Re: Digest Number 72

Jonathan, 
I lucked into owning a Hohner No.261 awhile back when I bought a
bassharp (Hohner 265) from a local harp collector. He pretty much
"threw it into the deal" for a nominal amount. It is one of Hohner's
now discontinued Orchestral series, I think they re-make this one
however as a 263(?), along with the "Vinetta". It came in an orange,
cloth covered box - w/three chromatic octaves, two reeds per hole
(octave tuned), blow only. It's about 14 inches long, and has a great,
big, rich tone, (maybe it has to do with the size, but it's the best
sounding harp - of any kind - that I have ever heard).
Trouble is, getting around on it is difficult - but not impossible. It
will just take lots, and lots of practice. After playing slide
chromatics, it feels very un-intuitive, but you can get certain
effects and qualities that you could never get on anything else. The
fact that you can "slide-into" notes chromatically makes for a very
impressive way to play certain melodies. The trouble is, because the
nature of the instrument is to play it that way, you end up playing
everything that way, because it's the easiest way to know where your
at, and to "stop" on the right note.
It's also a show stopper because of it's size.
One of the guys on a Harmonica Rascal's album cover that I have keeps
one of these in an extra pocket sewn onto his pant-leg. I'd imagine he
just pulls it out at the right moment for special effects, and then
slides it back into it's special little pocket (showmanship!). It
really is a remarkable instrument.
James A.

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On 11 Jun 2005 15:49:19 -0000, [email protected]
<[email protected]> wrote:
> 
> There is 1 message in this issue.
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> Topics in this digest:
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>      1. Re: Digest Number 68
>           From: "Jonathan E. Brickman" <[email protected]>
> 
> 
> ________________________________________________________________________
> ________________________________________________________________________
> 
> Message: 1
>   Date: Sat, 11 Jun 2005 08:38:47 -0500
>   From: "Jonathan E. Brickman" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Re: Digest Number 68
> 
> I had a pretty good ($65 Hering) chromatic for a while.  Three things
> nixed it for me: (1) the single-reed-per-note tone quality, not
> excellent for ensemble, (2) the unending futility of valve work, and (3)
> a friend dropped it on a carpeted floor, giving the slide a nearly
> invisible bended imperfection, necessitating a whole new slide (I took
> it all apart) if the instrument were to be used.  I can drop all of my
> tremolos on a hardwood floor with no noticeable damage; one drop on a
> carpeted floor should not be serious damage to a small handheld
> instrument!!!!!
> 
> It does sound like the lip-slip chromatic (there's a name for you, James
> :)) is a vast improvement over the slide chromatic.  I wonder very much
> how your instrument's playability compares to that of the slideless
> chromatics out there.  I would pay real money for a lip-slip or
> slideless chromatic with two tremolo-tuned reeds per note :)
> 
> 
> --
> Jonathan E. Brickman                America!  Bless
> God!!!                http://joshuacorps.org
> 
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