[Harp-L] 12-hole diatonics

[Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

There are a few models of 12-hole Richter diatonics out there right  
now.  For the most part they do tend to be pitched an octave lower  
than the standard instruments.

Hohner has the Marine Band 364 (http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php? 
1572), which I believe is pitched an octave lower than standard (at  
least the C and D are, IIRC, not sure about the G).  The 364 Soloist  
(http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?28) is a solo tuned variant (a  
common design, actually, as several companies make 12-hole harps in  
this tuning), and I believe it is also tuned an octave lower, but I  
could very easily be wrong.  Unfortunately, Hohner's website doesn't  
really answer the pitch questions.

Huang offers the Cadet Soloist, which is also a 12 hole solo tuned  
Richter diatonic.  I'm not sure about the pitch range, but I think  
this may be the same as the standard C diatonic.  (couldn't find  
Huang's website)

Hering's Master Solo is, you guessed it, a solo tuned 12-hole  
diatonic, starting on middle C as does the standard diatonic (http:// 
www.heringharmonicas.com.br/gaitas.php?cod_tip=2&cod_gai=29).  What  
is different about this than most other 12-hole diatonics is that the  
hole spacing is the same as on a standard 10-hole.  Until Seydel  
released their new 12-hole models I believe this was the only one  
which had that feature.  Alas, key of C only, and reed replacement is  
tricky.  Hering used to have an octave lower 12-hole instrument as  
well, but it seems to be no longer made.

Seydel has recently brought out two models (well, one model and two  
tunings) which have the same hole spacing as their standard models (a  
bit larger than most manufacturers, smaller than on the 12 and 14  
hole Hohners, IIRC), these are the Solist Pro 12 line (http:// 
www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/ 
Categories/Products/Blues/Solist_Pro_12&PageSize=50).  One is solo  
tuned the other SBS tuned.  They are both available in either low or  
standard C, with the SBS also available in low D and A (what the  
starting A is I can't say, either  a very low octave below the  
standard A, or the same as the standard A which makes the second and  
third octave the same as the lowest two octaves on a high A).  I plan  
on trying these soon, but would love to see them available in all  
keys, and maybe in other tunings as well.  Still, I can retune easily  
enough and I'm just happy to see some more 12-hole models made with  
the more standard hole-spacing as opposed to the larger spacing of  
the Hohners, for instance.


Hope this helps.





 ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()   & Snuffy, too:)
`----'