From: Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] 12-hole diatonics
Date: Tue, 8 May 2007 19:49:39 -0400
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:)
`----'
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