atty1chgo
746 posts
Nov 19, 2013
1:26 PM
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Just bought one on eBay, used but in excellent condition, for the unheard of price of $41.00 plus shipping of $9.95. Yeah, I got really lucky with this one. Key of C.
Other than sanitizing and fumigating the harp, should I just leave it alone on the inside before starting to play, or should I let someone do some adjusting?
And other than formal lessons (which I will be getting from Billy Branch) what are the best materials to use for coming up to speed with the instrument, as well as artists?
Last Edited by atty1chgo on Nov 19, 2013 1:28 PM
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WinslowYerxa
417 posts
Nov 19, 2013
5:23 PM
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Sound like a great buy!
If
it isn't dirty and gross
it doesn't smell bad
it shows no signs of obvious damage (bent slide, crushed covers, cracked comb)
the slide moves in and out freely
it doesn't seem to leak air
all the notes play
it seems to be in tune
the valves don't buzz, bray, or pop
Then maybe it doesn't need anything.
Artists? Try Little Walter, George Smith, Carey Bell, Rod Piazza, William Clarke, Mitch Kashmar, Mark Hummel, Dennis Gruenling, Rick Estrin, Paul deLay, among others. And, of course, Mr. Billy Branch plays some pretty fine chromatic himself.
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Winslow
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Nov 19, 2013 5:28 PM
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WinslowYerxa
418 posts
Nov 19, 2013
5:27 PM
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For some basic orientation, try some of my old harmonicasessions.com articles:
http://archive.harmonicasessions.com/feb05/chromatic.html
http://archive.harmonicasessions.com/apr05/chromatic.html
http://archive.harmonicasessions.com/aug05/chromatic.html
http://archive.harmonicasessions.com/oct05/chromatic.html
And on through the end of 2012
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Winslow
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Nov 19, 2013 5:27 PM
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blueswannabe
348 posts
Nov 19, 2013
5:32 PM
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@winslow, do you know of a person who charges a reasonable amount to tune and/or repair a chromatic?
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atty1chgo
747 posts
Nov 19, 2013
6:43 PM
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Thanks Winslow. I'll look at your articles.
I haven't received the harp yet, but the seller has a 100% rating, and he described it as in excellent condition. Here is the listing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Hohner-64-Chromonica-Chromatic-Harmonica-280-with-case-/271319018728?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&nma=true&si=SWVLvACFGdDc24Z2w22ZglLS4rk%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
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WinslowYerxa
419 posts
Nov 19, 2013
7:03 PM
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Unless the seller is a harmonica player (and it appears from his other stuff for sale that he is not), he may not know what excellent condition means to someone who intends to actually play the instrument and not just put it in a display case. You'll find out when you have the harp in your hands.
Three chromatic repair guys I can recommend are:
Steve Malerbi (northern California) harpsurgeon@hotmail.com
Mike Easton (east coast) diachrome@aol.com
George Miklas (midwest) harmonicat@gmail.com
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Winslow
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Nov 20, 2013 11:14 AM
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WinslowYerxa
420 posts
Nov 19, 2013
7:10 PM
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OK, it looks like a straight-tuned wood body instrument with the original narrow mouthpiece and 4-piece slide/mouthpiece construction, which would make it close to 60 years old. A nice find. (By contrast, sometime in the 1950s they switched to plastic bodies, cross tuning, and eventually, a fat mouthpiece with a simplified three-piece assembly still in use today.)
The faux-alligator plastic case dates from the 1960s and the later build, meaning that the case and the harp don't match, which is not a big deal unless you're a collector who wants everything original and historically correct.
However, the slide is slightly bent. That may or may not be a problem with playability. Slides can be straightened, and some techs like Mike Easton have stock of old parts (Hohner Germany sells some old-style parts, but only in Europe for some weird reason.)
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Winslow
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Nov 19, 2013 7:33 PM
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Gnarly
790 posts
Nov 19, 2013
7:18 PM
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I fixed Winslow's SCX at SPAH, he didn't complain about it.
I must admit, tho, the three names he mentioned are the ones I usually offer to others (when not tooting my own horn LOL).
Last Edited by Gnarly on Nov 19, 2013 7:23 PM
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Ray
460 posts
Nov 20, 2013
6:10 AM
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60 yrs old. Good to know. I have one straight tuned, narrow mouth piece, wood comb, in tune with no valve problems in mint like new condition and is air tight as any Spl20 or Delta Frost that I own. The slide button was broke and I bought a junker for $7.50 for the slide. Mine came in a wood grained hard box. Got it on ebay for $35 I've been asking around for yrs about the age and couldn't get an answer. Not even on Slidemeister.
