Best 12 holer out there
I know these type of question are not the smartest ones, but I have to ask it.
What is the best chromatic (12 holes) out there (out of the box)?
Thank you very much Mr. Yerxa.
Hi again Mr. Yerxa.
What do you think about Seydel's Saxony? Is it in the scx-48 range?
Do you mean price range or musical range of notes?
The Seydel Saxony (about $350) costs about twice what a Suzuki Chromatix SCX-48 does ($175-ish). The Saxony is Seydel's top of the line factory-built chromatic (the Renaissance is handmade and will set you back 6000 to 8000 euros), while the SCX is the entry level model at Suzuki, whose offerings range as high as $3500 for the factory-built Fabulous models.
What do you get for the money if you go for the Saxony over the SCX?
First, stainless steel reeds. Seydel, and some of their players, claim that the stainless steel reeds last longer than brass reeds. They're harder to tune and profile, but they seem very durable.
Second, an innovative slide assembly that never seems to stick, according to jazz chromatic player Chris Bauer. My feeling is that tolerances in the slide assembly could be tighter for less air loss, which I feel could strengthen the tone, even though the Saxony does not lack for tonal strength.
The Saxony also seems better in tune out of the box than the SCX in C that I received for review.
As for musical range, the standard Saxony in C and the SCX-48 in C have the same three-octave range that starts on Middle C. The Saxony Orchestra is also in C, but starts on G below Middle C and extends up to E in the top end, lacking the two top holes' worth of notes going up to high C, which few players need anyway. The low holes give you the same range extension as a 14-hole chromatic, and those extra notes help with both violin music and with the melody notes that often go a little below middle C.
That said, the SCX-48 has plenty of value to offer, even at its relatively low price.
The phosphor bronze reeds used by Suzuki also are reported by players to be very long lasting. They are welded on instead of riveted, allowing for greater precision in placement, but requiring special tools for reed replacement, which not all harp techs possess (but then Suzuki has a good US repair facility).
The mouthpiece is a very mouh-friendly rounded design, and the two-piece slide assembly is one of the most airtight out there.
One small design advantage for those who take their harps apart: The slide screws on the SCX thread into replaceable receiver nuts, which can be replaced if they strip. The mouthpiece screws on the Saxony models thread directly into the metal comb itself. If the thread in the comb holes strips, repair would be much more difficult and might require an expensive comb replacement.
You can hear the test playing sound files for these models:
Saxony: http://archive.harmonicasessions.com/oct09/Yerxa.html
Saxony Orchestra: http://harmonicasessions.com/?p=174
SCX-56 (14-hole version): http://harmonicasessions.com/?p=265
Very nice answer, again.
Thanks a lot.
A "smart" question is one that will give you useful information. So your question is a smart one.
"Best" is of course subject to personal preference and also budget.
If you're looking at quality of build in mid-priced instruments, however, I'd recommend the Hohner CX-12 and the Suzuki SCX-48. Both can be found well under $200 (though Suzuki just raised their prices) and have a strong reputation for being airtight, in tune, and just good to play right from the box. Both have smooth-moving slides, though the SCX slide seems to need more frequent cleaning. Both have strong sound and both come in several keys.
The CX-12 is easier to take apart, and the slide is better protected from damage by the design. However, the slide is also noisier that that of the SCX.
If you're looking for the traditional Hohner blues sound, then the 270 Deluxe is a nice improvement on the original 270 Super Chromonica design without sacrificing the classic tone. Its round mouthpiece holes and all-screw construction (no nails into wood) are welcome changes. However, this model comes only in regular C.
For more information and some sound samples, read the reviews I did in late 2009 in Harmonica Sessions:
http://archive.harmonicasessions.com/oct09/Yerxa.html
http://archive.harmonicasessions.com/dec09/Yerxa.html