Chrometta fan club!

[BERT77]

Greetings All

Am I the only one who enjoys the chrometta this much?
After buying many chrom from swan 64 to cx 12 gold I find myself playing my chrometta.
I have it half valved of course and I feel like reliability and fair sound of this instrument are
the reason its really the only one I practice on at this point.

Anyone else Have positive experiences with this durable little chromatic?

Regards,

Bert.

[Zoldie Varniak]

Actually, a lot of folks think the Chrometta is less than pleasant to play, and the rest simply believe what those folks say and stay away from them. (one of the proofs that folks are a lot more easily influenced than we like to admit ) Still others, without knowing better, try a Chrometta and are blown away with the mellow tone, and because of that tone, a few of them put a bit of extra effort into the thing and end up with a Golden Melody's strange looking chromatic big brother that really sounds great.
 
Many players complain about the Chrometta's  long slide throw just to make themselves sound more professional; as though an extra fraction of an inch is some kind of game changer. Gimme a break! Before making that silly statement, consider the "button throw" guys like Harry James, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Chet Baker, Arturo Sandoval and the like had to endure . . . .  and then be quiet!

The biggest problem with the Chrometta is the size of the mouthpiece holes, but
1. You wouldn't have that mellow sound without them
and
2. They're not at all hard to get accustomed to.

If you want the Chromatic harmonica's equivalent of a french horn; you're just going to have to put up with one that (like the french horn) looks different than a trumpet (or standard chromatic in this case) and some other differences you may not particularly care for.

Whatever floats your can-noo!

zeeMeister

[Tallships]

  Bought a 14/56 yesterday at an indoor flea market. It's the older red comb type. After finally taping the slide, it's much more airtight, It warms up fast and have yet had a problem with buzzing valves. Needless to say but the sound is fantastic. Comfortable to hold and cup. Stroke on the slide is a lot longer than other cross tuned chromes, takes some getting used to.
  Denis Happiness is a warm chrome

[BERT77]

Thank you for your insights Zoldie and Tallships.

I have one question when taping the slide how exactly does one cut out the holes accurately?
Call me dumb but I actually don't know how to go about it, ive been using a thin coat of vaseline and it works well
but not as long lasting as a tape job. Anyway any insight is appreciated.

Regards,

Bert.

[El Moldo]

Bert,

Get a single sided craft tool blade with or without a handle. Make sure it is really sharp and pointy. Pierce the tape near
one of the sides with it and then work around by sliding it up against the edges. I go in from the taped side making
any resistance to cutting push the tape against the slide and avoid any lifting away. I also use a magnifying glass to
cut away anything still left after the first pass. It is tedious and accurate work but a pleasure to hear the improvements.

Use 3M Magic Tape or better.

L

[BERT77]

Thank you very much Moldo!

I will try this soon and post results.

Best regards

B77

[SlideMeister]

Bert
Use Scotch Magic tape (I suppose you can also us an equivalent, but why take the chance since we already know the Scotch stuff works well)

Make sure the slide is clean. (fine steel wool, wash and dry) Apply tape evenly to one side if the slide as meticulously as you can. If you get a bubble, DON'T use a pin to get it out because that will come back to haunt you; just do it over. Use something like a Popsicle stick to get the tape on as tightly as possible. Now use an X-acto knife or equivalent to trim ALL the edges and holes. Take EXTRA care in the corners. Use a magnifying glass if needed to make sure there are no burrs of any kind anywhere. Any burrs you leave will be the first places to go bad, guaranteed! The better job you do, the longer it'll last, (also guaranteed) There's a lot more you can do but this should be good for your first slide taping go-round.

@ge

[SlideMeister]

Like I said, there's more you can do if you need it but you'll need the experience and you'll be doing again soon anyway.    Next time you can jewell ALL the edges of the slide, which will take some time but make the trimming easier AS WELL AS make your blade last longer.

A

[Grizzly]

Yet again, a caution. There are two Scotch™ Magic Tapes. The removable kind has blue packaging. Avoid it. You want the green packaging.

Tom

[SlideMeister]

Good point!
Tnx Grizzzzz 

[roady43]

The Chrometta is one of the most sensual harmonicas. If you once got familiar with the mp (which is very well possible!) you even might become addicted to it. As I have often posted here the mp shape IMO is the main factor for its unique mellow sound. There is no other chromatic harmonica where you physically are as close to the reeds (which gives the opportunity to control and influence them more directly).

My Chrometta 8 covers more than 2.5 octave (G3 to D5)! Just amazing.
One of my very first videos was to honor the Chrometta:


roady43

[BERT77]

Thank you so much roady!

Great video and your chrom 8 sounds awesome! I believe what you say is true. You are closer to the reeds making draw bends seem effortless especially on half valve.

Regards,

B77

[Lo]

I love my Chrometta.

Lo (as in love)

[streetlegal]

The Chrometta 8 looks like a great little harmonica to me - I think that 2 octaves is enough for most purposes - though it would be even better I think if it started on G3.

[BERT77]

I played my chrometta 12 so much the button on the slide got loose and fell off! haha! I will have to devise a mod for a more sturdy button. Recently I have gravitated toward my semi valveless CX 12 because it is soo reliable!

Regards,

B77

[SlideMeister]

The Chrometta 8 looks like a great little harmonica to me - I think that 2 octaves is enough for most purposes - though it would be even better I think if it started on G3.

