8:40 PM
|
chromaticblues
1678 posts
Mar 05, 2015
9:14 AM
|
@Tbird
Yes I can help you.
Email me and I'll give more details.
|
Dr.Hoy
6 posts
Mar 05, 2015
2:04 PM
|
A very good instruction book for the chromatic harmonica is "Method for Chromatic Harmonica" by Max De Aloe. It has a lot of great exercises at the end of each chapter and includes a CD of the author playing the exercises. A good comprehensive study of the instrument.
|
Harmlessonica
84 posts
Mar 06, 2015
3:34 AM
|
Hi Tbird, and congratulations. I wish I knew people who might give me musical instruments! My wife gave me a mandolin once, but that was only to slice some vegetables...
Those valves look interesting - any idea what they're made of? I've bought several old Hohner 270s but those valves are just twin layers of thin plastic.
The problem with some of these old chromatics is that they might be out of tune or need reeds replacing. You might want to check that before investing in other repairs.
Either way, looks like a great way to begin your chromatic journey. The best of luck to you.
|
chromaticblues
1679 posts
Mar 06, 2015
5:54 AM
|
@Harmlessonica
Those are leather. Dried up old leather windsavers.
That means it's old. All chromatics had leather windsavers pre WW2. I'm not sure what company first started using plastic or when.
|
TBird
125 posts
Mar 07, 2015
5:04 PM
|
It's looking like it would cost about $100 to get this thing running like new. Kinda hard to justify when Todd Parrott just tipped us off to some great deals on Hohners which included $125 Super Chromonica 270s. If I ever get serious about learning to play a chromatic, maybe new is the way to go.
----------
Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
Last Edited by TBird on Mar 07, 2015 5:24 PM
|
GMaj7
633 posts
Mar 07, 2015
5:22 PM
|
I have some basic info for new chromatic owners and players on my web site. Chromatic harps are maintenance hogs. There is no way to get around that. The Hohner 270 is a solid chromatic except that it is nailed together. That makes simple adjustments to the interior wind savers very difficult. If you are going to play chromatic, you have to learn how to do the basics yourself. There is simply no way around it. However, from the looks of your pictures, you have a chromatic that screws together. $100 is probably about right, however, when you are done you have one that you can field strip. You won't have that on a 270. Might not be a bad investment. Next step up would be a Seydel, Herring (If you found one) or a Suzuki.
----------
Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
|
GMaj7
634 posts
Mar 07, 2015
5:23 PM
|
Here's some basic stuff I put out there for new Seydel chromatic players/owners. It will probably help you decide the next move.
http://1623customharmonicas.com/2015/02/16/basic-info-for-the-new-seydel-chromatic-owner/
----------
Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
|
Gnarly
1271 posts
Mar 08, 2015
8:44 AM
|
I agree that chromatics are much more fiddly than diatonics.
So it is my great pleasure to inform all you potential chromatic players that Suzuki offers a one year warranty on chromatic that covers reed failure.
I am the tech and am happy to help.
I would also like to acknowledge Greg Jones for his recent videos on chromatic harmonica--folks deserve to know this stuff, and he's not getting paid to do it!
|
WinslowYerxa
810 posts
Mar 08, 2015
9:38 AM
|
Leather windsavers were used on Japanese chromatics well into the 1970s to my knowledge and perhaps beyond.
If you're handy with a screwdriver and toothbrush and can glue small strips of plastic accurately, you can get this harp cleaned up and playable, though tuning is unknown.
Or you could take your newfound enthusiasm and $100-$200 and get a decent new chrom from Hohner, Suzuki, or Seydel, all of whom have decent models in that price range.
===========
Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
|
Harmlessonica
85 posts
Mar 08, 2015
10:54 AM
|
@chromaticblues
Thanks for the info. I had no idea chromatics had even been around that long...
@TBird
Some advice if you want to see if the chromatic is right for you without too much outlay...
You do sometimes get good bargains on ebay, for example where people buy Chromatics from new but never get round to learning. Often they don't even know the true value of the instrument.
Alternatively, consider buying a new Swan chromatic. You won't get the same tone as one of the main brands of course, but you'll get a good feel for the playing style.
|
WinslowYerxa
811 posts
Mar 08, 2015
11:06 AM
|
@Harmlessonica - The Chromatic harmonica as we know it was introduced in 1910 - 105 years ago.
While Swans are low priced and some folks report good experience with them, I've also seen unfixable flaws, like warped combs that leak air with daylight visible between the front of the comb and the mouthpiece assembly and can't be fixed. One of my students bought one of those. He got the seller to exchange it and the second one had the same problem. Cheap chromatics tend to lack quality control - along with using poor quality materials and delivering less than robust sound even when the parts all fit together.
===========
Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Mar 08, 2015 11:07 AM
|
Harmlessonica
86 posts
Mar 08, 2015
11:34 AM
|
Winslow, I do appreciate what you're saying - but my point was that even a flawed instrument can be of some benefit.
After my initial struggle with the diatonic (bending in particular), I became curious about chromatics - but the high prices put me off. So I bought a Swan 1040 and gave it a go. At first, getting the coordination with the inhale/exhale/slide combo was difficult (like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time) but once I got over that learning curve, I knew I definitely wanted to try a higher quality instrument.
