dfwdlg
103 posts
Mar 28, 2010
9:27 AM
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I'm going to get a chromatic and am interested in recommendations. I am an intermediate player on diatonic in blues, pop and country styles (with some New Wave thrown in). Mostly first, second and third positions (in both lip-pursed and TB styles at this point). I can budget $200 to $250.
What harp do people like? Pros/cons are very interesting to me with respect to tone, range(number of octaves), maintenance, longevity, etc.
Thanks in advance for any input.
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CJames
190 posts
Mar 28, 2010
10:15 PM
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I play a SCX-56 chromatix suzuki. good for what I do with it which is mainly jazz. great tone, very comfortable mouthpiece. Only problem was wth my slide - the spring broke and it was hard to contact anyone about replacing or fixing it. In the end if you want something done right do it yourself (little life lesson i've learned too), i read up on how to fix em and what with. I ended up using the spring from a nappy safety pin. After some adjustments and tweaking It finally worked and now plays probably better than before.
There are no positions with chromatics though, hence the name chromatic. you can play every note and then some in whatever key you decide to get. The 56 is 14 holes, so it includes a low A and G i think....can't remember to be honest. But i know the bottom note is a G rather than C. Most people generally get a C chromatic as their first too.
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nacoran
1509 posts
Mar 29, 2010
2:32 PM
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I'd just suggest making sure you get a C. I got one in G, and although I like the sound it's easier on a C to think of the sharps/flats in relation to the key, since a C chromatic corresponds to no flats or sharps (or all white keys on a piano). If you can afford more holes, go for it. All I've got is a cheap Chrometta. It's fun to play though.
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Nate
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Bluefinger
149 posts
Mar 30, 2010
3:33 AM
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The 14 hole CJames refers to is still a C, even tho the bottom note is a G. It's like a standard 12 hold C with two holes added at the low end (G/A and C/B). The notes with the slide out are still those of the C major scale.
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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dfwdlg
104 posts
Mar 30, 2010
10:47 AM
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Ordered a Hohner Super 64 to take advantage of a 15% off sale at Musician's Friend. It was the one I found the most positive comments about and I just want to get started.
This will be interesting.
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nacoran
1515 posts
Mar 30, 2010
3:07 PM
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Bluefinger- But they make chromatics in G too! I didn't know that when I bought my Hohner Chrometta. It was the only one in the display case and it didn't even occur to me that it wasn't in C. Now I have to remember the F is already sharp.
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Nate
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bluesharper
36 posts
Mar 31, 2010
4:18 AM
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get a cx12 in C.
They are great.
the slide is very smooth and the tone is good.
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Bluefinger
151 posts
Mar 31, 2010
9:16 AM
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@noracan: yes, they do. I just wanted to clarify that the harp is not in "G" just because the lowest note is a G. The 14 hole does not start with the root. This might have caused some confusion ... sorry°
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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bluemoose
152 posts
Mar 31, 2010
9:29 AM
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I love my CX12 but I can't recommend it to anyone because of an issue with the plastic shells. The comb is held in by a flat curved plate that has two flat prongs in either end that extend to fit into two small slots at either ends of the shell. There is less than an 1/8 of an inch of plastic across the shell slots. It does not take much to crack that bit of plastic off and you are left with a useless pile of parts. It will cost you $80-$90 for a replacement shell, if you can get one.
IF you do get a CX12, keep it in the oversized box it comes in. Do not carry it around loose in a harp case, even if it's in it's own chromatic slot. If you do you must pad the slot with a foam cutout.
Last Edited by on Mar 31, 2010 9:30 AM
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MP
122 posts
Mar 31, 2010
1:55 PM
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don't get a hohner 270. they don't make 'em like they used to. i have an old 270 and it's cool but the new ones are not all that great. i like the HOHNER 64 and SUPER 64. these are very full sounding, have 4 octaves, and don't break the bank. they are huge though.(16 holes)
SEYDEL makes nice 12 hole chros.
