CX 12 fan club

[Grizzly]

Okay, here it is.

Tom

[rgn39]

I got mine this morning. I absolutely love it. I got it to use for practice when I found out it has basically the same mouthpiece shape as my SC56 but I have a feeling the SC may move to the second step on the ladder now. I like the sound better and it has just as much volume and is much lighter and, of course, is much easier to maintain. It is slightly less airtight than the SC but not enough to overcome the advantages the CX has to offer. I cannot imagine a better chromatic harmonica to start with if you dont mind the price.

[mikeboy]

Count me in. Love at first bite

mikeboy

[Gene D]

I got my first CX-12, the silver one, from Dick Farrell at the SPAH convention in 1993 and it has been my favorite harp since that time.  When I get others, I play them enough to see what they are like but then go back to the CX-12.  I do not work on my harps.  The CX-12 requires little maintenance, has good volume, has good tone (to my ears) and is confortable to play.

Regards,
Gene Dodson

[Grizzly]

I'd really like to get a Silver. I've got an Ivory (aka White), a Gold and several Blacks. I'm not interested in the Maroon, or the new Jazz.

Two things I like about the Black: It doesn't freeze your lips off if you play it cold, and fingerprints don't show. They look cool, too, although I had one mistaken for a kazoo.

Tom

[SlideMeister]

Ditto on the silver. I've never even seen one but I already knowI'd like it.

AND I'd probably like the new Jazz in silver too!  My Gold is air tight as a frogs ear, but now that I think about it, I 'm pretty sure I magic taped it.  I suppose if I start playing it a lot more, I'll find out when the tape starts to wear out, eh?

@ge

[SlimHeilpern]

I'm a big fan of the cx12, I've got something like 15 of them kicking around, all in the key of C  -- only a handful in perfect working order at any given time. I have one super old gold, the rest are black.

One thing about air-tightness: a common problem I've found is that the slide sometimes does not stay firmly inserted into the plastic button, it slides out just a bit and you suddenly have a leaky cx12. All you have to do is push it back into the button tightly -- I'm not sure what the best kind of glue is to stabilize it, I think I've just used Elmers or rubber cement in the past...

I sure wish Hohner would make a 14-hole version, in the meantime I'm trying to perfect my low B (bent low C) and then move on to the low Bb. ;-).

- Slim. 

[Grizzly]

Ditto on the silver. I've never even seen one but I already knowI'd like it.

AND I'd probably like the new Jazz in silver too!  My Gold is air tight as a frogs ear, but now that I think about it, I 'm pretty sure I magic taped it.  I suppose if I start playing it a lot more, I'll find out when the tape starts to wear out, eh?

@ge

I've only got one of my slides taped, and it's not on one I play a lot—I think the Ivory. It does seem to make a difference, but not enough for me to tape them all. I tried it in my Gold, and it was too tight. Maybe the plating?

Tom

Tom

[Grizzly]

I'm a big fan of the cx12, I've got something like 15 of them kicking around, all in the key of C  -- only a handful in perfect working order at any given time. I have one super old gold, the rest are black.

One thing about air-tightness: a common problem I've found is that the slide sometimes does not stay firmly inserted into the plastic button, it slides out just a bit and you suddenly have a leaky cx12. All you have to do is push it back into the button tightly -- I'm not sure what the best kind of glue is to stabilize it, I think I've just used Elmers or rubber cement in the past...

I sure wish Hohner would make a 14-hole version, in the meantime I'm trying to perfect my low B (bent low C) and then move on to the low Bb. ;-).

- Slim. 

I've not had a button slip yet, but it's something to watch out for. As for a 14 or 16, I just got a used Chromatix 56; and, while it's got some problems, the profile of the new mouthplate is very similar to the CX 12's. They're not all that expensive, and it might be worth a try.

Tom

[Grizzly]

(stolen from the axes thread)

Quote from: Gnarly He Man on Today at 01:54:43 PM
I'm in--access to the reed plates, slide never gets dirty, no leaky mouthpiece, plastic comb for easy complete disassembly.
And very modern looking!
Gary

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you, your slide was making too much noise!
Z

There are ways of quietening a CX 12 slide. Besides taping for airtightness, it quiets the slide some too. And I've seen a Power CX 12 that had small dents along the edge of the slide to take up any lateral movement, which serves the purpose also. (Is that what people mean by "Jewelling"?)

Tom

[Gnarly He Man]

Yes, I'm in--and out again! (slide joke)
Seriously, I have never had a problem with slide noise. 'Course, I'm a guitar player!
Gary

[Ziggy]

I'm a big fan of the cx12, I've got something like 15 of them kicking around, all in the key of C  -- only a handful in perfect working order at any given time. I have one super old gold, the rest are black.
- Slim. 