In my opinion, one could play a "recognizable melody" on an eight holer, but not anything that I'd call music, unless you avail yourself to dimi or auggie tuning, and even then, it's a strecth.  Sorry, just being cranky. 

[el_chro_malo]

One of my all-time favorites! 

[Lo]

In my opinion, one could play a "recognizable melody" on an eight holer, but not anything that I'd call music, unless you avail yourself to dimi or auggie tuning, and even then, it's a strecth.  Sorry, just being cranky. 

You cannot be serious Age. It depends on the player not the instrument. (Unless of course the instrument was malfunctioning. Mine isn't, so I'm the only one to blame.)

[BERT77]

I think he was referring to the overall range of the small 8 hole harp. Not the harp qualilty itself

- Regards

B77

[Lo]

Nevertheless, the oboe has not much more, if you discount the highest and lowest notes, whose value is doubtful in most musical contexts.
And my favorite symphonic instrument is the Tubular Bells, which has less than even a Chrometta Six would have. 

[Grizzly]

BUT can you play "Flight of the Bumblebee" on them? <ducks>

Tom

[Lo]

I used to. Made a beautiful sound file of it. Can't seem to find it right now, however.

[BERT77]

You have that recorded? Wow I would love to hear it !
- sounds crazy

Way off topic though, does anyone know any good mods for a detached chrometta 12 button?
- I know I can just glue it back on but I want to maybe replace it.

    Regards

    B77

[SlideMeister]

In my opinion, one could play a "recognizable melody" on an eight holer, but not anything that I'd call music, unless you avail yourself to dimi or auggie tuning, and even then, it's a strecth.  Sorry, just being cranky. 

You cannot be serious Age. It depends on the player not the instrument. (Unless of course the instrument was malfunctioning. Mine isn't, so I'm the only one to blame.)

I actually wrote a long response to this yesterday, but before I finished, Safari crashed and I lost the whole thing, then forgot it until just now when the whole thing happened again. SO NOW I'M REALLY CRANKY! AAAAAGGGHH!

Compose yourself Fedor!! Okay, here goes for the last time (with I.E. this time)

The Chromettas ALL (as in ALL) sound terrific, (never heard one that didn't) but I have next to no use at all for the ten holers, and borderline contempt for the eights. The ten holes in C, that start with a low G are almost as worthless as the eights IMO (again, unless of course you want to retune it to either dimi or auggie - in which case, it would be quite acceptable.    The eight holer, dimi or auggie tuned is gunna be the absolute bottom of the Chromatic food chain for me. 

Now, in standard tuning, the eight holer is a total waste of time in my honest opinion, cuz in that configuration, its little more than a novelty and an insult to Chromaticism! Practically ANYTHING you wanna play soon becomes "chopped up" by the need to "jump" back and forth between the high and low register, thereby butchering the piece, and causing this particular excuse for a Chromatic harmonica to look like a toy, trying to prove it can play with the big boys; not a lot unlike the "Little Lady," which despite the often astounding talent of its player's,  it can never really compete with "real" instruments in the real world. Again, my opinion, but if that's all I had to play, I'd probably opt for a comb and some wax paper.

I know, I'm hard to please. Like Goldilocks, "The sixteens are too big and the eights are too small, but the twelve's and fourteens are just right" Well, we're allowed our own opinions and that's mine.  Ha Ha!

@ge

[Grizzly]

By your reasoning, penny whistle, with only two octaves (plus a few notes if you're clever), and diatonic unless you half-hole or cross-finger, compares unfavorably with a concert flute, with three-plus octaves (three and a half if you're clever), and fully chromatic to boot. But there are clever people out there who play whistle a lot better than some doofuses play flute. Not "Flight of the Bumblebee," but you gotta go with the repertoire suitable for the instrument.

A Chrometta 8 is plenty for most Irish music and New England fiddle tunes. (Retuning to D might help, but not really the issue here.)

For lots of music, you'd still need to jump octaves on a 12/48. Want a harmonica for every range? Play a 16/64.

A great big IMO.

BTW, most whistles only have 6 holes.

Tom

[Lo]

Age, I basically agree with you on the Little Lady.
All the same,  whenever things don't work out, I'll assume I either picked the wrong instrument for the tune or the wrong tune for the instrument. This is true for an 8-holer, a Little Lady, the Tubular Bells, sometimes even my Super Chromonica.
Haven't had this with my piano a lot, though.

Cheerfully, Lo
 

[Lo]

BTW, good luck with Safari.
Lo

[streetlegal]

Well I think of it this way - the musician should play the music, rather than the music play the musician. So if only too octaves are available it should encourage more creativity as the player must express himself only within those narrower limits. If low or high notes are not available, amend the music to the notes that can play on the instrument

[Jimmy Halfnote]

Well I think of it this way - the musician should play the music, rather than the music play the musician. So if only too octaves are available it should encourage more creativity as the player must express himself only within those narrower limits. If low or high notes are not available, amend the music to the notes that can play on the instrument

 Don't be offended Street, but i think that is a load of bollocks.


                                                                                           jh.

[SlideMeister]

BTW, good luck with Safari.
Lo

Thanx!
Works fine on the mac but not on the PC. Think I'll hafta reload the older PC version.