270 vs. Xpression
Sat, 07/22/2023 - 15:40
Winslow (or anyone else who wants to chime in):
In another thread here a Member asked about the Hohner Xpression, and how it compares to the 270 Deluxe. Have you played an Xpression yet? And if so, any thoughts?
The Xpression certainly looks cool, and while I don't know whether or not endorser/box coverboy Yvonnick Prené actually plays one on stage (he uses a variety of high-end chromatics), he also doesn't seem to me to be the kind of person who would promote something unless he thought it was pretty good.
Thanks!
I have an Xpression but haven't had time to dig into it.
I will say that Yvonnick shows it in some of his own performance videos not made for Hohner, so it seems like more than just product placement to associate him with it.
The 270 Deluxe is a slightly updated version of the century-old 270 - held together with screws and no nails, and the wood comb drilled to allow switchin it to left-hand slide mount. But other than that, it's the same instrument.
The Xpression is a modern plastic-and-stainless steel construction (reedplates and reeds are brass) and appears to have no backing plate behind the slide, something that Hohner has been slow to adopt. This allows for greater airtightness.
I like the fact that it combines straight tuning (short slide stroke) with the rounded mouthpiece that has become commoin on Asian chromatics, coupled with the squarish holes seen on the Meistrklasse. That's a nice combination and, with straight tuning, makes it stand out from the pack of round-holed, cross-tuned instruments being offered elsewhere.
That's all I've got for now. More later when I have the opportunity to spend some time with it.