Author Topic: Easttop Forerunner2.0 Non Valved Chromatics (Read 6245 times)

Grizzly · « **Reply #30 on:** January 13, 2023, 11:44:25 PM »

My background as a music educator led me to use C chromatics exclusively, mostly because I can read music. (Other people can read music and play on "keyed" harmonicas, but I guess that talent is rare.) I can, however, play by ear in a few keys.

A Forerunner is a bit tempting, but I don't usually have valve problems. A regular C is the same range as the flute I play; however, I've gravitated to a Tenor an octave lower for my work as a Santa Claus portrayer. The range fits my voice, and is in a better range for people to sing along. I played from memory for that gig. (IOW, by ear)

A 14/56 might have served, but I was able to put a tenor into a white (ivory) CX 12 casing, which looked very Christmassy.

Tom

Scotty · « **Reply #31 on:** January 14, 2023, 12:52:22 AM »

Now that sounds like fun and I bet some people were amazed how Santa managed to have even a 'white' harmonica! How cool!
They probably thought it was specially made for 'him' just for Christmas Season.

I've found that (for me) most of those who like to sing along enjoy the lower tones of the A, so even with my everyday cx-12
in A I tend to play mostly on the low end. (I'm still saving my 'good' A for special occasions.)

Not a Christmas song, but the single tune I always play on a 16C is Roy Orbison's 'Crying'. You have to start way down low and
end up high - so it's a great song not to have to transpose. I'm sure there are others which fit a 14/16 as well.
Do you have a video of you playing as Santa? I'd love to see it!

scotty

Grizzly · « **Reply #32 on:** January 14, 2023, 01:37:21 PM »

"Do you have a video of you playing as Santa? I'd love to see it!"

Nope.

T

beads · « **Reply #33 on:** January 14, 2023, 04:25:51 PM »

Quote from: Grizzly on January 14, 2023, 01:37:21 PM

"Do you have a video of you playing as Santa? I'd love to see it!"

Nope.

T

Next year get some red tape and put stripes on that white harmonica. It will match the candy canes Santa passes out. I got a couple candy canes myself last month. Those and Christmas cookies. Yum.

Scotty · « **Reply #34 on:** January 15, 2023, 06:04:02 PM »

I think it would make what is a really beautiful chromatic a little too 'tacky' - at least for my tastes, and then someone
would probably think the whole thing was faked. Inmho if he keeps playing it as the lovely ivory (white) chromatic that
it is, it definitely catches attention. I can picture it in my mind's eye and it makes a lovely tableau.

scotty

Gene Oh · « **Reply #35 on:** January 17, 2023, 06:45:23 PM »

I just viewed this Youtube clip uploaded by Brendan Power in UK, a very good harp player well known to SlideMeisters.

Gene

brorat · « **Reply #36 on:** January 17, 2023, 07:02:07 PM »

Thanks, Gene. I picked up two for "cheap" a month ago. Kept one for "just pulling out of the drawer on a whim", and gave one to my grandson. He LOVES that he doesn't have to fuss with valves. (I kinda like that, too! But ... I'm a tinkerer, so taking a harp apart and messing about with it is fun for me!)

I've seriously been thinking of partially valving this Forerunner 2.0. It's a nice looking and well made instrument. I only have the one in C maj, but that's okay for what I do up to this point.

Laina · « **Reply #37 on:** January 18, 2023, 03:27:20 AM »

My new Forerunner 2.0 C arrived yesterday. First impressions are very positive. I like the neat zipper case - wish other manufacturers would update their designs. Nice construction, comfortable to hold, no sharp edges. Airtight, plays well, good resonance and improvement over original. My slide is not that quiet so will try to adjust, however I've found other Easttops including a new EAP12 needed tweaking too. Not sure how the printed covers will wear over time.

Price wise V2 is more than double of the first version but imv good value for a better instrument. The availability of all those different keys too is a standout and likely to encourage more and new players to try a chromatic.

RichChrome · « **Reply #38 on:** January 19, 2023, 09:28:11 AM »

Hi Gene,

I have learned to play in multiple keys on a 12 hole C chromatic (not as many as you by the way) with most of the material I play being in the flat keys, however, to say that I can play every song I know in every flat key would not be the case, as I play each song in a key or ( multiple keys in some cases) that fit the harmonica and sound right, neither too high or too low.

As for the sharp keys I am really only reasonably proficient in the key of G so I have an A chrome that I use for songs in A, D and E, but as I say I rarely play in those keys so I decided some time ago to not bother learning those keys on a C. However, some songs I play do modulate to the sharp keys and I can generally get though, so I am not completely helpless.