One of my favorite harmonica songs is your version of You Are The Sunshine of My Life, that I nicked off your website a couple of years ago.
At the very end of the song you can hear that CX-12 slide....in my opinion its main drawback.
Ziggy

[Wendellfiddler]

loose button fix - Hohner says use crazy glue.  I've had really good results with JB weld five minute epoxy - sparingly.   In my experience, once they get loose, they stay loose unless you glue them.

doug

[SlimHeilpern]

I just got a used Chromatix 56; and, while it's got some problems, the profile of the new mouthplate is very similar to the CX 12's. They're not all that expensive, and it might be worth a try.

Oh, I have several 14 and 16 holers that a I like, but for a number of reasons, including how I attach my mini microphone and serviceability, I prefer to stick with only CX12s when I'm gigging.

- Slim.

[John Broecker]

Hello, CX-12 Faniacs.
Count me in as a CX-12 fan. I have a gold one, about 10 years old or older. It's airtight, loud with very little effort, and I've never had a slide button problem. Maintenance is very easy. No mouthpiece screws or cover screws to lose.

It might be a perfect slide chromatic harp for loud music styles, such as rock, blues, funk, metal, fusion,and playing in large groups (20 or more players), such as harmonica bands, concert bands, symphonies, etc.

P.S. Do we allow the Wuxi-Suzuki WH-12 in the fan club? Although it isn't gold-plated, it has all of the other features of the CX-12 gold, except the thick reed plates of the Hohner product. The Wuxi sells for about 1/3rd the price of the CX-12 black. If you can find a seller.

My next chromatic will be a CX-12 tenor. My Hering Baritono will then be my back-up tenor.

John Broecker

[SlimHeilpern]

One of my favorite harmonica songs is your version of You Are The Sunshine of My Life, that I nicked off your website a couple of years ago.
At the very end of the song you can hear that CX-12 slide....in my opinion its main drawback.
Ziggy

So glad you like that cut! As for the slide noise, I agree, but I prefer it to the squeaky spring noise (preventable, I know) that pops up from time to time on my Suzukis. Most of the time I can prevent the Cx12 slide noise by not slamming the button, but once in a while I screw up. It really doesn't bother me that much, but I can see where it might drive some folks up a wall.

- Slim.

[Grizzly]

Other instruments have ambient sounds; slide noise pales by comparison. Anyone close enough to a piano will hear hammer noise, sometime at close proximity almost as loud as the notes being played. Wound guitar strings are notoriously squeaky. And even from a distance, key slap is noticeable on bassoons.

I've experienced the same thing Slim has; aggressive (abusive?) attack on the button is noisier on a CX 12. Consider the difference between Muerken's and Leone's approach. One's gentle, the other assertive. A potentially noisy slide is anathema to Joey's style.

Amplification comes into play. What we hear up close, behind the harmonica, may not come across if the mic is far enough away. For anyone who cups the mic against the back of the harmonica, a noisy slide becomes more of an issue.

If it's a problem, tape the slide. I'd be appalled if a high-end harmonica had a noisy slide; but these are cheap by comparison, and benefit from modification and tweaking.

Re: Wh 12: Although I started this thread, it's not my duty to set the rules. That said, the one I used to own was a sorry imitation, crudely made. It had nowhere near the dynamics (volume) of a CX 12.

One good thing came out of it: It encouraged me to get a CX 12. "The Genuine Article."

Tom

[mikeboy]

After playing my CX12 for a while, I read posts here about the slide noise so I checked it out more carefully and was surprised at how noisy it was just pushing and releasing it without playing. Why hadn't I noticed that before? Then I played it again and found out something. When I play I keep some pressure on the button at all times and I don't really don't bottom it out on the push or release. I don't do this on purpose so I don't know if it applies to anyone else. Anyway, when playing in this fashion I don't think it is any noisier than my Toots HB.

Also, I taped my slide at one point and was pleased at the results but after the tape wore out I cleaned the slide and tried again without tape. The result? Very minimal difference. Not enough to replace the tape. Maybe later after some wear.

Mike

[Ziggy]

Most of the time I can prevent the Cx12 slide noise by not slamming the button, but once in a while I screw up. It really doesn't bother me that much, but I can see where it might drive some folks up a wall.
- Slim.

I wish I could screw up like you!   
Z

[Mr.Man]

Hello, I ordered the CX12 jazz yesterday and it will be shipped today (it was the last one they had  )..I hope that it's already delivered when I come back from work today  !!! I'll let you know how I like it  .

Best regards,

Rick

[Kondor]

Love the CX12!  Big fat tone, easy to play and bend, easy to clean.  Like some other folks, I don't love the sloppy feel and noisiness of the slider.  I also find the top two holes difficult, as is common for me with a couple of other chroms (but not the Opus or the MK.)  What is the taping trick people refer to?

[Grizzly]

Taping the slide: Get some Scotch magic Tape (not the removable kind), lay the tape on the side of the slide that faces the comb, trim away the excess (including all the square holes . Discard the tape between the cutter and the roll before you start; that stuff may not stick too well if it's been exposed.

Neatness counts! No  rips, tears, voids. Use a very sharp blade. Should last at least six months.

The objective is to thicken the slide a bit to enhance airtightness. If it makes it bind up, you either didn't do it right (second paragraph above) or it didn't need it.

