[Harp-L] Toots "Hard Bopper" Chromatic - Opinons Wanted

["Nate in the Blues Room" <thebluesroom@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hey people,
I've got my eye on one of these and wonder how others using them have
found them. Pros? Cons? Which is better the wooden comb or plastic?

G, who posted this review on harp-l in 2001 mentions:
"It is currently my favourite instrument after extensive customising &
tweaking with more to come.

"The Hard Bopper gets a generally good rating overall.
I think their best feature is the smooth mouthpiece design.
The wood comb and nailed reedplates puts me off, the current Hard
Bopper models are only better than the cheaper 270 model because of
the mouthpiece and the reedplates are plated in chrom and the
reedplates are slightly thicker which may affect the tone.
Decide what you like about that.
Hard Boppers come in key of C only.

"Hohner Mellow Tone's are reportedly quieter/softer, but otherwise
equal to the Hard Bopper. Toots Theilmans plays the Mellow Tone
exclusively.
In terms of airtightness... in my view not really any better than the
280 or 270. Hard Boppers are a reasonable quality Chrom, and I'm glad
I got one as a gift rather than a 270."

Thanks G.
Nate
--
Blues is a Story - Worth being told!
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