Re: [Harp-L] help me choose the right chromatic harmonica !

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Aug 24, 2009, at 6:19 PM, Vern Smith wrote:

> Here are the properties of a chromatic harmonica (in descending  
> order of importance) that would influence my selection:
>
> 1. Price.  I would not pay thousands of dollars for any harmonica.

A person who makes $42,801.24 a year can justify $428.oo for harps.  
'I' elect to buy SEVERAL for that price. Example:
3 chromos (@ 75.oo) and 5 diatonics (@ $25.oo). :)
> 2. Slide leakage.  IMO, the amount of leakage through the slide  
> will affect the player's satisfaction more than any other  
> property.  I posit that the main feature that set the Renaissance  
> apart was its precisely-machined and low-leakage slide.

Which gummed up too quickly for me. As I get older, my saliva gets  
more and more 'pastey' (ne Elmer's Glue). :)
>   The Hohner CX12 has low slide leakage and is worth your  
> consideration for that reason.

As long as holding what amounts to a pick-axe handle (in cross  
section) in your mouth doesn't bother you. :)
> 3. Reed material, not for imperceptible differences of tone but for  
> resistance to fatigue.  Right now, the $340 Seydel Saxony is the  
> only chromatic with stainless steel reeds. IMO, this is a  
> tremendous advantage. One fatigued reed makes a harmonica  
> unplayable. The reed must be replaced.  Although technicians do  
> this routinely, most players find it very difficult...first to  
> obtain the replacement and then to install it.

Who fatigues reeds? They don't pay me enough for me to fatigue them.  
BTW, while we're ON this subject, I had a long running gun battle  
with the 'Late great Tate'. I said that harmonicas are self  
destructive and he disagreed. Well if they aren't self destructive,  
why do people have to constantly REPLACE them. Something doesn't  
compute here.
> 5. Independent part removal.  Covers and reedplates that are  
> screwed to the comb are preferable to those that are screwed to  
> their opposing mates.  With the former, you can remove one cover or  
> one reedplate and the instrument stays together without exposing  
> the "other" reedplate to damage.  With the latter, if you remove  
> one reedplate, then the whole instrument becomes a basket case.

Blackie and I talked about this at great length with Rich Farrell  
many moons ago. I am the first person that I know of to use inserts  
to accomplish this. I didn't get them from some supplier. I  
'squeezed' them from the stand offs on all the boom boxes my kids  
went through with a pair of pliers.
> 6. Availability of repair parts.

Good idea. Long overdue.
> No harp is perfect in all categories.

And that's why you shouldn't pay a lot of money for one. In MY  
opinion, there IS only one sweet chromo. Unfortunately it is a 48  
model. And while I play 48s,  Hohner missed the boat this time. It  
should be a 56. As for diatonics, I find the spl-20 to be good enough  
for Govt. specs.  Lolol

Smokey Joe & the Cafe s

> Happy chromatic harpin',
>
> Vern
>
> ---