I decided to get a CX12 [black] and then thought that maybe the Jazz would be better as a lot of people say the mouthpiece on the black is very big. I then thought that the tuning of the tenor might be better as I do find the high notes on the standard 270 that I have very piercing and tend to stay in the bottom two octaves.
Can anyone with experience of the models make any suggestions? Do the tenors take a lot more air to play them than my old 270 does? I can't even find anywhere with them in stock to be able to compare them side by side.
incidentally, I looked at a 270 in a shop today and when I fiddled with the slide I was amazed at how 'slidey' it was. My 270 was an ebay bargain and I didn't realise that they aren't all like that.
I do not play chrom very well at all and I never attempt to play one on stage. But, I do have a CX-12 Tenor in C. It's VERY easy to play. Nicely air tight and while lower tuned harps do take a little more air, this one's pretty easy to play, and it has a very nice tone.
the c-tenor will start on the same (c) as the 16 holer...so it is not really that low. the 2nd octave of your 270 is the same as the third octave of the tenor.
if you can borrow 280 from someone and play the first 12 holes you will know what the tenor sounds and plays like before buying one.
more and more chrom players are opting for the cx-12 in tenor but if you like the 270 could just grab a tenor in that. i don't think you will go wrong with either.
i play my 280 most of the time but seldom use the top three or four holes.
Last Edited by on Jul 14, 2011 9:28 AM
No. The CX-12 tenor is more airtight and much easier to play than any 16 hole chrom I've ever fooled around with, including the Super 64 I have around somewhere. It's also much easier to handle.
But, yeah, the range is the same as the first 12 holes of a 16 hole chrom.
Last Edited by on Jul 14, 2011 9:34 AM
that's true.....by what if feels like... i just mean how it feels like to play with the lower register and not the 4th octave....
Last Edited by on Jul 14, 2011 9:39 AM
I got the CX12 tenor today Not had a real proper session on it yet, but those bottom octave notes are lovely and chocolatey brown [if that makes sense.
I was a bit worried at first about the 12 hole draw with the slide in note but is it tuned right, it was a note I rarely used on my 270 as it was too high and squeaky [and I think out of tune] and I hadn't realised that it was not the same 'pattern' as the rest of the harp.
Check this link out for some "modifcations" that you may want to consider on your CX-12... I did the mod on the back spring, and think it's a good one to do...
I recently bought a Suzuki SCX-48. Wow! Best playing chrom I've ever tried by far.. Very airtight, very responsive, good tone and not at all "sticky" or temperamental. I like it much better than my CX-12 tenor.
Btw, the reason for the 12 hole draw slide in being D is because that note is more useful than if it were C.For example, it allows you to get a complete D scale in the upper register and if you are playing in C, the D gives you a 9th which is much more useful for improv than another C would be.It's really useful.
Last Edited by on Aug 13, 2011 9:41 AM
I "half valved" my CX-12 on advice from the great Brendan Power. This is a really cool thing to do! I don't know of any downside (though there may be one a more sophisticated chrome player would notice.) Doing so allows you to bend the draw notes just like a diatonic! As a player familiar with 3rd position diatonic, this can make your transition to "learning the button" really easy because you can play really nice music on the harp without using the button at all. That gives you the freedom to learn it at your own pace. I'm getting better with it now! Couldn't play a chromatic scale to save my ass but I can play good 3rd position stuff with plenty of button use as desired. ---------- /Greg
I like so much cx-12 design but I think it would be welcomed from Hohner a metal cover solving this harmonica dullness. I want to remember that Brendan Power managed to make holes in the cover and covered them with metal pieces making this harmonica brighter.
I have both a 270 and tenor cx12; the cx12 is the one I prefer for the lower octave and airtight-ness.
When switching from the 270 to the cx12 the first thing I had to do was ease up my breath and open wider. Now I have 3 cx12's in my gig bag while the 270's stay home.
