Bigtone
242 posts
Jun 15, 2013
1:50 PM
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I wanna get a new chromatic but I see there are two ones online to choose from in the $200 price range. The susuki is a little cheaper. I was wondering which you guys thought was a better buy
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Kingley
2774 posts
Jun 15, 2013
1:57 PM
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I've only ever played bits of chromatic here and there so I'm no expert. I've never tried the Suzuki chromatics. I like the Hohner Chromonica and I also like the Hering 64. I'm led to believe that John Nemeth is playing the budget priced Chinese made Swan chromatics instead of the Hohners. They seem to get very good reviews over on Slidemeister.com. Hopefully guys like Winslow and BBQ Bob will see this thread and be able to give more indepth advice.
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the_happy_honker
154 posts
Jun 15, 2013
2:54 PM
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I tried the Hohner 270, wasn't wild about it. Adam really likes the Super64 (see the archives). Suzuki SCX's have a good reputation - a lot of harp for the money. It depends on whether you are stuck on the Hohner sound - if that's what you want, get it. If not, there are lots of good chromatics out there.
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Piro39
41 posts
Jun 15, 2013
7:46 PM
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I own over 30 chromatics and I'm very impressed with the Suzuki SCX series, great slide action, round mouthpiece and windsavers that don't require constant attention, good tone all the way up to the last hole. The top of the line new Swans with the round mouthpiece seem very good also have very good windsavers. The Swan has lower volume but when played amplified it's fine.Both these models have a slide which fits into the mouthpiece whose design came from Hohner's Super 64 which also is a very good chromatic. Hohner's prices have gone crazy. You could probably buy close to 3 Swans for the price of one Hohner Super 64. If you go the Swan route I recommend The Swan Music Store in Colorado. They are very good to deal with. Also there is Hohner's CX-12 which is another great harmonica, very easy to take apart, loud volume but has become very expensive. Hope this helps.
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Gnarly
611 posts
Jun 15, 2013
9:19 PM
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I am the Suzuki USA harmonica repair technician. So you know what I like.
However, I would like to mention that we have a one year warranty. Hohner's warranty is 60 days.
So if anything goes wrong with your harp within the first year, I am there to cheerfully repair it for free.
Does that make a difference?
Last Edited by Gnarly on Jun 15, 2013 9:21 PM
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Bigtone
243 posts
Jun 16, 2013
12:02 AM
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that makes a huge difference guys. I think I will go with the Suzuki for sure.
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harpletunnel
29 posts
Jun 16, 2013
12:36 PM
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Hi Bigtone, I see you want to go new with the chomo but I still have one that is near new condition for cheap. Also the 12 hole harps are really the ones you will have the most fun with imo. They are WAY easier to play. The 16 hole harps are easy to get lost on and the lower octave is not that useful. (for me, way to low). Good luck with your journey.
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dougharps
404 posts
Jun 16, 2013
1:28 PM
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While I agree that the 12 hole chromatics are easier to play (especially with a mic), the 16 hole is good if you plan to play octaves. It gives you more room to move if your mouth is taking up 4 holes to play octaves... and you can get a massive low chord in third position at the low end!
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Doug S.
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jbone
1278 posts
Jun 16, 2013
2:03 PM
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I say you can't go wrong with the high precision and nice build on a Suzuki SCX. Got one, love it. Gave yp on 270's long ago. Hering 5148 is decent but a pain to get a new one or reed plates for. Rockin' Ron's sold me a nice SCX in g and I have had no issues in about 2 years now, with plenty of gigging.
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Bigtone
247 posts
Jun 16, 2013
8:37 PM
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@harpletunnel
email me please bigtone1@yahoo.com ill send ya the money for one that plays good
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dmitrysbor
76 posts
Jun 17, 2013
12:44 AM
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At this level of quality I guess it's doesn't matter. They're both very good.
Last Edited by dmitrysbor on Jun 17, 2013 12:45 AM
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WinslowYerxa
350 posts
Jun 17, 2013
8:50 AM
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For traditional third-position blues 12-hole in C will be inadequate. Lower keys like F and G, or even tenor C will work. But don't go with a 12-hole regular C.
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Winslow
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SmokeJS
108 posts
Jun 17, 2013
9:27 AM
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Winslow, where would a 14 hole C chromatic fit in for traditional third position Blues?
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WinslowYerxa
351 posts
Jun 17, 2013
8:01 PM
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Fourteen-hole chromatics come only in C and go down to G blow the middle C bottom note on a standard 12-hole in C. You can get some lower-range third-position action going on them, but you won't get the real dark, all-the-way-down-to-the-home-note-in octaves stuff you can get on a tenor or a 16-holer.
I did some recording with various 14-holers as part of a review I did awhile back for HarmonicaSessions.com, and one of the test tunes was in third and tenth positions. The tune is called Solstice and you can hear the various versions on these two pages:
April 2011 review - Seydel Saxony Orchestra, Suzuki Sirius S-56, Hohner Meisterklasse chromatic
July 2011 review - Hohner Chrometta 14, Suzuki SCX-56, Hering Stan harper 56, Bends Tonica 56
That may help you get an idea of what you can get with a 14-holer.
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Winslow
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Jun 17, 2013 8:12 PM
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jbone
1283 posts
Jun 18, 2013
3:32 AM
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I have a Hering Baritono in C which is an octave lower than standard, which is a nice one to have in my case. I don't know who else builds a bari 12 hole but it may be worth looking into.
My 2 favorite- to date- chromatics I have owned and keep in my case are the Bari C and a Suzuki CSX in G.
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WinslowYerxa
353 posts
Jun 18, 2013
8:47 AM
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Hohner and Seydel both make Tenor C chromatics. Tenor is actually a better word for it. Baritone, properly speaking, would be 2 octaves lower than a C harp, like a baritone sax.
Hohner offers tenor models in the CX-12 and the 270 Super Chromonica.
Seydel offers their Deluxe model in Low C.
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Winslow
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