Re: [Harp-L] Hohner Koch Chromatic unvalved harmonica

[MundHarp@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 14/02/2010 01:34:28 Malay Peninsula Standard Time,  
winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx writes:

<<The leakiness didn't stop Little Water from recording with  it, holding 
the slide in to play in G# on a C instrument, and letting it out  and 
pressing it back in for dip ornaments. Check out his "Oh Baby (You're  gonna miss 
me when I'm gone."

Winslow Yerxa
>>
 
Dear Winslow,
 
Of course, Little Walter played what ever he had access too.... I  have 
giged with my Koch harmonicas many times as well. It is just they are very  
"leaky" and really produce much less volume of sound than for example, a  
standard Marine Band would. But they bend just fine, and will overblow too  if 
the gap size is reduced from "out of the box".
In their favour, they seem just about bullet proof, and seem to hold their  
tune for much longer than most other blues harps. I am sure they could be 
made  less leaky, by someone who knows what they are doing. If that was done, 
they  would be very useful. I guess half-valving might help, but I haven't 
tried  that yet.
 
Also it's possible that Hohner may be building them with better quality  
control these days? I got mine a long time ago.
 
Kind regards,
 
John Walden
Cebu City
Philippines