Well Folks, here is my review of Hohner's new 12 hole chromatic released to celebrate 100 years of the chromatic harmonica.I was sent this by Hohner (thank you folks) to show at the Chromatic Weekend in Solihull outside Birmingham England (which went over real well and I will be posting a review on that as well). It arrived a day late but I have since been working with it and playing it and taking it to bits (thats how you find out how to make it better).
Okay let's look at the basics
12 Hole Chromatic in plastic
recessed 1.25mm (approximate) thickness reed plates
Plastic mouthpiece and Comb
2 Part Mouthpiece slide assembly (mouthpiece and slide, base plate built into comb)
Straight tuned
Reed Plates bolted down with 7 bolts plus cover bolts (2)
Machine screws for the mouthpiece that is based on the Meisterklasse according to Richard at Hohner.
Can be set up for left or right sided button.
Increased thickness on the buffers.
Comb is designed for future anterior plate screws. Also has ramps for decreased chamber space (increased sensitivity of the reed to pressure change) from the 4th hole on up.
Michael Timler type valves (to be expected as Hohner has shift completely to those to my knowledge)
Price in Europe and the UK around €105 or £85 plus postage if getting it shipped.
Assembly and break down is extremely easy with just a philips (PZ0) and flat (No2) screw driver.
You will need to lift the upper plate out or turn it over and tap lightly as the plate tends to sit tightly (at least this one did and still does after 3 times stripping it down and seeing how well it fits back together).
Replacing the mouthpiece is extremely easy, with just hooking the slide on the spring and moving it over and down on to the buffers.
Covers have built in support posts; so there is no losing them when doing work on the harp. The Comb design shows that Hohner has plans to go places with this comb and it will be interesting to see where (it even gave me some ideas). The offset screw holes that are waiting for a plate with screws on the mouth piece side.
Tuning is to A4 = 442Hz and is in traditional solo tuning modern equal temperament. Overall tuning is within 10 cents of exact with most reeds being 6 cents or less from true.
Mouthpiece is easy on the mouth, due to the rounded corners and edges of the Meisterklasse type design.
Playability is really nice and responsive across the whole range. It is very surprising how little breath is needed to get the 11th and 12th hole to sound (near the same range as my customs which is really good for a production harp).
Overall this is targeted at the beginner player. Though I can easily see more experienced players being able to use it and with a little bit of adjustment and tuning this being a near professional grade harmonica.
The case is a joy to use and comes with a rather snug belt loop and opens on the end. The flyer that comes with it; is for the most part well written. It also is a much more honest, realistic statement of what to do in breaking in a new harp and what to expect from a harmonica over the playing life-cycle than I have seen from anyone else.
The new Discovery 48 is a fitting heir to the Chromonica/SuperChromonica line and I can see Hohner keeping new and not so new players very happy with this harmonica.
In the custom build direction I can see wooden covers, fully ramped reed chambers, and maybe a recessed wooden comb sealed in acrylic (to decrease risk of warpage). That is pretty much all I can currently see it needing to really make it a personalized, highly responsive harmonica.
how does it compare to the CX12?
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