Last Edited by Ray on Nov 20, 2013 6:11 AM
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harpwrench
722 posts
Nov 20, 2013
8:10 AM
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I have a cabinet full of these, comb cracked on every one. If yours isn't, you might think about contacting one of the pros about the possibility of preserving that miracle.
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WinslowYerxa
421 posts
Nov 20, 2013
10:01 AM
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Chromatic combs from that period were made from two or more pieces of wood glued together, and they commonly come apart after awhile. They can be re-glued, or replaced with a comb milled from acrylic or other material.
I recently pulled apart an old 12-hole chromatic to harvest the reedplates and the dried-out comb actually came apart into at least three pieces. Only then did I notice the 6-point star on the bottom coverplate - I'd just pulled apart a pre-war instrument.
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Winslow
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Nov 20, 2013 11:17 AM
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harpwrench
723 posts
Nov 20, 2013
10:04 AM
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Who makes milled acrylic replacements Winslow?
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tmf714
2184 posts
Nov 20, 2013
10:12 AM
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260 and 270 combs here-
http://builderofstuff.com/270combs.html
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tmf714
2185 posts
Nov 20, 2013
10:15 AM
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Mike Easton should have acrylic combs soon-
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WinslowYerxa
422 posts
Nov 20, 2013
11:13 AM
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John Infande and Bill Romel each used to make acrylic 64 combs, but they're both in the past.
Chris Reynolds is the builderofstuff guy, and he's been making diatonic and up to 12-hole chromatic combs from Corian, brass, acrylic, and other materials.
If Mike Easton will be making them, that's great!
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Winslow
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harpwrench
724 posts
Nov 20, 2013
11:40 AM
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I've used Chris' 270 Corian combs and they worked out nice. Looking forward to Mike doing the '64 combs.
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atty1chgo
749 posts
Nov 21, 2013
10:53 AM
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Thanks for all of the great advice. It does look like I will be sending it off to someone. When I get it and crack it open, I'll take some video so we can have a look inside.
Last Edited by atty1chgo on Nov 21, 2013 10:56 AM
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atty1chgo
758 posts
Nov 26, 2013
5:52 AM
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Well, the harp came in the mail. It is in immaculate condition. It looks brand new. Not a mark on the cover plates, not a scratch. the slide is not bent at all. Are you sure that this harp is 60 years old? There is not a hint of rust or pitting anywhere. This harp is pristine.
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Stevelegh
881 posts
Nov 26, 2013
6:30 AM
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When looking for a standard chrom, the first place should be Ebay IMO.
So many chroms are bought by mistake as gifts. Someone says they'd like a harmonica for their birthday or Christmas, so the giver goes to the music store and buys the most expensive one there. Usually a Super 64 or something. What the guy really wanted was a 10 hole diatonic, but the music store guy isn't going to say anything as the chrom costs 10 times more than the blues harp.
The harp gets given and played and the recipient realises its not the right one. It can't be taken back to the shop as its been played, so it lives in a drawer until ending up on Ebay.
You would be amazed at how many chroms have lived this life. Hohner has probably made 100 times more money out of unwanted gifts than played instruments.
Last Edited by Stevelegh on Nov 26, 2013 6:45 AM
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atty1chgo
759 posts
Nov 26, 2013
9:58 AM
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I just got a message back from the seller as to the origins of the harp, and he wrote:
"Strangely enough it was my grand dads, I wouldn't know how he acquired , he passed recently, and we are trying to get money together for my daughters school costs, my wife was opposed to the thought of letting it go, but sadly we have to do what is necessary- I hope you enjoy it, and it has found a good home."
You're probably right, Stevelegh. I'll bet it was well cared for. Looks like an OTB new 1950's chromatic to me, but without the box.
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atty1chgo
771 posts
Dec 02, 2013
8:07 AM
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Here is a video of my "new" disassembled Hohner 64 Chromonica. It is the older model, the holes are open on top when the slide is out, with a wooden body comb:
Last Edited by atty1chgo on Dec 02, 2013 8:31 AM
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blueswannabe
369 posts
Dec 02, 2013
4:46 PM
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Looks like a great find!! 50's chro...little Walter era.
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