SCX56-C Harmonica

Update 2:The lower price, and high quality of the scx series compared to Hohner still holds true. I’ve since completely switched from Hohner to Suzuki, higher quality, easier to maintain, great sounding, and really affordable.Update:I've had about 6 months of experience with this harp, so I thought I'd update.The harmonica has held up well, though I have had to replace a few of the wind savers/valves (an easy task since I am able to remove the read plates to gain access to all of the windsavers). To those of you who don't know this, chromatic harmonicas use thin, plastic (or vinyl perhaps) wind savers, which are attached to the reed plates to make it easier to produce notes that are loud and clear. The problem with windsavers is that they are affected by bad hygiene - if you don't brush your teeth and rinse before playing, or if you salivate heavily into the harmonica, they can stick. Over time, they are subject to bending, so it is not unusual to need to replace them. Bad valves are usually detected by a clicking sound, perhaps a buzzing at the start or end of playing a note, or when notes won't play without applying excessive amounts of air to free the windsaver so that the reed associated with the valve can vibrate. You can buy replacement windsavers from Hohner (I don't know if Suzuki provides them), and with some care and a dab of super glue, it is relatively easy to replace them. Or you can find someone to repair them (perhaps Suzuki does this, I know hohner will, and there are independent folks who do servicing as well). If you get a new harp, are careful with your technique, you might consider a bad valve to be a reason to even return the harmonica to get it serviced under warranty, though I don't really know Suzuki's policy in this regard.I also want to clarify that I would not be surprised if some of you have trouble with the higher notes, particularly holes 11 or 12. On occasion I have failed to get a reed playing well in these locations, but warming the harmonica has helped. And I don't think this is a statement about Suzuki harmonicas, as I can recall similar experiences with Hohner product -- the higher registers (as well as the lower holes) do require care and technique.Anyway, the harp is really great. I'm using it right now in my Jazz improvisation studies. I like both this harp and the Hohner Super Chromonica Deluxe (I used the Super Chromonica Deluxe in a show this summer, and will be using my Suzuki in a show this coming Friday), but given the price difference, I still feel confident that this harp is a great value, and it is a quality instrument, so I do not hesitate to recommend it. For sure it is a rip off of the Hohner Super 64 design: side by side, they are so similar in construction that there is little doubt in my mind that the Super 64 was the inspiration for this fine chromatic harmonica.Original Review:I just received this harmonica and want to share first impressions, as I get a bit more experience I will update the review.Since the 1970s I have never bought anything but Hohner. Of the Hohner chromatics, I've owned several Super Chromonicas (270), a few Super 64 Chromonicas, and recently tried out the Super Chromonica Deluxe. This is my very first Suzuki.I think it is important to compare these Hohners with the Suzuki, since you are likely considering the Super Chromonica, which is by and large the most purchased Chromonica given its long history and relatively inexpensive price (also assuming 12 holes are a must, and pretty much, 12 holes is the choice most players will make). And because, to my surprise and delight, the Suzuki is pretty much a dead-ringer for a 12 hole version of the Super 64.Structurally, and price-wise, the Hohner 270 is at the low end out of the above Hohner models. The body is made of wood, and the reed plates are nailed to the comb (chance for introducing leaks, impossible to take off the reed plates and tweek windsavers, maybe something you can't imagine doing but for some, important). The covers are screwed into the harmonica, and I would say that while I have never found the 270 to be particularly leaky, my belief is that of the three I own, if there were to be a leaky one, this would be it based on these characteristics. And compared to the other two Hohners, it does require a bit more work to play (leaks "steal" air channeled to vibrate reeds, making harmonicas less efficient and requiring more breath from the player). The playing holes are square, and less comfortable. However, the 270 has a wonderful slider, tone, and is generally robust (I have one that is 15 or so years old in playable condition), and has a nearly 100 year proven design. I've played this machine at shows recently, so it's not like I avoid it. At the time of this writing, expect to pay around $125 to $130 for the 270.At the other end of the spectrum