Hohner Meisterklasse Chromatic C

Advantages: Great price and value, top quality instrument
Disadvantages: None

...I have been playing the harmonica for over thirty years. Of all the instruments I play this is the one that have done best at, probably because it is the least anti-social, most portable and most convenient. Being a lot quieter that most of my musical stable also helps. I've owned some terrible harmonicas over the years, usually the cheap ones but when I splashed out in 1984 on a Hohner C Blues Harp I found what I was looking for. It is a basic twelve hole harmonica that has stood the test of time. Before Christmas I looked at my old harp and decided that it might be time for it to go into partial retirement. Having spent about £24 on it and played it thousands of times it was looking a bit battered and scratched. It still plays beautifully, no dead reeds, fantastic tone so when I went looking for the next generation... Read review

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Advantages: plastic comb, easy to play, good for beginners and intermediates
Disadvantages: range of sound

...The Hohner Special 20 - in key C because that's the key most playing is done in, on diatonic harmonicas - is a great harmonica for both beginners and intermediates. It's easy to play because of the plastic comb (the bit in between the harmonica's two metal plates), and the holes are well-spaced and large, so it's hard to go too wrong if you're not used to playing - this is unlike other harmonicas such as the Pro Harp which have more closely spaced holes from which it is harder to achieve single notes. On to the more technical details....well, Hohner is arguably the number 1 in harmonicas and provides the best quality models around. The Special 20 in C comes with good-looking metal plates, and since the reeds are within the comb and within the harmonica, there is no reed-plate edge to annoy the lips when playing. This harmonica... Read review

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Advantages: Great looks, great sound, good beginners' harp
Disadvantages: Price

...It is very hard to criticize a Hohner diatonic harmonica....the Pro Harp in C is a great harmonica with smooth sound and very good playability; it is especially good for beginners but will delight any player. It looks good, with a black non-stick metal cover with etching, and the model I bought was made in Germany. The comb is plastic, which has its advantages, the main one being that it is easier to play for a beginner as the lips slide more easily from note to note. The Pro Harp also comes in a handy, black, typically Hohner box which protects the harp whilst also fitting snugly inside any coat pocket. The only problem with this harmonica is that it retails at around £19.95, which is the price I bought this model at. It is rather pricey, especially considering the fact that it can be bought more cheaply overseas. However, if you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful