[Harp-L] Re: Mini-Harps

[MilwHarmonica@xxxxxxx]

Hello, Ed.
 
Here's a little information about harmonica mini-harps:
 
Hohner minis are 4-holers, all in C (several models with or without chain  or 
key ring, some with plastic covers, others with metal covers. Some with  
plastic combs, others with wood combs. 
 
In general, the wood combed models (Little Lady) have smaller holes than  the 
plastic combed models, and are more expensive. In general, the plastic  
combed minis have larger holes, and are more airtight than the wood combed  models.
 
Lee Oskar Oskamonica has a plastic comb, 4 holes, on a key ring, C  only.
 
Hering #88C has a red plastic comb, metal covers, 4 holes, on a key ring.  In 
the keys of C or A.
 
The Suzuki Song Star mini has plastic comb, metal covers, on a chain or on  a 
key ring, C only.
Suzuki also makes 2 versions of a 5-hole mini, with wrap-around plastic  
covers (like a CX-12 ),
plastic comb, the Metal Major, in C, from C to E; and a Metal Minor, in A  
minor, from A to C. 
The Suzuki 5-holers are very breathy (air leakage).
 
The Seydel minis, as late as 2004, were advertised as 4- or 5- holers,  
plastic combs, metal covers,
in C only. Seydel presently makes a 4-holer mini, and the "Big 6," a  
wood-combed, metal covered, 
6-holer, with stainless steel covers, SS reed plates and SS reeds, in 2  
models, a G mixolydian 
(with the blow-draw pattern of holes 3-8 of a 10-hole single-reed  harp, or a 
C major like the blow-draw 
pattern of holes 4-9 of a 10-holer.
 
Huang currently sells the Starlet, in C only, with plastic comb, 4 holes,  
and metal covers. About 
8-10 years ago, Huang also sold a 4-hole Mini-Cross, in G  mixlolydian, with 
the blow-draw pattern 
of holes 6-9 of a 10-hole diatonic, 4-holes, plastic comb, metal  covers.
 
The Tombo harmonica company of Japan currently sells 2-3 models, all in C,  
4-holes, plastic combs, metal covers, with chain or key ring. My favorite of 
the  Tombos is the "Baby Pipe Harmonica", gold-plated, with a slideable, 
removeable  tube as a cover, and with a gold (plated) chain.
 
Harry Bee, a great harmonica virtuoso, now retired, had his own name mini  
harps, that look like Farrell mini harps, but they are in A, with rivets holding 
 the covers on. The Harry Bee model is a 4-holer, plastic comb, plastic 
covers,  on a key ring.
 
The F. & R. Farrell Company, a former mail-order and internet discount  
harmonica sales company, 
sold the "Farrell Co." mini, a 4-hole, plastic combed and plastic covered  
mini harp. It is the best mini 
I've owned, with a plastic comb, large (for a mini) holes, plastic covers  
that are screwed to the reed plates, and it's extremely air tight.
 
Also, we've allowed a 6-holer in this mini category, so, why not an  8-holer? 
It has 8 reeds, just like the other 
4-hole minis, but it has only one reed plate. Hering makes a wood comb, 8  
reed Yara, in E. The notes are set in this blow-draw pattern, from lowest to  
highest pitch (left-to-right). The large letters are blow reeds, the small  
letters are draw reeds:
 
YARA 8-holer:
 
E  f#  G#  a  B  c#  E  d#. 
 
John Broecker 



**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family 
favorites at AOL Food.      
(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)