HawkeyeKane
577 posts
Dec 28, 2011
2:39 PM
|
Is there any hope for these getting repaired if a reed goes bad? The open 6 blow on mine went flat on me last night. Trying to figure out if I can salvage the harp or if I should start looking into a new chromatic.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
Adam Hamil
20 posts
Dec 28, 2011
2:59 PM
|
If it is less than 60 days old Hohner will fix it. They might even replace it.
----------
C. Adam Hamil
Free Reed Instrument Technician
|
WinslowYerxa
150 posts
Dec 28, 2011
5:25 PM
|
Replace it. There are far, far better chromatics out there, even in the sub-$100 range. Swan has some decent ones, but if you're willing to invest in the $100 to $200 range, you've got several Hohner, Seydel, and Suzuki models, any of which will beat that Educator all hollow.
|
HawkeyeKane
578 posts
Dec 28, 2011
5:47 PM
|
Yeah, I've had the little b!tch for over two years now. Guess you're right Winslow. Shame. It was my first chromatic. Buddy of mine uses a Hering model. Those any good?
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
WinslowYerxa
152 posts
Dec 28, 2011
6:18 PM
|
Herings are airtight, very responsive, and bright sounding. Rod Piazza uses and endorses them.
Just two downsides: No US repair facility, and, for me, at least, short reed life.
|
dougharps
142 posts
Dec 28, 2011
9:39 PM
|
Winslow's experience with Herings matches mine. I liked Hering 501/48s a lot, when you could easily and cheaply buy replacement reedplate/comb "combos", but they are difficult to come by now. They are tight, and the reeds are responsive, but reeds can go flat easier than a 270 if you play hard. When my Herings and spare parts finally fail, I will have to try other chromatics, probably Suzuki or Seydel. I might try the Hohner 270 Deluxe, which is bolted together and has round mouthpiece holes, improvements on the regular 270. I have a 270 that I put a Hering mouthpiece on, and it was an improvement.
When I first bought Hering 501/48s they were $56 at Farrell, with $39 for a replacement combo. The 16 hole 601/64 on an acrylic comb was $91, with the replacement combo being $63.70! I still have the catalog, #9, from March 22, 1999.
Winslow recently did some chromatic harmonica reviews on Harmonica Sessions that you might check out. I trust his reviews and his knowledge a lot.
----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by on Dec 28, 2011 9:50 PM
|
HawkeyeKane
580 posts
Dec 29, 2011
6:27 AM
|
Doug, you probably know Bill Robinson over here in the 'Field. It's him that uses the Hering, though I don't know what model he uses. I'll probably go with Seydel. There's only one Hohner chromatic I wanna try and that's the Toots' Hardbopper. But I like the look and key selection of the Seydel Saxony and the Seydel Deluxe respectively.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Dec 30, 2011 7:03 AM
|
Gnarly
141 posts
Dec 29, 2011
10:11 PM
|
I would recommend the SCX line by Suzuki--they come in 12, 14 and 16 hole models. The price is competitive and they are very airtight and easy to work on--I should know, I was Suzuki's repair guy for a year.
The mouthpiece is a big part of it--it's only two pieces, the slide itself and the mouthpiece, no cage or back plate.
The only downside, IMHO, is that the reeds are welded on, so if you break one, you have to have them repair it. But their warranty service is good.
|
WinslowYerxa
153 posts
Dec 30, 2011
1:51 AM
|
Suzuki's service is excellent, but it's nice to know that you have options.
Some independent techs can also replace Suzuki reeds. I know that Steve Malerbi here in the SF Bay area is equipped to do it. harpsurgeon@hotmail.com
|
HawkeyeKane
586 posts
Dec 30, 2011
6:38 AM
|
I'm pretty proficient in repairing diatonics, but I haven't the first clue when it comes to chromatics. Guess it's one more thing to add to my list of things I need to learn how to do.
----------
Hawkeye Kane
|
Gnarly
142 posts
Dec 30, 2011
8:07 PM
|
Yeah, George Miklas is replacing Suzuki reeds now too.
Daron (at Suzuki) says they are going to be selling a tool for end users to do the replacement--but it's not for sale yet--I think that's what George has.
|
Tuckster
926 posts
Dec 31, 2011
8:04 AM
|
Here's George's FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harmonica-Repairs-Done-Right-by-George/109992719075272
|
Airdale
28 posts
Dec 31, 2011
9:50 AM
|
Gnarly, I m looking at the SCX models. Would you recommend the 12 or the 16 hole?
|
bluesharper
219 posts
Jan 01, 2012
8:37 AM
|
Well personally recommending a brand I would go for a Cx-12, very airtight harps. Although if you think that the the casing might be too big on the standard you could get a Cx-12 jazz.
My two cents.
----------
===============================
|
Airdale
29 posts
Jan 01, 2012
11:29 AM
|
I've heard that the lower end of the scale (first 4 holes) sound muddy. Anyone have any opinions on that?
|
Gnarly
143 posts
Jan 01, 2012
2:16 PM
|
@Airdale--I would actually recommend the SCX-56, it starts on G3, but is in the key of C--a 14 hole harmonica.
And I never heard anyone complain about the bottom of a CX being muddy . . . it too is a fine chromatic.
I like using 12 hole harmonicas tuned like the 14 hole, starts on G3.
|
Airdale
30 posts
Jan 01, 2012
2:19 PM
|
Thanks Gnarly
|
Gnarly
144 posts
Jan 01, 2012
3:08 PM
|
I have my SCX-56 tuned like Bill Barrett; bebop (blow notes on holes 2, 6, and 10 are lowered from C to Bb and the slide note is a B natural) and hole 14 is tuned with the same pattern as 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13--i.e., from low to high, blow, blow button, draw, draw button (that's B, C, C#, and D.)
I seldom play that hole (gee, I wonder why.)
Last Edited by on Jan 01, 2012 3:10 PM
|
hvyj
2034 posts
Jan 01, 2012
4:10 PM
|
FWIW, I've got an SCX-48 and an SCX-56. I like them a lot. Very airtight and responsive. Not at all sticky or temperamental.
|
