EASTROCK Chromatic Harmonica, 12-Hole 48 Tones Mouth Organ C Key for Adults and Beginners

If you want to explore chromatic harmonica, and you don't have the budget to afford a Hohner or a Seydel, then this is definitely the one for you. It's a hefty little beast, but all the reeds sound out well, and it's easy to get around on. This is really good value for money. If you want to have a chromatic harmonica, you should definitely pick this up. It's not going to be as good as the big name brands; the reeds bend a little too easily sometimes. But overall, this is a great way to get started on your chromatic journey.

I have played Harmonica for almost 70 years. My only Chromatic was a 1935 Koch until my Eastrock arrived yesterday. Right away the quality of this instrument was obvious. The leather coated case was my first Surprise. It's a very professional case.When I lifted it out of the case, the instrument felt really good in my hands and it looked beautiful. Then, I took it to my mouth and played, "There is no place like home", a tune I always play on a new Harmonica. I was shocked at how little air it takes to get a very big it's sound, a sound as good as I have ever heard from any harmonica. No... I am not a pro. But I am a natural. I put it to my mouth and I always know where there note I need is and I know whether it inhale or blow...After I play that song, then I do my Chromatic Harmonica song, "Fly me to the Moon". On this instrument, this harmonica sounded like a million dollars... Oh Boy! I am very happy! I finally have a damn good performance instument and I didn't break the bank!

This is more than worth the money, but if you're recording professionally you might want to stick with the German and Japanese brands. If you've never had one of these before, it's about twice the size and weight of a standard sized harmonica.This version has some good features - the slide works really well, it's very airtight, you can easily take it apart to service it. It's got the thicker heavy duty reeds - they improve the sound, but take a little more air from you to play.Despite the metal covering, it indeed has a plastic comb. I didn't feel that hurts the sound. When I first tried it, I thought something was wrong with the first and last reeds - it took too much effort to blow - it turned out it just needed a blast from some canned air to blow out some lint.I was getting some weird chorusing sounds in the middle - it turned out my technique was at fault. I've been playing since the 80's, and I'd say that this is a great starter to mid level chromatic harmonica. If you are coming to it from other harps and/or styles, this is something that requires a little more precision. All of the tricks we learn shaping our mouths and lips to bend notes aren't really effective here - that's what the slide is for. It seems quieter than I expected for the amount of air I'm blowing into it - that doesn't mean it's a quiet instrument, just not as loud as my usual harp. And the slide can take this into clarinet or accordion territory, giving you an expanded timbre. If you're a pro, you probably already have a $300 version of this, and this isn't going to sound as good or better. If you're a beginner, or just want to dabble, this is a GREAT way to get into chromatic harp.

The harp has decent sound, is easy enough to play, and would be a good introductory instrument for those trying to learn their way around a chromatic harp. Chromatic harps are quite a bit heavier, larger, and take more air to play than a basic ten-hole harp. Chromatics are are also more costly. For a true beginner on the harmonica, this is not the best choice- a simple 10 hole harp would be a better choice. But, for those players somewhat more advanced and interested in exploring a chromatic harp without making a large investment in a true professional unit, this one works okay. The slide works well, the tone is pretty good , the reeds seem nice, and the instrument appears solidly well made. It also comes with a nice case.As an amateur player, mostly of string instruments, this has been a fun diversion, but I find I use my regular 10-hole harp more. I find this one too heavy for me to use while playing another instrument. Overall, though it's a nice item with the qualifications noted above.