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mankycodpiece
136 posts
Mar 31, 2010
5:06 PM
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i have quite a few chromatics.
my favourite has been the hohner 280 16 holes,but lately i've been playing my seydel delux.
i've had it a while without bothering much with it,but it realy has grown on me lately.
i can recomend the seydel delux with confidence.it isn't cheap,but its a real quality harp.
the hohner c 280 is a fine harp too,but,as MP said,they are huge.
go for the seydel,you won't regret it.
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MP
126 posts
Mar 31, 2010
6:10 PM
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mankycodpiece.
i should make up an excuse to get a seydel deluxe. i've tried a couple and they are soooooo smooth and no slide noise.
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nacoran
1533 posts
Mar 31, 2010
6:59 PM
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Does anyone have a chart with the reed layout for Chromatics? I know there are two kinds different layouts but I can't find a chart showing how they are arranged on the reed plates.
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Nate
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dfwdlg
105 posts
Mar 31, 2010
10:54 PM
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Is anyone on YouTube doing for chromatic players what Adam has been doing for diatonic players?
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Bluefinger
152 posts
Apr 01, 2010
2:04 AM
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@mankycodpiece: How do the square holes feel compared to the round ones on the Hohner? I'm a die hard Seydel diatonic fan but I'm still a bit reluctant to try their square holed chrom deluxe. OTOH if the Saxony mouthpiece fits, I could ask them if they would sell me one separately.
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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Bluefinger
153 posts
Apr 01, 2010
2:26 AM
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@Nacoran:
Special tunings left aside, chromatics basically are all the same with a few exceptions. The standard pattern is:
C - E - G - C - C - E - G - C - C - E - G - C
D - F - A - B - D - F - A - B - D - F - A - B
With the button pushed, all the notes are raised by one half step. YOu notice, that the layout is repeated every 4 holes.
For a 16 hole chrom just add another octave on the low end, for a 14 hole just remove hole 1 and 2 of a 16 hole.
The only variation on some harps (except alternate tunings) is that the draw note with the button pushed on the very last hole is a D instead of a C because the C is available on the same hole blow/button out anyway. The advantage is that this layout gives you an additional note but the disadvantage is, that if you play a lot of classic 3rd pos blues stuff in Eb, this note might not be very useful. It's up to you ...
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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dfwdlg
106 posts
Apr 01, 2010
11:00 PM
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The Super 64 arrived today. Plays pretty smooth except for the highest hole. Those notes are very tight and only play with the backpressure style I use to bend down the 10 hole blow on a diatonic. Found a good Jason Ricci video to start me off on the chrom journey.
Diggin' the low octave.
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nacoran
1547 posts
Apr 02, 2010
12:43 AM
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Bluefinger- Is that the hole layout or the reed layout? I need the layout for how the reeds are arranged on the reed plates. (And on tremolos). I'm working on a top secret project and I need to know what harmonica would work best for modifying into my new Frankenharp!
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Nate
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Bluefinger
160 posts
Apr 02, 2010
1:57 AM
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Nacoran: that's the hole layout so it doesn't matter if it's a cross or straight tuned harp. The upper row is blow, the lower one draw.
dfwdlg: same on my 280 (which is the same harp except for the covers I believe). The very last hole is a pest to play out of the box.
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If it ain't broke you just haven't fixed it enough ...
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nacoran
1549 posts
Apr 02, 2010
11:51 AM
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But for my secret project I need the reed layout! Maybe I'm just not understanding right. The slide is coming off and I need to figure out how to replace it with... something better...
It's kind of a mental puzzle I'm working on.
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Nate
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MP
150 posts
Apr 02, 2010
2:15 PM
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a quick fix on the 16th hole is a toothpick. remove covers and press down gently on the tip end of the reed. it should work at least enough so you don't have to force it. if it is still a problem send it back but don't say you were in there.
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Kyzer Sosa
268 posts
Apr 02, 2010
11:02 PM
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i got a chromatic from my uncle... it was his uncles before him. It's friggin old as all get out but everything is in immaculate condition.
to be honest, ive played it a few times, and it intimidates the hell right out of me...
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Kyzer's Travels
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