Blues Chromatic

[David Witzany <witzany@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm finally breaking down and getting myself a chromatic.  I spoke with someone
at Farrell's, and have a few questions.

First, I know that Farrell's modifies Hohner chromatics, but they're still
not taking orders for this.  I was planning on getting a 270, but really
wanted a lighter spring in it.  I'm used to pulling the tacks out of
Marine Band-type diatonics; is there much more involved in replacing a
270's spring?  If not, where can I get a lighter spring?  (Farrell's,
I suppose.)

The alternative to buying a 270 and immediately operating on it is to go
with an alternative harp.  It looks like the only real choices are a
Hering or a CX-12.  All three of these harps get good marks around here,
so I'm not worried about the workmanship.  My main concern is more
the ergonomics:  I'm small-handed, and already have to work to get a good
grip on a JT-30 mic and a diatonic harp.  Are all of these harps the same
size, or is one noticably smaller?

Lastly, just from the practicality of it, it looks like the CX-12 is the
best harp off-the-shelf.  It has screws instead of tacks, and a lighter 
spring than the 270.  If I can't fix it myself, I don't have to send it
to a foreign country, a la the Hering.  I'm just not sure that something
that looks that...weird can really be the best choice, especially when it
costs something like a third (or more) greater than the others.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.


--David Witzany
  witzany@xxxxxxxx
  (Univ. of IL, Champaign)             ......one of Nature's bounds checkers