If one's already serious about learning (to the point where they're taking professional lessons) then yes, they need to invest in a quality instrument. However, if one is sitting on the fence about whether to try the Chromatic Harmonica at all, a Swan in my opinion is certainly a good start.
(Edited to correct 1048 to 1040. Got my Swan model number mixed up with my usual bedtime... :) )
Last Edited by Harmlessonica on Mar 08, 2015 11:44 AM
|
jbone
1900 posts
Mar 08, 2015
12:16 PM
|
I guess the Hohner Chrometta models are not considered worthwhile instruments, I have yet to see them discussed much at all anyplace. I bring them up because I learned the rudiments on a Chrometta 8 and later a 14. They appear sort of cartoon like but the ones I had were well built, easy to make sound, and appeared to me at least to be fairly well tuned.
I have had a few Herings and mostly it was my own rough treatment that retired them. I still have one working, a baritone C which is still running well. In addition I have a Hohner art deco chromatic whose name escapes me. Great looker but kind of leaky and not easy to play. My last chro I bought a couple of years ago was a Suzuki SCX in G, which is also going strong.
For me it has been hard to get a lot of volume from a chromatic and as a result I was killing reeds or maybe losing valves. Once I woke up to the fact that pure force was the root of my problem I worked hard to find and use my natural air column and use focus instead of force. I am also playing mostly in a lower volume duo and using either an amp or the p.a. to boost sound.
A chromatic that uses screws and not nails is a must in my book, even just for basic cleaning.
----------
http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbTwvU-EN1Q
|
TBird
126 posts
Mar 08, 2015
2:10 PM
|
A lot of great information here. Thanks everyone!
It looks like, no matter what, this is going to cost me some money. Hmmm... I was rather hoping to avoid that... ;)
----------
Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
|
shakeylee
142 posts
Mar 08, 2015
3:04 PM
|
"I guess the Hohner Chrometta models are not considered worthwhile instruments, I have yet to see them discussed much at all anyplace. I bring them up because I learned the rudiments on a Chrometta 8 and later a 14. They appear sort of cartoon like but the ones I had were well built, easy to make sound, and appeared to me at least to be fairly well tuned."
i love chromettas.i have an eight that is great and a 12 in G.
i used 270's for years.a friend was selling a chrometta which i had disdain for,but knew i could fix.i bought it just to help him out.
my playing took off!!!
after that,i converted some of my 270's with hering parts and also got a hering and the chrometta 12.
i love playing chromatic now.
i would say you can ebay chrometta eights all day for under 30 bucks.
you can also buy known leaky 270's for cheap,and use the cover plates,slide and mouthpiece on hering internals from eezy reeder on ebay.
you can also buy leaky 270's for cheap and replace the comb with the beautiful combs from blow your brass off.
there are lots of options out there.
----------
www.shakeylee.com
|
shakeylee
143 posts
Mar 08, 2015
3:09 PM
|
BTW,i think the original post harmonica is a real looker.
a great way to learn basic blues 3rd position chromatic work is to practice on a cheap solo tuned tremelo harp.in philly you can buy them in chinatown for $4.
----------
www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Mar 08, 2015 3:09 PM
|
WinslowYerxa
812 posts
Mar 08, 2015
5:16 PM
|
Chinese tremolos aren't actually in solo tuning - they're in scale tuning. They have a full scale like solo tuning but the draw notes and blow notes shift in relation to each other like diatonic tuning does. This can potentially mess up your blow-draw sequences on chromatic.
===========
Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Deepen your playing at the Harmonica Collective
|
shakeylee
144 posts
Mar 08, 2015
7:36 PM
|
you know,i never thought of that. i forgot about that
.doh!!!
----------
www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Mar 08, 2015 7:38 PM
|
TBird
127 posts
Mar 09, 2015
3:40 PM
|
Okay. Sorry. Seeing as it's probably not of a lot of interest to most people, I don't mean to keep this thread going any longer then need be, but... one more quick question:
I think I'm just going to try replacing the windsavers on the originally posted harp myself as a way of cheaply setting myself up with a decent chromatic to learn on. Plus, I'm with shakeylee. I also think it's a real looker! If I really end up getting into it, I'll chump down and pay to have it set up professionally. Unfortunately, however, the internet is not turning up many options as far as where to buy replacement windsavers. Any help?
----------
Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
|
shakeylee
150 posts
Mar 09, 2015
6:28 PM
|
http://rockinronsmusicsd.com/index.php?_a=product&product_id=216
http://www.angelfire.com/music/HarpOn/maintwind.html
if you would like to stick with leather:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFrUKEeQ1UU
also,it looks like you only have three or so bad valves
if it were me,i would scrape the bad valves off and start playing that sucker without them,till you fix it.
how does it sound as is?
----------
www.shakeylee.com
|
GMaj7
638 posts
Mar 09, 2015
7:39 PM
|
Contact me offline
----------
Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
|
TBird
128 posts
Mar 10, 2015
8:24 AM
|
@shakeylee - Not near Philly. Thanks for the offer though. Also, all the valves are very brittle. I actually accidentally knocked one off while taking off the covers. It sounds pretty rattly as it is now (that's probably the old curled valves, right?) The first hole is also very hard to get good sound out of. I assumed that was the result of faulty valves, but I haven't spent much time with it, nor do I have any other chromatic experience. I'm in the dark here.
@Gmaj7 - Email sent.
----------
Be humble for you are made of earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
|
