Lazerface
41 posts
Jul 31, 2012
10:45 PM
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Ugh, not that i need to add more harps to the wishlist...but i feel like a chromatic harp or 2 might help add to my bag of tricks. Ive noticed the hohner koch chromatic is basically a c and c#(or Db) diatonic in one. Does anybody have any experience with these? I wonder if it may be a good step or if i should just get a 14 holer. Then again, maybe $125+ would be better spent on a thunderbird...aaah the list keeps growing. I need some opinions...maybe i should focus on getting some lower key diatonics...i just dont know. Sorry for rambling but any help will be much appreciated.
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jbone
1022 posts
Aug 01, 2012
4:47 AM
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i don't know what models you are looking at. i have or had a couple of 270's which to me are not that great. the chrometta models are good workers but unpopular with the purists. for my money suzuki's cx harmonicas are about the best value plus excellent performance. i was a hering 5148 fan but the suzukis are easier to play for me and very available as well.
do you plan to do some 3rd position work with a chromatic? they seem to have been built for 3rd. big lonely sound there. works so well with minor note songs and open tuned guitar.
i will be interested to read what your choice ends up being.
and by the way- rockin' ron's has been a very dependable source for me.
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GMaj7
58 posts
Aug 01, 2012
4:48 AM
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Why don't you split the difference and get a solo tuned diatonic. Seydel makes some great ones.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
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WinslowYerxa
242 posts
Aug 01, 2012
9:44 AM
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The Koch is just a datonic with a slide. While this has occasionally been used for blues (Little Walter's Oh Baby and Sonny Boy II's Dissatisfied) by holding the slide in and playing in 9th position (the slide-in equivalent of second position), dipping the slide out and then back in for effect, it won't deliver the typical bllues chromatic sound.
You get the classic blues chromatic sound y using a solo-tuned harp (the whole harp tuned like Holes 4-7 of a diatonic, repeated over two or more octaves). You play this in third position, which gives a big minor draw chord (D minor 6th on a C harp, for instance). You can get the same effect holding the slide in and playing in 10th position (Eb on a C harp).
The really dark, gritty sound comes from playing a 16-hole C chromatic,which gives the lowest-pitched bottom end. However, 12-hole chromatics in keys lower than C - Bb, A, G, F, E, D - can create a similar effect, and players such as George Smith and WIlliam Clarke used low-pitched 12-hole chromatics to great effect.
The Hohner 270 can be a great harp if set up well but can be leaky out of the box. The CX-12, Suzuki SCX-48, and Seydel Deluxe can all deliver great sound, though with the Seydel some of the keys are tuned higher than regular C, which won't deliver the classic sound.
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Winslow
Last Edited by on Aug 01, 2012 3:37 PM
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Lazerface
43 posts
Aug 01, 2012
11:58 AM
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Another option would be buying a set of replacement reedplates for my dads old super chromonica from the early 70s...i guess i forgot about that option.
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timeistight
748 posts
Aug 01, 2012
12:18 PM
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What makes you think it needs new reedplates? There lots of chromatics around a lot older than that and they work fine.
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MP
2384 posts
Aug 01, 2012
12:23 PM
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great advice so far.
just don't get the Koch.
it's like a leaky HOHNER 260 (10 holer) but w/ a diatonic set-up.
it will only bring you sorrow :-)
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
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Last Edited by on Aug 01, 2012 12:24 PM
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WinslowYerxa
243 posts
Aug 01, 2012
3:39 PM
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New reedplates for a 270 are ony for experienced techs:
1) they're nailed on, and re-fitting nailed reedplates will make them very leaky unless you know what you;re doing
2) the front surface of the harmonica is linished (sanded with a loose belt) AFTER the reedplates are installed, to ensure that the reedplates don't stick out, but also ensuring a unique fit between that combination. When you fit new reedplates, you need to carefully sand them down flush with the front face of the comb.
And, as already pointed out, the reedplates may be fine.
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Winslow
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Tuckster
1105 posts
Aug 01, 2012
3:55 PM
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Yes,that old chrom may just need new windsavers. There are techs who specialise in chroms.
Personally,I can't see spending $125 on a Thunderbird. I would never really play it with a band. They are tuned 2 octaves lower,right? But that's just me. If it makes you happy......
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WinslowYerxa
244 posts
Aug 01, 2012
4:24 PM
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Thunderbirds in down to Low G are one octave lower. Only the Low F is two octaves lower.
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Winslow
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robbert
108 posts
Aug 01, 2012
4:54 PM
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You can acquire a few low keyed harps in various Hohner, and Seydel models that are less expensive than the Thunderbirds...low F, low E, low F#, low D, for sure in Sp. 20s and Big River, and I think even more keys in Seydels.
Although the T-birds are probably really great harps, your budget might like these others better. I use all the keys mentioned above regularly.
I think the chromatic harp is great. I only use one in C. A 3 octave is fine, but a 4 octave has a lovely low end. Although the chromatic is a different instrument from the diatonic, it's not too difficult to learn to play 3rd position blues on one.
If you are willing to put some effort into playing chromatic, I'd get a good one. Whatever is recommended on the forum here...I use a Hohner Professional 2016(long out of production now) that's been overhauled by a good tech. There's more parts to a chromatic than a diatonic, and it's worth it to get something that'll hold up and is nice to play, if you think you'll use it. I personally love the chromatic as much as diatonic.
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jbone
1023 posts
Aug 01, 2012
5:23 PM
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hering does make a baritono model chrom in C. it's one octave lower, 12 holes. i do use this one on a few things to very good effect.
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nacoran
6030 posts
Aug 01, 2012
8:10 PM
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I think you can get the Seydel steel reed harps down to Low D and the brass reeds down to LLF. (LLF and LLF# are the only 'double low' harps you can get from the manufacturers. I've heard a really sweet sounding custom LLD though!
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Nate
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