I also have a Bb chrome that I use occasionally for playing in Bb and Eb mainly for easier playing more difficult pieces but it's not very often. While I am primarily an ear player I do read music, but I'm am not proficient enough to sight read a song I don't know, but I do use sheet music as an aid to learning the more difficult phrases in a song. Also I can only read music playing a C chrome, I'm not skilled enough to transpose on the fly. However, if I do use sheet music to learn on a Bb of A chrome I do the following. For example, if I want to play a song in Eb on my Bb chrome I use sheet music in F and pretend I'm playing on a C chrome, I find this works well for me.

These are the keys I can play in on a C chrome follow by the corresponding keys on a Bb and an A.

Chromes

C Db Eb F G Ab Bb
Bb B Db Eb F Gb Ab
A Bb C D E F G

I am a believer in what works best for each individual player, the chromatic harmonica is not an easy instrument to learn, and extremely difficult to master, if one can learn to be reasonably proficient on this instrument it's a significant accomplishment.

Rich

Age · « **Reply #39 on:** January 19, 2023, 11:12:25 AM »

I'm VERY stingy with my air, (if one molecule isn't helping to move a reed; I want it back) and the three different "valveless" chromatics I've tried over years were terrible, but with all the good stuff I've been hearing about these, I may even hafta try one someday. $:-\$

Gene Oh · « **Reply #40 on:** January 19, 2023, 04:18:03 PM »

My order of ForeRunner 2.0 Chromatic harps have arrived. See the photo below. One set of 12 keyed valveless ForeRunner 2.0 and another set of 12 keyed valveless Tremolo harps, both from the East Top. These two sets will be my Go-to harps for years to come.

To Age: Yes, please have a try of this ForeRunner 2.0. It is airtight enough for me. I wish you would not be disappointed.

To: Brorat
When Brendan Power announced what he called "Gasket valves" for ForeRunner (pervious version), I was interested and ordered two full sets of the gasket valves and fitted them to my ForeRunner Chroms. However, they didn't work well for an amateur player like me. I am not blaming the gasket valve itself. It is very well made, easy to fit. I think it is my personal preference. Anyhow, I removed them all and am happy without the valves.

Cheers,
Gene

Gene Oh · « **Reply #41 on:** January 19, 2023, 04:41:08 PM »

Hi Rich,
You are very senior to me when it comes to Chromatics. So, I humbly accept whatever you say and explain. However, I have now a full set of ForeRunner 2.0. So, I will experiment with those for a while at least to see if any other option could be better.

Cheers,
Gene

Bernie9 · « **Reply #42 on:** January 19, 2023, 05:06:40 PM »

I bought the Forerunner2 in Bb because I needed a middle of the road harm in case I needed that key. I was very pleasantly surprised at the sound and airtightness. In fact all notes except the lowest are as easy to play as my valved chroms, and not leaky..

Gene Oh · « **Reply #43 on:** January 19, 2023, 05:47:28 PM »

Hi Bernie,
Upon receipt of the full set of ForeRunner 2.0, I compared all the first notes of each of these 12 harmonicas to the keyboard notes of my piano. And I found that
all first notes of ForeRunner harmonicas are the notes of D3, Eb3, E3, F3, Gb3, G3, Ab3, A3, Bb3, B3, C4, and Db4 on your piano keyboard. That's why the first note of your new Bb Chromatic is a bit slower in response and a bit hard to play.

However, I personally prefer such a layout of the first notes to that of D4 to Db5, which is too high for me.

Cheers,
Gene

wolfman · « **Reply #44 on:** January 19, 2023, 06:19:43 PM »

WOW you did it Gene.
Good luck,with your new breed of "haramkas".

I think i'm gonna get me some.
Roman

truckpartsaus · « **Reply #45 on:** February 07, 2023, 08:50:04 AM »

I also have purchased and received my ForeRunner 2.0 Chromatic. It’s a lot more air tight and the slide is quieter than it’s predecessor. I use the ForeRunner 2.0 in a rack while playing piano. The reason I use the ForeRunnner is when I tilt my head towards the piano using the rack the angle I’m at causes my saliva to run down and block the windsavers making them stick on my valved chromatics 😡 (does any other players have this problem or is it me?). I did think my tone sounded better on valved chromatics but my piano teacher said the ForeRunner had a good tone. As Brendan said they are a little airer (is that a word 😂) but not as much as some of the valved chromatics that I have purchased in the past and had to tweak them for air loss. The positives for me is the ForeRunner comes in an awesome case and have no sticking windsavers and due to that they are easier to maintain by just washing them out under the tap. In saying that I still like using my valved chromatics whilst not playing the piano, to me they sound fuller. Also I’d like to add that the ForeRunner is excellent value for money. I will review it in a couple of months after I’ve given it a flogging. 😂

beads · « **Reply #46 on:** February 07, 2023, 11:37:48 AM »

Is it possible to make a valveless sound like a valved by using effects and eq?