of what I own is the Hohner Super 64. The Super 64 has a much more solid feel to it compared to the Super Chromonica. The reedplates are screwed in, not nailed. The reedplates are also thicker, and generally the construction is much closer to a fully professional, high end harmonica. The covers are screwed in like the 270, but the covers are much more a solid part of the harmonica than on the 270, it's almost like the Super 64 was carved out of one big solid piece of metal -- they extend all the way to the end of the comb, and are curved -- a joy to hold. It's gorgeous to play, easy to get reeds vibrating, no evidence of leaks, and the slider is not bad (but I like the 270 a bit better, actually). The holes are round, not square, and the harmonica is more comfortable to the mouth because of this and a more substantial area to plant your lips. It is about $100 more than the 270 (though it has 4 more holes, that alone would not account for the price difference, you are also paying for quality). If I were playing a classical piece that required even tone across the entire harmonica (from high notes to low), I'd turn to the Super 64 versus the 270.Somewhere in the middle between the 270 and the Super 64 is the 12 hole Super Chromonica Deluxe, which has screwed in, thicker plates, and a round holed mouthpiece comparable to the Super 64, and better than the 270. The same covers are used as on the 270, which makes it feel less "solid" overall than the Super 64, but also identical to hold as the 270. But the sound is higher quality than the 270 I feel, more comparable to the Super 64. It's just a better 270, in a nutshell, and a joy to play. Price is $50 to $60 more than the 270.So now comes this Suzuki 12 hole. It came in a solid plastic carrying case, just like all the Hohners do. They added a cleaning cloth, which only the Super 64 comes with, and was a nice touch. When I picked it up and put it to my mouth, I immediately felt that this was a Super 64 (but with only 12 holes, not 16 of course), and a much higher quality instrument than the 270 in terms of construction. But with a better mouthpiece (round holes like the Super 64, but a bigger area to plant the lips). In short, this has to be the most comfortable mouthpiece I have ever played.The slider was of an extremely high quality, and I issued rapid trills with it that were highly accurate and just delightful to play. This harp has the best slider I have ever experienced. The tone was very nice, and I could play 11th and 12th hole without any difficulty. I have owned 270s which were very difficult to play holes 11 and 12 on (though good technique is and important factor here, so you can't always blame the harmonica). The Super 64 and the Super Chromonica deluxe also respond well in holes 11 or 12, and I would say the quality of sound is comparable to these two.So, my first impression is "I just bought a Super 64/Super Chromonica Deluxe quality harp with 12 holes, for the much less expensive price of a Super Chromonica 270." Wow!So, I hate to say it Hohner, but Suzuki, at first impression, offers a better product compared to 270, at about the same price. It's also competitive with, and less expensive than, the Super Chromonica Deluxe, plus it feels more solid and has a more comfortable mouthpiece. It feels like a 12 hole Super 64, and has attributes of its construction that make it more solid, probably more airtight, and more comfortable to play than the Super Chromonica Deluxe, but about $50 dollars less expensive.I'd hands down pick this over a Hohner 270, no question. If you love the Super 64, you'll want to buy one of these if you are looking for a harp that is smaller and easier to hold, but has similar construction and quality. If you are thinking of Super 64 quality but only need 12 holes, try out this harp. $100 less is a good thing. However, if you love the Super Chromonica and swear on Hohners but want more quality, then check out the Super Chromonica Deluxe, but do know it will cost you more to own one.Advice:-- First time Chromonica buyer: Buy what you can afford, as any of these harps would be good.-- Looking to upgrade from Super Chromonica: Super Chromonica Deluxe or this Suzuki, with the Suzuki being less expensive and quite possibly the more comfortable to play. Super Chromonica Deluxe has the same shape, covers, and slider as a 270 (the mouthpiece is mostly the same except round holes), so if you really feel comfortable with the 270, the deluxe might be a better upgrade and worth the extra cost.-- Need one octave below middle C: Super 64, or the 16 hole version of the Suzuki (also sold by Amazon) might be an option.-- Love the Super 64 but want a smaller and/or far less expensive harp with 3 octaves: definitely check out the Suzuki models.In short, I'm awfully impressed by the construction, quality, and overall value so far.

