Slidemeister (Chromatic & related only - no Diatonic discussion) > Custom Chromatic Stuff

The perfect harmonica at a reasonable price

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gtfossum:
In fact I find the Super 64 could have produced a little rounder tone, but thats probably just my inadequate technique.

Grizzly:
If you're playing with the button on the left, and with the low notes on the left (instead of just flipping the whole thing around), CX 12 is a great big stopper. Can't be done.

If you're looking for slippery, full covers,nice round holes in the mouthplate, really decent sound (a good portion of which comes from the player, Groven notwithstanding), the best option you have is a Suzuki SCX 48 or 56. If price is no object, the more expensive Suzukis may suit you even better. (I haven't tried them, but I own an SCX 56 which I really like.)

The Amadeus I tried briefly was a very nice harmonica; even tone, strong.

There is a Silver Concerto for sale in the UK; check it out in the classifieds on this site.

Another stopper for a CX 12: if you're prove to dropping harmonicas, you'll destroy it in a week. ;D

Tom

PS rounder tone: drop your jaw.

T

gtfossum:
Thanks for the tip, Tom. I have tried to experiment with intonation and also found dropping the jaw or generally opening up for more resonance volume in mouth and head to help round off sound especially on the high notes where the Super 64 can be a little thin. I find, however, that focusing on this makes everything else terribly difficult. I guess it is a matter of practise.

Interesting to se that you suggest the SCX-48. I will have to admit that what I have heard of Suzukis are mostly from these to videos on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN41f04Au0Y&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiP8NwhRdOc&feature=related

I definitely think that there is a different, darker sound in the Suzukis. Also, from the series of videos the first clip is a part of, I think that the player controls (responsivness) the hard bopper and the Super 64 better than the SCX-48 although I agree with the author that the sound of the scx-48 is also quite nice.

I assume that the differences may be due to the player and his familiarity with the different instruments because from this video I can not discern any noticeable difference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhw0H3P4zUE

And that is probably my most important question? Is it sound to assume that wichever harmonica I choose, it would sound more or less the same?

I quite like what I read about the features and build of the Suzukis and have considered the the Sirius-48 over Scx-48, but is it really worth the price difference? It looks nicer, but I begin to think that I should spend a little less money and rather be able to afford to try out different harmonicas before I begin to spend a "huge" amount of money.

Here I should probably qualify what I mean with a reasonable price in the heading of this discussion: Anything below $7-800,- ruling out really only the very expensive harmonicas like the Suzuki fabulous or a silver concerto.

keithfre:
For what it's worth (my experience has been mainly of various Herings and an old-model SCX-48), the thing that struck me about the SCX is the homogeneity of the tone, especially at lower volumes. Whereas the Herings have distinct registers, the SCX has the same sound throughout the instrument. That may or may not be a good thing, depending on your point of view ;-}

gtfossum:
I think you are pointing to something important, Keith. I am not certain I understand you right, but what you say makes me think about what I have read about Suzuki, Hohner and tuning. Hohner uses justified tuning while Suzuki is said to use equal temperament tuning. I do not understand much of it except that it is supposed to sound a little different. I think the Suzuki harmonicas sound very good and yet I also feel a little sick when I hear them played on youtube. When I hear this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzY_KZTSXJk&NR=1 I feel I have been set free or just came out breathing fresh air. I worry about being stuck with a 2-300 $ harmonica that makes me sick.

I wonder: Can this difference in tuning be some of what I pick up, in addition to the intonation of the player?

Also: I don't know what brand of harmonica Philip Achille is playing, but could this have been played sounding like this on a Suzuki? Or is this beyond the limit to what the player can do with his intonation? To me, this definitely does not sound like a Suzuki chromatic harmonica.

I do not consider myself a blues og jazz harmonica player, but rather a classic harmonica player. I realise therefore that it is a little difficult to compare Brendan Power playing the Suzuki and Sigmund Groven playing a Polle Concert Harmonica with Hohner reed plates.

Apart from this I also realize I may be streching the patience of the people who have been kind enough to answer my questions by constantly coming up with new ones. I will try to get back to the original issue, if anyone is still interested: What makes up the perfect harmonica build. I do not think of what is a matter of taste, but what will make up the basics of a good working harmonica with regard to such things as air tightness, responsiveness etc. How is it achieved? I have not been challenged at my requirements for what I consider a good working harmonica.

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