Ken Leiboff plays 6 high $ Chromatic Harmonicas

Here I play a Seydel Saxony, an EastTop 64, a Suzuki Sirius, a Hohner Amadeus and a Psardo Chromatic 64 Elite. Because it was right there I threw in a Hohner CX-12 Jazz.....
There is no mic or effects on the harmonicas....I try to keep my hands out of the way so you can hear the harmonicas.
These might all sound the same through your phone, pad or computer speakers but they do play very differently...
Priced lowest ate the Saxony and the CX-12 Jazz (depending on who you buy them from ) UP to the Psardo at $2200

[@Chris-iu5ol]

You Sir, are a motivation for me,53 year old, to have started playing again the harp. Thank you!

[@Critiquetech]

Awesome review Mr. Leiboff , Suzuki sound is quite smooth and round , Liked it very much...

[@beautyboobear]

Thank you for this informative comparison video. Now I understand why Toots said it’s a chrome sandwich. I just cannot help it but it looks like we are savoring different gourmet expensive sandwiches different sizes and prices. Some looks really like a actual sandwich. Sorry, just came to my mind. I have now accumulated lots of different chrome sandwiches, too that I should do a comparison video, maybe. You are right. It’s hard to tell the difference. As always, up to our personal taste. Thanks!

[@milevasiljevic9312]

E da mi je bar jedna od tih har monika da zasviram na njoj.Blago vama gospodine na tom uzitku.To su sve vrhunske harmonike a tesko je se odluciti jer vase vrhunsko sviranje izvlaci maximum iz svake harmonike, pa sve zvuce slicno.To je prvenstveno vasa zasluga.

[@kenkarpowicz3455]

Thanks for the comparison and your comments. Helps me to make a better informed decision between the Suzuki and Seydel.

[@pchavan1]

Enjoyed listening to all.

[@stevepethel6843]

Gregg Jones always at 16:23 has those great repairs and Seydels plus a Christian and goes the extra mile for customers and fantastic tuning. I learned things from this entertaining video thank you Ken.

[@jeffsimslmt]

I’m not sure which is deeper.... your tone, or your pockets. Nice collection. Nice play8n’.

[@prasadbhasuru8867]

I amaze at tremolo effect nicely done Sir. 🤔👍🙏

[@BRAVAUX007]

Nice! I like so much your demonstration. Thank you and be happy!

[@gabrielcornea9119]

I think the best harmonica is you, sir!

[@2468102870]

I personally feel that the Easttop had the best sound and projection. Of course-its the player that gives the harmonica its own personal sound and life. The more it costs won't make you a better player. The harmonica may play better but it up to the player.

[@muleskinner47]

Thank you. Awesome demo.

[@fingerhorn4]

Considering the Easttop is by far the cheapest of all of the group, it is a very impressive instrument. However the most important thing regardless of price is whether the reeds are in tune and whether the valves/windsavers are free of sticking and popping. To me that is the most significant factor in deciding which to go for. I've yet to buy a single harmonica that DOESN'T have some stuck valves and at least two reeds that are duff or out of tune. Harmonica manufacturers should concentrate on designing instruments that actually work out of the box first time. Sadly, whatever price you pay, it is rarely the case. And because you can't really "test" a Harmonica prior to purchase, it is pot luck whether you find a decent instrument unless you enjoy taking it apart and correcting the manufacture flaws.

[@kenLeiboff]

I find that most brand new chromatics feel really good when they are brand new.I guess the real issue is how they play after you have put a few "miles' on them. Given your comments , Forget the East top. I bought both the brass combed 64 and the plastic combed one. I actually gave them away because I could not sell them in good conscience.... I strongly recommend buying Seydel Harmonicas directly for Greg Jones 16:23 harmonicas. He will repair them as well when needed. Part of playing chromatic is being a good repair man but It is good to have Greg when all else fails.... If you buy a Seydel, go for the Saxony, The Deluxes are a much lower end harmonica.... I make it a point to be positive in my reviews, but since you mentioned it......dont be fished in by the low price.

[@douglasj.arcuri1370]

Hi: If every Chromatic you use has sticky wind-savers the problem originates from you.You must make sure your mouth is free from food and sugar syrups.In addition your lips should be clean also. It’s a fact of life on this instrument.I was out my mouth with water before I play.

[@douglasj.arcuri1370]

Ken: Thanks.I’ve been playing 3 decades. I never spent big money on my Chromatics.Look at Horner the same reeds in a Chrometta as in the higher price harps.I like Easttop on price and quality.This is now almost 2022.With amplification,there is very little difference.Yes the body compositions are different.I find that the cover of the Chromatic is very significant in tone and projection acoustically.The Asian Chromatics are improving in quality every year.with respect to the reeds and the body composition.I believe that the German harps are way over priced. I don’t use a hand mike but a stand mike as the Classical players do.