Age · « **Reply #47 on:** February 16, 2023, 10:38:50 PM »

Quote from: beads on February 07, 2023, 11:37:48 AM

Is it possible to make a valveless sound like a valved by using effects and eq?

Only if you use a whole lotta effects and stuff; and usually just makes it sound tacky. IMO

Grizzly · « **Reply #48 on:** February 16, 2023, 11:33:50 PM »

Quote from: beads on February 07, 2023, 11:37:48 AM

Is it possible to make a valveless sound like a valved by using effects and eq?

The only valveless chrom I have is an S 50. I would guess that valveless harmonicas like the Forerunner 2 have their own charm. IMO they don't need any enhancement.

Tom

schubertfan · « **Reply #49 on:** February 22, 2023, 10:58:26 PM »

Hello, Danny,
As an East-top dealer, could you suggest to them to consider offering the Forerunner 2 in Orchestra tuning? Since they have the reeds for all these keys, possibly they already have the reeds needed. This might be a better seller than any one of their non-C keyed models!

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #50 on:** February 23, 2023, 08:30:46 AM »

Yeah I’d buy one if it was in Orchestra! $50 . . .
But I already have too many (working) chromatics . . .

Danny G · « **Reply #51 on:** February 23, 2023, 01:01:24 PM »

Quote

Hello, Danny, As an East-top dealer, could you suggest to them to consider offering the Forerunner 2 in Orchestra tuning? Since they have the reeds for all these keys, possibly they already have the reeds needed. This might be a better seller than any one of their non-C keyed model

I'll suggest it to Easttop.
Thanks

Gnarly He Man · « **Reply #52 on:** February 23, 2023, 01:05:21 PM »

Quote from: Danny G on February 23, 2023, 01:01:24 PM

Quote
Hello, Danny, As an East-top dealer, could you suggest to them to consider offering the Forerunner 2 in Orchestra tuning? Since they have the reeds for all these keys, possibly they already have the reeds needed. This might be a better seller than any one of their non-C keyed model

I'll suggest it to Easttop.
Thanks

I’ll have to Bop it, of course.

Gene Oh · « **Reply #53 on:** October 12, 2023, 03:41:11 AM »

https://youtu.be/wmaDcQtwrVc?feature=shared

I played this song using an Easttop Forerunner 2.0 (F-keyed harp) and I am wondering if its sound is okay.
The lyrics of this hymn were written by me about two years ago, but I belatedly tried to play it on my Chromatic harp.
The beautiful pictures are all from New Zealand where I live.
Gene

brorat · « **Reply #54 on:** October 12, 2023, 08:28:22 AM »

Sounds really good, Gene. You've made a TON of progress in your timing and phrasing, and the Forerunner II sounds great. I have one of them, too. I just keep it on my desk to pick up and play when the mood hits me. No valve popping. No warming up. Pretty good air tightness. Good tone. What's not to like?!

Vale · « **Reply #55 on:** October 12, 2023, 08:32:07 AM »

Bravo Gene Oh!
Very nicely played.

I agree, Brorat: I also have a couple of them (one first version and one 2.0), both in C. I keep one upstairs and one downstairs and I use them a lot when I want to play for 5 minutes between meetings.

Age · « **Reply #56 on:** October 12, 2023, 10:44:42 AM »

Yeah, Nice job Gene!

Gene Oh · « **Reply #57 on:** October 12, 2023, 11:05:46 AM »

Hi Brorat, Vale and Age,
Many, many thanks! Your words of compliments mean a lot to me.
You know what? I do 10,000 steps a day early morning, rain or shine, at a park near my home. I did not miss even a single day for the last 5 years including holidays and weekends. Walking alone in the dark is boring, but this valveless harmonica is my wonderful companion and almost two hours pass by so quickly with this friend in my mouth while listening to backing tracks from my cellphone headset.
Gene

Vale · « **Reply #58 on:** October 12, 2023, 11:22:19 AM »

An awesome way to keep in shape! Well done Gene!
BTW, I forgot to mention that New Zealand looks fantastic. I hope I'll be able to visit one day

.

wolfman · « **Reply #59 on:** October 12, 2023, 12:49:24 PM »

Very nice Gene.

Love the inspiring words.
Good on you.

Roman