RE: [Harp-L] Summing Up the Advice

["MLeFree" <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rooty Baegga wrote:
> I want to make sure I understand all the advice given me, so
> please correct me if I go wrong:
>
> If I want to blat like Bob Dylan and Neil Young, or honk some blues like
> Sonny Terry or Charlie Musselwhite, then a diatonic is for me.  If a
> diatonic is for me, a $20 Horner Special 20 or a Golden Melody, both in C,
> are the best with which to start.
>
> If I am more interested in playing melodies, which may or may not include
> jazz or Peg O' My Heart, and if I don't want to spend time looking for
> notes that aren't there, then a chromatic is the better choice.

That's a pretty simplified assessment, but pretty much correct, too.

> Having weighed all this advice carefully, as well as my musical
> preferences, I believe I should move into the chromatic world.
> Which is a shame, because diatonic had price on its side.

Not necessarily, brass breath.  8^)  I can't even count my diatonics.  You
need at least seven to handle most tunes, but most of us diatonic nuts have
far more than that.  I won't even go into minors or special tunings.

On the other hand...  If you are a dedicated learner you can play in all
keys with a single C chromatic.

> Therefore, what are the recommendations for chromatic harmonicas
> for a newbie?

16-holers are too big for me. so I'd suggest 12-holers to start with.  I'd
recommend starting with Hering, either the Velvet Voice or the Special 48:

http://coast2coastmusic.com/cgi-bin/cart/scan/fi=products/st=text/co=1/sf=ca
tegory/se=Harmonicas/op=rm/nu=0/sf=sub_cat1/se=Hering/op=rm/nu=0/ml=50/tf=sk
u/to=x/va=link_banner%3dHering%2520Harmonicas.html

I like the Hering circular-holed mouthpiece better than Hohner 270's
square-holed "cheesegrater."  Herings are also more airtight out of the box.
One caveat:  Hering chrome's valves buzz and pop if you don't warm the
instrument up befor playing.  They also sound a bit thinner than a Hohner,
but they are more fun to play (for me).  If you do decide to go Hohner, stay
away from the wooden-combed models.  Instead, get a plastic combed one from
F&R Farrell, which you can contact by phone Monday through Friday 9:00am to
4:00pm EST at 1-800-438-3543.  (They have a new web site
(www.fandrfarrell.com) but I don't see the plastic combed Hohner 270's on
it, so you should call them.)  BTW I've recently read that there may be a
waiting list for the plastic-combed 270's.  However, it would be worth the
wait, as it's an attractive alternative to wood a combed harmonica.  Not
much difference in price as I recall.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Michelle