[@LeoDequito]

How about the durability? Im planning to buy an easttop EAP 16. But Im not sure if it is good enough compared to other chromatics? Any thoughts

[@gewglesux]

This very entertaining!!! thank you!! Mighty big Tin Sammatch!

[@billroy2780]

Great playing

[@M.Frees.S]

Nice and need video. I think I prefer the bright seydel. The psardo looks like a great beast though, but with that pricetag i can only dream about playing one, for now at least.

[@Gleb_Sabinin]

Nice I have Hohner. Super, 280 etc.

[@froglicker9267]

not sure why i watched this- will never pay 400 bucks for a harp - but you make it look so easy :)

[@milevasiljevic9312]

Bravo Ken.

[@milevasiljevic9312]

Listen this kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaimknhuZaeegbc

[@alicejohnson1285]

Thanks Ken you've just cost me a fortune I like em' all

[@kenLeiboff]

Im costing myself a fortune too. I just got one of the first Seydel Symphony out and it is VERY nice... I actually spend all the $ that I make playing on instruments, however I am NOT a Horder . I am always happy to sell anything that I won't ever gig with....

[@polkatrumpeter]

Psardo price?

[@leovisser4042]

@KenLieboff would you be willing to sell the CX 12 jazz harmonica?

[@patrickbyrnes118]

Thanks for this video and all the others you have shared. At 0:15 you said that the Saxony Orchestra has 14 holes. Did you mean to say that its tuning *begins* in the manner of most 14-hole chromatic harmonicas?

[@kenLeiboff]

That was a mistake. It has 12 holes. Hole blow 1 is g below

[@kenLeiboff]

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[@kenLeiboff]

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[@chrismengos8379]

Hello and thank you for the nice review!I orded an Easttop brass 12 hole harmonica and the seller says that this harmonica has been upgraded, In order to prevent the brass from being oxidized and the brass Comb is nickel-plated, which can better protect the Comb. Do you know if this is true? Thank you very much

[@monocitta9363]

💕❤️💖💕❤️！！！！！！！！！

[@geoffreylane1967]

Well the Psardo had more of an accordian feel to it. The Jazz had a light feel, the Honer typical of the brand a more cowboy ranch feel. The suzuki and the East Top very similar with a rounded tone. I guess horses for courses. Perhaps you could put a bit in about respoinsivenes. As it is unlikely anyone would be allowed to test play them it is important that people like yourself give some idea of the feel of them with blow and draw and how tactile they are for the mouth.

[@kenLeiboff]

Fair enough. As you probably know , I don’t do negative reviews. The Psardo is fantastic and Mr Sardo is still improving it. I acknowledge that not everyone can afford or will profit from a 2000 $ plus harmonica . ( most of you will not). The SUZUKI Serius line is a seriously great playing harmonica. I. Have seen these in the500 range for sale.. Smooth slide great player.... The Eastop is a copy of SUZUKI fabulous. Plays ok however not even comparable to a Sirius. I gave this one away. I didn’t hate it but it is nothing that I would play. Amadeus feels good to play. I have had several. And sold them..... The Cx 12 Jazz is a good player : I keep one in the car. Reasonably priced. Beware of dropping it. The plastic cover will break.. Hohner charges 180 for new cover,. That’s N expensive piece of plastic: note: the regular cx12 is different. ....leaving me at the Seydel Saxony, Steel reeds and they really take a beating. Over 400$ now but it will outlive several cx 12. AND Greg Jones will keep them running for a long time . The Saxony is a great player and comes in all keys. The Sirius and the Psardo have the best slide. I like slide and ease of removability of cx12 slide but it makes a nasty loud click. Although I play the Seydel Saxony the most, I am sorry to say that I-have the most trouble with the Saxony slide. I never fo our without screwdrivers . Amadeus slide is very good. The Psardo slide befits a premium harmonica. Breath feel is fine on all of them however The Easttop,even after careful warmup ( that should not be necessary in a warm climate) the harmonica was still sticky. I think they did not copy the Suzuki windsavers well (or I had a lame one. I did buy it when they first came out) Still not a bad deal for 450...

[@hanzkilian1806]

Thanks for the comparison. I must say I was very disappointed in the Psado sound. At $2200 I expected a better quality sound. Added to that you are limited to how you can play it due to its design. Out of all you played I must say what did impress me was the Easttop. Cheers

[@froglicker9267]

not sure why i watched this- will never pay 400 bucks for a harp - but you make it look so easy :)

[@kenLeiboff]

I guess I make buying them look easy.... Thanks for watching...