That's it in a nutshell.

Tom

[Kondor]

Thanx!  Imo try it.

[Grizzly]

Good. I said, "The objective is to thicken the slide a bit to enhance airtightness. If it makes it bind up, you either didn't do it right or it didn't need it."

The best thing is, it's reversible.

T

[smojoe]

I think it was around 92 when the CX first hit Farrell's. I tried one at Buckeye 92 right after another fellow Sandy German did. I didnt know Sandy at the time but feeling tht he was a seasoned pro. I asked him how he liked it. He loved it.

I hated it. The mouthpiece was tantamout to holding a pick axe handle in my mouth Now since I have been hit several times with construction tools of all manner of description (axe, sledge, pick, mattock, spade, shovel, rake, hoe, etc.) the very thought sent shivers down my bottle.

Aw well, there were 2 co-workers who approcahed me in 94 and wanted me to teach their children a few rudiments, AND the chose chromtic, so I KNEW there was some serious business here. The one was a 14 year old girl (flautist) the other a boy (organ). I sent away for TWO Cxs Becauuuuuuuse, they are the easiest to take care of for a new player. That, I DID understand, and acknowledge.

In 2005, I won the 'Harmonicarama' portion of the Suncoast Dixieland fest and my prize was..you guessed it, a CX. It happened to be gold. It sits in my trophy case along with my other memoribilia. And YES, if someone were to try and steal and sell my stuff, I TOO would come after them with a gun. Aaaaanyway, the first one they gave me was bad. It had a bad #4 draw slide in. That's a B# and I use that note more than ANY other. Hohner graciously gace me a replacement, which is unplayed except for a fitness test.

The ONE thing that I can't abide is the slide noise. It makes noise even when you're not playing it. This goes against my religion. As soon as I meet a new chromo player, the FIRST thing I want to do is check out (hold) their chromo..(stop laughing...sheesh, you people are something). I immediately check their slide and if it isn't buttery smooth, that tells me a lot about them as a player, collector, or owner. See, some people play and some own.

Unfortunately, I am getting old and it's too late for me to change. I AM a slide slapper. Anyone watching me can see that right away. I flick the slide with my right thumb. I even play off of my forearm. I am not about to try and adjust a slide with 5/16ths inch of travel (8mm for our european shut-in friends) down to 9/32nds inch (7.5 mm) JUST to avoid bottoming out the slide. I don't have that kind of talent or concentration. When I play, I usually go somewhere else in time and I can't risk breaking the time/space continuum, for I may never return....

Otherwise, while I find the tone to be a little on the 'honky' side, the CX is a fine instrument. A player who can 'pull' the reeds should be able to make it talk.

smokey the cat

[smojoe]

BTW Tom (Griz), I can't think of anyone who contributes more to this list. You ARE an absolute treasure, and I am blessed to have met you. Through out our lives we meet many people. Most have no effect on us, but you DO.

[Grizzly]

BTW Tom (Griz), I can't think of anyone who contributes more to this list. You ARE an absolute treasure, and I am blessed to have met you. Through out our lives we meet many people. Most have no effect on us, but you DO.

Thanks, Joey; I value your posts, even when they don't mention me. Your observations are often brilliant. Love your sense of humor; whatever you're on, I want some.

Tom

[smojoe]

Tom, when I joined the list (it was 8 years in Aug?) I thought of it as a possible learning experience. It is people like you who make it so. Your posts are informative and educational. Mine are mish-mash. You are the mortar that keeps the bricks of the list together (you and several others). The list needs you. The list doesn't need me. But, I stick around as comedy relief. There are times when I was going to write something, but you had already beaten me to it. AND, done it better. No Tom...NObody does it better.....

smokey on the water, fire in the sky 

[rgn39]

No, no, no Joe. Mish mash is essential to the fabric of human society. What would life be without mish mash? Thank god for comic relief. Its what keeps me going.I also find much of what you say quite interesting and informative. But enough of the mutual admiration society and back to the thread. I have to say that after a couple of days I have to agree with you about the honky thing. It sounds fine to me when Im playing but when I record it it does honk a little. Still I love the dang thing. It is such a perfect fit for me. Easiest to play by far of them all. The "axe handle" doesnt bother me at all but the other mouthpieces sure do seem small after playing it.

[Gene D]

Smo-Joe wrote about the CX-12 mouthpiece and the way it fit his mouth.  I have noticed several other comments concerning the CX-12 mouthpiece.

When I got my first CX=12 I had been playing a CBH-2016 and notice immediately the difference in mouthpieces.  Years ago I had played brass band instruments - trumpet, baritone and some trombone - and so started playing the CX-12 the way I had played the brass instruments.  Instead of putting the mouthpiece in my mouth, I just put it up TO my mouth.  It was a little strange at first but didn't take me long to get used to it.  I may be doing something wrong but it seems to work for me.  I have been playing that way now for 15 years.  I don't play out so if I am screwing up there is no one to notice but my family and they are a forgiving bunch.

Regards,
Gene Dodson