LIP RIPPER
1 post
Oct 29, 2008
7:03 AM
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HI EVERYONE, I JUST JOINED AND I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE SLIDE ON THE CHROMONICA HARPS. WHAT'S IT FOR? I HAVE A FRIEND THAT IS A ANTIQUES DEALER AND IS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO BE SENDING ME A FINE OLD HARP IN THE ORIGINAL BOX. I AM NEW STUDENT OF ADAM'S AND ONLY HAVE DIATONIC HARPS BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THIS OLD HARP IN MY HANDS. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELPFUL INPUT.
LR
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bluzlvr
76 posts
Oct 29, 2008
1:05 PM
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If you push the slide in, every note on the harp will move up a half step, thereby enabling you to get all the notes with out bends, overblows ect., thus making it chomatic instead of diatonic.
By the way, what kind of harp is it?
Last Edited by on Oct 29, 2008 1:07 PM
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Trueblue
Guest
Oct 29, 2008
1:20 PM
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If its called a chromonica its a Hohner and they still make them ie Super Chromonica. They were a good instrument in their day but much better chromatics are available now.
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LIP RIPPER
2 posts
Oct 29, 2008
1:23 PM
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IT'S AN OLD HOHNER. I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD BUT IT'S REALLY OLD AND SEEMED TO BE IN PERFECT SHAPE. DID THEY DATE BACK TO THE 30'S? WHEN I WAS VISITING HIM IN SEPT. I LOOKED AT IT AND IT WAS ALL SO FOREIGN TO ME THAT I PUT IT BACK IN THE CASE. AFTER FLYING BACK HOME AND THINKING ABOUT IT I DECIDED I WANTED IT SO I'VE ASKED HIM FOR IT AND HE'S SENDING IT AS A GIFT.
LR
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oldwailer
289 posts
Oct 29, 2008
5:27 PM
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I wouldn't wish any problems on you at all--but I tried a couple of old vintage chromatics from ebay about a year ago. The problem with them was that the valves are leather, I think--so, at the very least--you will probably have to replace the valves--the old ones crozzle up and do nothing but make noises.
A chromatic is a much more complicated machine--I finally got so into the diatonic, I've never taken the time to try to fix these old clunkers up--they just stay out there in my spare parts pile.
Someday, I might get a new one and try some of the third position blues stuff that Jon Gindick mentions in his book. . .
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Aussiesucker
48 posts
Oct 29, 2008
7:07 PM
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I have a Hohner Super Chromonica 270 which is 50+ years old and looks identical to the one available from Hohner today. I could never play it as after a few mins it gave me problems which I later discovered was an allergic reaction to nickel. Six months ago I purchased a Suzuki Chromatix SCX48 which in playability and comfort is light years ahead of the old Hohner. Still, at the price, you can get 10 diatonics which are never as troublesome (popping windsaver valves and having to warm the instrument up before playing)and if you cannot get your standard major diatonic to play something then experiment with different tunings. For me I prefer the diatonic anytime. Listen to the experts on either, or both, and its all good.
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LIP RIPPER
3 posts
Oct 30, 2008
10:59 AM
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SORRY GENE, JUST AN OLD HABIT. I NEVER LEARNED TO TYPE AND I THINK IT LOOKS WIERD TO HAVE ALL LOWER CASE. I WRITE, "PRINT" THE SAME WAY.
THANKS FOR THE INPUT ON THE OLD HARP, GUYS. IF NOTHING ELSE IT'LL BE A CONVERSATION PIECE I GUESS.
LR
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