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The Hohner Super64 Test Report
Dynamics and quality of individual components
Cover plates: Very good. Following approximately 60 hours of practice, no discolorations or wear visible. Indeed no discoloration of cover plates was discernable even after 100 hours.
Main body: Well made and sufficiently well sealed. Reeds and reed plates are well made - 1.05 mm. thick. Cross-tuned or zigzag holes.
Reed-gaps: With a few exceptions, very well adjusted. However, when playing very loudly some adjustment is necessary.
Tuning: a1 444 (no specification marked on reedplate). Reeds might need careful re-centering and the valves too may need re-setting. Mouthpiece: The assembly design is very good. Tolerances between the individual sections are accurate. On the whole the mouthpiece assembly is satisfactory - about 7.5 mm. from between slide out and slide in. It is well-made, no visible signs of wear to buffer were visible after approx. 60 hours of playing.
Body sufficiently airtight. Well-made and precise reed plates and reeds with cross-tuned or zigzag configuration. This harp was tuned to a1=444, but no mark on the plate for this fact. Minimal reed adjustments or centering may possibly be needed. The 'Out of the box' tolerances of slide assembly are good and it functions well, However, repeated disassembling and reassembling causes loosening of the assembly. Some permanent protection against these screws loosening may have to be implemented. There are some unequal notes, particularly unsatisfactory in the double C octave. I check my tuning with a software tuner. Please check on: http://www.chmel-classic.de/deutsch/Works hops/Stimmen/stimmen.html The scale of the tuner is divided in cents]. Basic Maintenance: Very good, even for some relative novices. However Reed-plate screws shoul be replaced with Torx or Allen screws. See website at: http://www.harponline.de/shop/k8.htm. Nr.: 4031/020 Valve replacement is problem-free. The Slide assembly easy to disassemble & reassemble. The centering recesses on the covers are very good and so assembling and reassembly is easy and fairly quick. If there is any need for retuning, a rotating grinding tool may be used. See: http://www.chmel-classic.de/deutsch/Works hops/Stimmen/stimmen.html. The electric tool is there. Should be used instead of a file. Buy here
Responsiveness in all octaves is above average. Compression for my style of playing is exemplary. An 'Out of the box' high and low-volume is possible. Tone-volume (subjective) - Full, round tone for classical playing, for example. Bending capacity: subjective. Very good bending capability overall. However, possible partial intrusive tones noted, particularly in the third octave.
Durability and stability of reeds and valves: Generally very good and comparable with those on other harmonicas. The instrument is recommended for beginners and without a real need for readjustment; perhaps even for some more fastidious players. In the long term however, difficulty in procuring spare parts, especially reeds, may become a problem.
Some improvement suggestions: Basic re-gapping and/or tuning. Torx or Allen screws should be employed for the reed plates. Some protection against possible loosening or dropping out of the mouthpiece screws is also recommended. Well-coated covers would be preferable.
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