MP
883 posts
Oct 06, 2010
10:46 AM
|
-over the years i've collected a few chromatics.
my go to has always been the HOHNER 280 because i got used to it's bulk and slatternly ways.
i have an older 270 (black and red box w/ wax paper wrapping)but it's better than a newer model- better tone and it actually responds w/ light breath force in the higher register- but not much volume.
my pawn shop 260 in G (faux alligator case) is okay. my Koch is a lemon.
that said, a friend showed me his 12 hole SEYDEL DELUXE W/ an acrylic comb. man, what a great harp! smooth action, beautiful sound, and super clean button action. it destroys hohners a similar prices.
i saw new SEYDEL DELUXES W/ ACRYLIC COMBS just now on e-bay for $139 US. can't beat that.
what are other choices for great chros at reasonable prices? i'm not talking educators etc. but good pro stuff.---------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
|
barbequebob
1291 posts
Oct 06, 2010
10:59 AM
|
Hering chromatics are pretty good and their mouthpieces tend to be much more comfortable than most Hohners are.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
MP
885 posts
Oct 06, 2010
11:05 AM
|
hey bob,
i've heard good things about herring chromatics but never tried one. (i think they have a discontinued musselwhite model)
which 12 hole would you recomend?
----------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
|
tmf714
260 posts
Oct 06, 2010
11:08 AM
|
I own a pre-war Romel 64 tuned by Mike Easton,a stock Super 64,one of William Clarke's 270 Supers,and my favorite by far,a 270 Deluxe.
|
barbequebob
1294 posts
Oct 06, 2010
11:27 AM
|
The Charlie Musselwhite Signature Model is now known as the Special 48. They're a bit on the bright side, and play real easy out of the box but if you're a really hard player, I'd avoid the ones using a thicker reed plate (the Special 48, model 7148, and the 6164 16 hole chromatic) because if you tend to play them too hard, they will blow out on you. Rod Piazza uses them (models 5148 and 5164).
If you want to start out, I'd get the 5148.
I wish Hohner would put out the 270 Deluxe in other keys.
Outside of a composite type comb like what the Manji uses or the Seydel 1847 Silver uses, the only plastic type combs I like for both diatonics and chromatics are the lucite combs (also known as acrylic and sometimes known as plexiglas).
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
bluesharper
167 posts
Oct 06, 2010
11:59 AM
|
I have a cx-12 and it is very good harp. Smooth slide action although i personally took the spring out and made it springless. Great harp tho.
----------
Everyones opinion is valid.
Ms series rule!!!
My facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000936564031
|
isaacullah
1191 posts
Oct 06, 2010
12:11 PM
|
"my Koch is a lemon."
This one short sentence alone makes me oh so very glad I decided to log on and peruse the internets today!
Okay, you can have your thread back now. ;)
----------
--------------------------------------
 View my videos on YouTube!"
|
barbequebob
1303 posts
Oct 06, 2010
12:13 PM
|
@Isaacullah --= unfortunately, when he got that lemon, that was made after 1980 (and from that point until around 1995, many Hohner harps were lemons and needed s**tloads of work done to them).
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
bluesharper
169 posts
Oct 06, 2010
12:49 PM
|
are koch's good harps? and is there any harps like them?
----------
Everyones opinion is valid.
Ms series rule!!!
My facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000936564031
|
MP
887 posts
Oct 06, 2010
1:10 PM
|
hah! good one isaacc! don't know how i missed it.
"are kochs good harps?" hmmmmm nobody uses them for much because the are richter tuned(like a diatonic) so you don't have a true chromatic, you have a hybrid specialty harp(a diatonic w/ a slide button) that is a one trick pony. they are leaky like 270s.
i don't think bob is right that my koch is after 1980. maybe, it is, i forget. MY KOCH IS A LEMON!!!----------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
|
bluesharper
170 posts
Oct 06, 2010
1:18 PM
|
are the slide harp versions more airtight?
sorry for newbie sorta question but is your harp being a lemon a bad thing? ;)
----------
Everyones opinion is valid.
