My 40 year old box of harmonicas
I agree about Hohner. I think Suzuki is the most innovative of the big three manufacturers.
I have never had any luck with Seydel chromatics.
I have two 16 hole chromatics. My favorite is the Hohner Super 64X. A piano has 88 keys and you have 64 notes in your hand. Amazing!
I also have a Swan 16 hole chromatic which is fine and only costs about $100.
Grab any instrument. Harmonica or dulcimer: make music and have fun.
Don, I often desire a chromatic. Problem is mine have broken reeds. I have sent them to Hohner for repair which gets a bit expensive. I always think of "someday" learning to repair reeds myself, but someday never seems to come.
This is a great time to get into harmonica since new companies are offering instruments with different tuning options, even custom tuning to order. Sometimes I think Hohner is stuck in the past and is reluctant to innovate... Robert
I have primarily play my chromatics. When I need the sharp or flat I push a button. And I like to play Broadway music as well as folk music and jazz.
Hey @kjb , you should talk with fotmd member @terry-wilson .... he is a big fan of playing harmonica for fun! He plays all kinds of music on his harps, I think just about every day.
--
Site Owner
Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
I've always wanted to learn to play harmonica, Bob, and your sharing may just be the kick I need... Thank you so very much!
Now THAT's a jam! Thanks for sharing this! My harmonica is 73 years old and still sounds good. It's a chromatic---I know, some of you will probably think I should just get a guitar....I've heard that before!
--
Jan Potts, Lexington, KY
Site Moderator
"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke
updated by @jan-potts: 10/12/16 04:40:02AM
I just stumbled upon this old German movie which has a cute scene where a mandolin orchestra is competing against a 'harmonica orchestra' at a party. (keep in mind that harmonicas are a German invention).
The music action starts right at the 38 minute mark in the video, 38:00 ....
--
Site Owner
Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
updated by @strumelia: 10/10/16 06:14:20PM
i agree with this ! i have one myself and love it.
Leslie, Do you have any Scotch tape? preferably the gift wrap type. After reading about your mom I applied scotch tape to a nickel harmonica cover and the tape in no way hindered my ability to play the instrument. My lips never touched the metal and the tape is invisible. I think its a workable idea. Yes there are chrome harmonicas as an option but if you still have any nickel harmonicas I would go with the tape... Bob.
Bob I love this little story. I wish you could take a photo of your old box full of harmonicas and show it to us!
I have a couple of my harmonicas from 20 years ago, but sadly I think i lost my original two harmonicas I had as a teenagers, which would have been over 40 yrs old now. I always liked fooling around with harmonicas, but never got very good at it.
But I agree, it's always good to keep a little harmonica in your pocket- like carrying around a microscopic church organ!
I keep a set of rhythm bones and a limberjack in my instrument case when I go to music gatherings- like a harmonica they are very portable, and sometimes it's just the thing!
--
Site Owner
Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
updated by @robert-schuler: 02/25/19 11:59:57PM