Re: Subject: [Harp-L] Good chromatics for a beginner

[tacopescado@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I saw a few posts about how leaky 270's are. Like Whiteboy I have a  
complete set (my guitarist is amused that I have chromatics in every  
key). All of mine are vintage 60's purchased from a small music store  
in Rock Island, IL in the 90's at 30% of their 60's prices. Some were  
leaky at first but as they were played, mouth gunk AKA salivates  
sealed the leaks. I've never cleaned them and they work like a charm.  
I still prefer my CBH's but the high notes aren't as good as I would  
like. QC is why so many of us are migrating towards custom or boutique  
harps. That didn't used to be the case. My folks have a Sunbeam  
toaster that they got for a wedding gift in 1953 and it still works  
great. Seems I have to buy a new toaster every few years. I have a  
waffle iron that I bought in 1982 that still works perfectly. I have a  
stainless steel chili pot that I also bought in the early 80's that  
has no defects but the chinese stainless steel pasta pot that I bought  
in 2008 from Walmart is rusting. I think I'll stop my rant there and  
play some music before I raise my blood pressure.


On Dec 6, 2012, at 5:34 PM, MundHarp@xxxxxxx wrote:

> When I was 8 years old, my big sister Pat (Then a student at the  
> Guildhall
> School of Music in London UK) Gave me a Hohner 270 Super Chromonica in
> "G"... To  keep me quiet. It didn't work. I LOVE the range of the  
> regular "G"
> chromatic,  and because that was my ONLY harmonica for about 5 years  
> I STILL
> think "In G". I  loved the music of jazz musician Max Geldray; but  
> he almost
> always used a "C"  chromatic... I have a set of a dozen 270s these  
> days, one
> in each key.  Why? Because when playing sessions, often the singer  
> will say
> "Change the key"  Then I can play the patterns I have already  
> learned on a
> differently tuned  instrument. Also... the CHORDS are available! But  
> to be
> honest, I mostly play  harmonica in 1st, 2nd or 3rd position... Just  
> like I
> do on diatonic harp  too.
> Sincerely,
> John "Whiteboy" Walden
> Just now in
> bonnie Scotland.
>
>
> In a message dated 11/25/2012 1:01:36 P.M. GMT Standard Time, EGS1217
> writes:
>
> <<Most long-term chromatic players have gotten used to  playing  
> everything
> on
> one key of C instrument  >>