Ms series rule!!!
My facebook
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000936564031
|
jbone
413 posts
Oct 07, 2010
4:02 AM
|
i just was given a hohner 270 in C which i notice right off takes more breath to make it go than a hering 5148, 7148, or baritono. but i plan to give it a whirl anyway.
you might guess i have a liking for the herings. one reason is round holes. another is pretty good build. and airtightness. but bbq is right, if one gets too excited and draws too hard- there goes a reed. but i believe this can be true of any harp.
my next chromatic purchase will be a suzuki csx i think. based on other models by suzuki i feel like their workingman's chromatic may be a very functional and pleasing addition to the arsenal.
i just got to see some video of me playing a C baritono hering in the duo with wife. it was pretty awesome!
|
KingoBad
420 posts
Oct 07, 2010
5:52 AM
|
I just got a Hohner 270 deluxe. I think it is a very nice. I bought it because it had screws (unlike the standard 270) so I could take care of the valves and customize if needed. So far it has played very nicely and is not leaky at all. I haven't even opened it up because I am having too much fun playing it. I only wish I had purchased the tenor version, as I would rather go lower than higher (actually, I wish I had a 16 holer instead of 12).
My next chrom (when I can afford it) will probably be a Suzuki SCX-64.
Last Edited by on Oct 07, 2010 5:55 AM
|
5F6H
319 posts
Oct 07, 2010
6:16 AM
|
I like the responsiveness of the Hering, but mine suffers with terrible windsaver noise.
Hohner 270 - only buy from someone who will check/adjust the tuning, sometimes they are unplayable.
Seydel do an entry level chro with no windsavers, it can take a bit more puff and isn't quite as loud as a regular chromatic, feels a bit like a toy, but I love it as a carry about/practice harp - no windsaver noise (because they're not there), so I'd consider it for recording too.
Last Edited by on Oct 07, 2010 6:16 AM
|
barbequebob
1307 posts
Oct 07, 2010
9:48 AM
|
All Hering chromatics have that noise when new but that eventually goes away.
One thing to remember with the Koch chromatics is that it does NOT have windsaver valves, but the Slide Harp model, which is the same harp DOES have valves and without windsaver valves, chromatics are tougher instruments to play. The windsavers allow every note to be bent roughly 1/4 step flat if they're on both reeds in each hole but if only on one reed, than the unvalved reed can be bent further.
Koch chromatics aren't in a lot of general use but some players have used them on some tunes. I've seen Mark Hummel use on for one tune and LW used one on "Oh Baby," which the key of the tune is Ab and he's playing like it was 2nd position, but with the slide button pressed in.
BTW, there is a discussion topic on the Koch/Slide Harp going on in this forum.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
MP
895 posts
Oct 07, 2010
10:15 AM
|
@ KingoBad
i have a 270 tenor. i find that i can never get used to the mid register being in the wrong place. it's a good harp but i've been trying to sell it on the for sale page.(might have to lower the price) i prefer my older 270 from the '50s or earlier.
----------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
|
5F6H
320 posts
Oct 07, 2010
10:59 AM
|
Bob wrote: "and LW used one (Koch)on "Oh Baby," which the key of the tune is Ab and he's playing like it was 2nd position, but with the slide button pressed in."
The version on the 4 CD chess boxed set is in G. It's possible that he used a Koch, but it's not known for sure, recording quality of the harp is too lo fi to tell for sure, recreating the same circumstances would take a lot of doing.
|
barbequebob
1309 posts
Oct 07, 2010
11:48 AM
|
Two things to remember about the Koch chromatic is that unlike most chromatics, Koch chromatics are tuned to Richter tuning like a diatonic (wheras most chromatics are solo tuned) and the other big difference between a Koch and most other chromatics is that the Koch is tuned to 7LJI (exactly the same way MB's were tuned back in those days) wheras other chromatics are solo tuned and tuned to ET tuning.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
