DaDoom
132 posts
Oct 12, 2009
6:46 AM
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Hi Folks
Once again I have a question for you. As I mentioned several times already in this forum I love to experiment with different types of harmonicas and am currently considering to buy a chromatic. First thing I've notices is that chromatic harmonicas are way more expensive than the normal diatonics - which seems obvious as they are more complex.
Is there a reasonably priced model that someone could recommend for an absolute beginner? Has anyone ever tried a Hohner chrometta or the much cheaper Hohner Educator? Are they any good? Or should I skip the cheap ones and get something decent?
Any advice is welcome :)
Cheers
DaDoom
PS: ever checked what a Hohner Silver Concerto costs?? Sheesh...
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Kingley
419 posts
Oct 12, 2009
6:54 AM
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Well my advice for what it's worth is to buy a good one.
Also get a 16 hole chromatic so you can play over the four octave.
Hohner, Suzuki and Hering all make good ones.
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dfwdlg
69 posts
Oct 12, 2009
12:04 PM
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I had a chance to ask this at our Harp workshop with Rick Estrin on Saturday as I am also thinking of broadening my horizons into chromatic. He thought the Hohner 270 in C was a good choice. He played some really bluesy stuff with nary a bend (just dips). Seems that third position scale layouts on diatonic are very similar to what you do when playing blues on the chromatic according to the folks at the workshop.
Some of the experienced players said it is quite different with respect to the muscle memory that goes with diatonic. A player that knew Gary Primich said his advice was to put your diatonics away for a good while. That has me thinking twice as I'm not even 3 years into diatonic.
The 270 costs about $125 at Amazon. The first review that came up seemed educational so I pasted it in below.
The 270 is probably the most widely used chromatic out there, and it is probably the harp you want to get if you are just starting out with chromatics. Its 3 octave range gives you access to plenty of music, and gives you additional freedom to improvise over a 10 hole chromatic. The quality of the instrument is consistently good for the price, and is nearly identical to the 260. The playability of the instrument is perhaps not as good as the CX-12 or Super 64, but you probably don't want to spend double the cost of the 270 for those reasons alone, especially if you are just starting out (or are a casual player, I know the 270 served me well for nearly 20 years before I stepped up to the Super 64).
If you already have experience playing chromatics and want better playability, either the CX-12 or Super 64 (which has better sound as well) may be worth looking into. But in all other cases, the 270 is the best machine for the price.
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bluzlvr
252 posts
Oct 12, 2009
12:35 PM
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If you want to get that George Smith, William Clark, Rod Piazza sound, you gotta tongue-block.
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Aussiesucker
390 posts
Oct 12, 2009
1:30 PM
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I think you play one or the other as muscle memory is different to diatonics. Simple tunes are easy on both. Sometimes I don't pick up a chromatic for months and it's not always an easy transition.
I have an old Hohner Super Chromonica (50 yo) & a fairly new Suzuki Chromatix SCX48, both 12 holes. Bit unfair to compare a 50yo relic with a modern instrument, although looking at new Super Chromonica's nothing appears different and my old Chromonica is in excellent condition. The Suzuki is my preference. I have however read very good reports re the Hohner CX12 & they are supposed to be easy to service.
If you are going down the Chromatic path there is a very friendly website devoted to Chromatics - Slidemeister.com and all your questions will be covered there.
My personal preference is for a diatonic as they are more user friendly (no windsaver valves or slide), they are easily carried in pockets and they cost a lot less.
But a chromatic when played by a master is really a superb instrument.
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apskarp
42 posts
Oct 13, 2009
2:51 AM
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I bought planetone 12 from harmonicasdirect.com, it was about 48£. However there seems to be only planetone 16 available currently for 61£. I'm not experienced with chromatics, but planetone seems to be ok for me. I don't know what would be better in the more expensive instruments..
I also bought a bunch of (6) used chromatics for 50 euros, some of those seemed to be quite ok. I'm planning to repair those sometime in the future..
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Andrew
664 posts
Oct 13, 2009
3:31 AM
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"muscle memory is different to diatonics"
Is this true even if you play a diatonic in first position at times?
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nacoran
238 posts
Oct 13, 2009
9:17 AM
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Or you could just stack a C and a C# diatonic! Actually, I'm thinking about getting a chromatic too, not so much because I want to play a chromatic but if I only play on a chromatic for a while it will force me to learn all my sharps and flats to play in different keys instead of just grabbing the right key. I was playing around with my Musettes the other day and I noticed that for the first time I could figure out with muscle memory where I wanted to go when I switched harps.
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DaDoom
133 posts
Oct 13, 2009
11:49 AM
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Has anyone ever tried the Hohner Chrometta? They come in 10 and 12 holes as far as I've seen. I wonder if they are totally worthless or acceptable. The price seems to be ok.
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Aussiesucker
393 posts
Oct 13, 2009
1:22 PM
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"muscle memory is different to diatonics"
It's really no big deal. Compare the layouts for the 2 harps and the differences are apparent.
Being a male ie what is it they say about men not being able to do 2 things at the same time; well also pushing the slide and blowing or sucking brings in that dimension. I envy multi instrumentalists ie those one man bands.
Chromatics also have larger holes hence spacing is a little different.
But its no big deal. They are not difficult to play just different. If you were making the transition from one to the other daily then it may not pose a problem. For me I go for many months without touching the chrom.
Perhaps I should drag the chrom out more often.
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Andrew
665 posts
Oct 13, 2009
1:49 PM
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"Compare the layouts for the 2 harps and the differences are apparent...Chromatics also have larger holes hence spacing is a little different."
That's more interesting. It's nothing to do with muscle memory, then, it's the same as the difference between a violin and a viola really. Violinists and violists don't swap instruments.
"what is it they say about men not being able to do 2 things at the same time"
Actually, this makes me think of drums - you need more coordination to play drums than I possess.
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Bollocks, Wiglaf!
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