Ordered this item in Jan. of 2017...At time I had 2 deaths in family, was very busy, and never opened the package for about 6 months...When I did try the sound of this organ I noticed the higher octives would not sound ( last 4 holes of the 12 hole instrument )....continued to work with it but would never sound right...seemed the reeds too stiff...after 4 days of working with it, it still would not sound correctly.....put it back in box and shelved it....Had played a Suzuki before, a Leghorn, but certain reeds would quit after awhile..called factory rep. requesting a refund and was told they would not replace or issue a refund as it was used, and that I had to pay postage to return to factory for servicing.. Told Baron ( factory rep ) they had sent me a totally untested product, when 4 holes out of 12 would not work and I wanted my money back...Then his long speil on why they didn't accept returns...They sold me junk..will never buy another Suzuki....high priced junk.....Geo B.

1/02/2016 Update: I have Modified my SCX48 Harmonica, everyone says the Suzuki SCX series Harmonicas are really air tight, well their Not that air tight, and can be Greatly Improved, with very little work. The Improvement is Unbelievable, as this Instrument now requires Very little air and plays incredibly NICE!! on extremely low amount of air, at a low Volume as the response is Greatly improved, But the Tone is Unbelievably Improved, I liked this Mod Sooo Much I did it to my SCX64 too, I am Now able to get sounds out of both Harmonicas that I could Not before, The Quality of the tone is remarkable, Cold Playing effects are not as strong as they were, It does Not need to be warmed up like it did before playing, even during high humidity in middle of winter and Cold!!! although I still Warm it up, all this tells me a lot has changed, as it is Not as cold Blooded like it was. It is Nice to know that the SCX series Harmonicas can be taken to a Much higher Playing level than, Just out of the Box. More response with much less Air, The Mod was to remove all parts (including the slide spring) to expose the Plastic Comb. I took 600 grit sand paper and Flat sanded on a piece of Glass and sanded the comb area FLAT Sanding removing All voids, (that all the SCX Harmonicas come with from the factory in the Molding process through the heating and cooling process) under the Mouth Piece, you can see these Voids when you start sanding, the SCX48 was much worse than the SCX64, but both improved by a wide margin. But after assembly still noticed some leaking between each of the reeds, and reed chambers, so I also Flat sanded on a Piece of Glass, the area of the Comb that the Reed plates get mounted to on both sides of the comb, the Molding process makes for high and Low spots on the surface of the comb, so I sanded the comb in three places under both reed plates and under the Mouth Piece, Once you start sanding the comb you can see where to low spots are these Low spots and the high spots you are sanding off to come down to the low spots are where all the leaks in the Mouth Piece and between the reed chambers, causing Improper reed response and room for Much Improvement, may add a few brass plates into the open voids under the Reed plates like the Suzuki Sirius has. I may have to get a few more SCX Harmonicas as back ups.Old Review: I have both the SCX64 and Also this SCX48 as well as two Sedel Saxony's with one in Orchestra and the other Standard tuning. the SCX48 is a Very Nice Instrument, it has a Quality feel and a Quality Sound and is a excellent buy, as I cannot believe that Suzuki can sale them for the low price that they do, as they are a steal at that price, for such a High quality,Great sounding instrument, Either this SCX48 or the SCX64 are Must have Chromatic Harmonicas, one key to a Great playing Instrument is to Warm it this is very Important, to get a rich tone out of it and should be done often or as the instrument cools off because the sound starts to degrade as the instrument gets cold. I hold mine under my arm, this warms, Suzuki's need to be warmed Period!!! My Seydel's also need to be warmed but are Not effected quite as much.

It seems to me that almost all harmonicas don't work very well when you first get them.