[Harp-L] Re: A Good Chromatic

[MilwHarmonica@xxxxxxx]

Hello, Evedock. Tom B.'s suggested choices for slide chromatic harmonicas  
are solid.
 
Before anything else, I must say that if you are planning on buying  
harmonicas for your sons (both adults) "whether they want one or not," 
I'd say,  DON'T.  If they don't want it, they won't use  it.  That statement 
comes from experience as a music teacher of 42  years.
 
When you asked about the best slide chromatic harmonica "out of the box,"  my 
mind went immediately to the Hering brand. It sounds smooth 
as silk out of the box. Very easy to play. However, I've heard from several  
chromatic players that the silk turns to sandpaper after about 6 months. 
That hasn't happened to my Hering Baritono. I bought it about 6-7 years ago  
and it still plays great, but I use it sparingly.
 
If you want a dependable, solid, well-made harmonica that will improve  after 
it's "broken in," I'd recommend Hohners first, The durability and tunings 
are legendary. Hohner backs its harmonicas with a warranty (all major  
harmonica manufacturers do), but Hering is very hard to deal with. Other  chromatics 
are also excellent: Huang, Suzuki. My Huang chromatics are very  dependable, 
with plastic combs. 
 
I don't own a Suzuki chromatic, but I'd put the company in a tie with  Hohner 
and Seydel in reliability and customer service. 
 
If you want to buy a low maintenance, reliable and durable harmonica,  the 
Hohner CX-12 (3 octaves range, 10 available keys) is the top of my list, 
and it's very airtight, with easy maintenance, Another good choice is my  
favorite workhorse, the Hohner Super 64 chromatic. It's got 16 holes( four  
octaves range), plus a silver plated mouthpiece for easy play, and a plastic  comb. 
It's sold in the key of C only.
 
Whatever harmonica you choose, I'd recommend one with a plastic or metal  
comb (sound chamber). The wood combs may or may not be affected 
by moisture or humidity, and may or may not crack due to expansion and  
contraction of the wood. 
 
The plastic combed harmonicas are relatively inexpensive. The metal combed  
chromatics are very expensive, but will probably last forever. They are heavy 
in  the hands, compared to wood or plastic combed harmonicas. Plastic and metal 
 combed harmonicas aren't affected by low or high humidity.and/or  dryness. 
 
If you really want to buy harmonicas despite your sons' rejection of  the 
idea, do yourself a favor, and don't buy the expensive harmonicas (in the  
$300-$600+ price range, or the hyper expensive types ($600-$6000 price range).  Buy 
a good, useable chromatic for under $100 each. All of the major companies  
sell these, but I'd stick with Hohners.
 
John Broecker



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