This is my first chromatic harmonica. I have played diatonic for >10 years and have researched options extensively prior to making this purchase. I am satisfied with the service from amazon and from Harmonicaland USA, although I was somewhat hesitant at first to drop such a large sum of money on an instrument from a website that cannot provide a warranty. Return policies on harmonicas often fairly rigid too.
Cons (I'm a realist, so I'll start with these):
1. The 4 reeds in the #10 hole don't work well. Perhaps this is my inexperience, but they will only sound if you direct the airflow as though you were performing a blow (or draw) bend. This is true for the slide in or out. Im my estimation, this is a minor difficulty since I feel that I can probably adjust the reeds myself until they are responsive in the way I expect. Also, it's unlikely that I will be frequenting hole #10 any time soon with the tunes I'm trying to learn.
2. One of the holes (I think #5 blow, slide out) sounded very "raspy." I disassembled the instrument easily (see "pros" below) and found that the blow reed valve was twisted up away from the plate. I repaired this with a few tiny slivers of tape and it works fine now.
Pros:
1. The sound is wonderful. Granted, the embouchure is a little different from a diatonic, and the reeds are not as forgiving when attacked, requiring a small but significant change in the style of playing and breathing control. However, once this is recognized and adjusted for, nothing but compliments here.
2. This thing is SUPER easy to disassemble. See the multiple youtube descriptions of how to take it apart for cleaning or self-repair. I will say that on one occasion the slide did not easily snap back into position during reinsertion because the spring caught on the mouthpiece. This took several minutes to get back into place and worried me that if the spring bent, the slide could not be replaced. I have avoided taking it apart "just for fun" since.
3. The color(s). At first I wasn't sure what to think of it. This thing is like a chameleon. It changes color in an almost imperceptible way depending on the lighting. Initially I may have considered this to be a "Con" but it has grown on me.
Not a whole lot else to say. It plays well, as advertised. The layout of a chromatic is going to take some getting used to since it is a repeat of holes 4-7 on a diatonic. I think a lot of the complaints people post are largely due to inexperience in playing harmonicas in general and the differences in handling between diatonic and chromatic. Bottom line: I would buy this again.
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This item: Hohner CX-12 Jazz Chromatic Harmonica, Key of C
$409.18
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This Item  Hohner CX-12 Jazz Chromatic Harmonica, Key of C | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $409.18 | $254.43 | $55.99 | $56.99 | -8% $350.97 Typical: $383.37 | $518.66 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Nov 19 | Get it Nov 19 - 21 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Nov 19 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Nov 19 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Nov 19 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, Nov 19 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Legacy distribution | Austin Bazaar | easttop harmonica | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| instrument key | C | C | C | C | C | A |
| material | Plastic | Stainless Steel | Brass, Plastic, Stainless Steel | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, Stainless Steel | Plastic, Brass | Stainless Steel |
| style | Mouthpiece | Modern | Brass,Professional | Modern | Sleek | Sleek |
Top reviews from other countries
BB
Absolutely love it. Plays smooth and is easy on the ...
Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2017Jörg Renelt
Kleinod meiner Harmonika Sammlung
Reviewed in Germany on October 31, 2016FretMonkey
Really nice harp. Easy to play and hold
Reviewed in Canada on December 3, 2015