Hohner Chromonica 48 G

Advantages: Quality instruments
Disadvantages: Need to buy one for each key

...I’m guessing this product title refers in general to the range of Hohner diatonic harmonicas and I’ll review in that way. Harmonica was the first instrument I learnt, not being able to afford a guitar at the time. The first decent harmonica I ever bought was a Hohner Marine Band (key of G), and since then, these are the only brand I’ve considered using. Hohner is probably the most famous of the harmonica brands, used on albums such as The Jayhawks’ Hollywood Town Hall (a classic!). There are a range of diatonic harmonicas available, and each in different keys (the notes are arranged in the scale of the key. Keys available include Major, Minor and Natural, plus some other specialist tunings). Some models even come in different sizes (e.g. 10 hole, 12 hole)! Different models are made of different materials: generally, the top... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap and Brilliant Investment
Disadvantages: Just a 1-piece

...in “Early Music” ensembles (i.e. Renaissance/Baroque). The reason why it usually sounds so rough when played by amateurs is that if you play louder you also play sharper, or in other words you become out of tune. All wind instruments create greater sound volume by having a greater rush of air though the pipe, which makes the pipe vibrate more quickly. With the recorder, this also creates a sharpening of the note, to such an extent that a loud C can sound like a C#. For the advanced player, there are alternative fingerings to be employed when the volume is increased. Without wanting to get too technical, you can also differentiate between say, F# and G flat, which would be the same note on a piano, but not on a wind instrument or fretless string instrument. This Hohner is tuned quite well, so that the standard fingerings work adequately. I think... Read review

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Advantages: Cheap and cheerful
Disadvantages: Snare stand a bit flimsy

...I own a Hohner LEX 5-piece drum kit. I bought it a couple of years ago for £300. This included Hi-hats and a crash/ride cymbal. This drum kit is a standard 5 piece kit, consisting of a bass drum, a floor tom, two mid toms and a snare. Included was a snare stand, and a cymbal stand. For the price the kit is surprisingly well made, with the insides of the drums smooth, and the outside finished in a shiny black laquer. There is a label on each of the drums with the make, Hohner, the model, LEX, and saying that it was made in Taiwan. All of the hardware, with the exception of the snare stand is sturdy. The two toms are affixed to the bass drum on two l-shaped brackets. The angle and height of the drums can be altered, and once satisfied, you can lock them in place using the drum key provided. The snare stand is not really very good... Read review

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