Future harmonicas from Easttop

[pyro_fire60099]

Danny what are your plans for adding 48 Orchestra chord and does Easttop offer a bass harmonica similar to Hohner's  or Suzuki Orchestra double reed bass , And does Easttop offer half valve diatonics?

                        Wally

[Danny G]

In a couple of weeks we'll be going to NAMM, I'm really looking forward to seeing the New Easttop 48 Chord up close.

[Danny G]

I almost forgot, they have a microphone similar to the one Suzuki has for their 48 chord

[Danny G]

Here's are pictures of the Easttop Extended Bass and microphone

[Danny G]

I just love the looks of the 1/2 valved model
NINE SCREWS ! but I'm not thrilled with the slotted barrel screws for the covers

[Mick]

wow they are big beasts, pretty too. and i do like the look of the white half valved model. something a bit different. does it need all those screws??

[Danny G]

does it need all those screws??

The folks who manufacture Easttop harmonicas are well aware of the reputation that Chinese harmonicas have earned.
If making them good enough was their goal then less screws would probably be good enough.

[Danny G]

Tenor models with plastic combs will also be available (possibly March ?)

[Mick]

does it need all those screws??

The folks who manufacture Easttop harmonicas are well aware of the reputation that Chinese harmonicas have earned.
If making them good enough was their goal then less screws would probably be good enough.

Fair enuff.
the tenor model looks nice too

[Mick]

Tenor models with plastic combs will also be available (possibly March ?)

Hi Danny, what does that brass tenor play like? It looks good.

[Danny G]

Mick
The pictures of harmonicas I've posted here are new models of harmonicas that Easttop is introducing at NAMM this month. I haven't seen any of them yet, just the pictures.
The brass harmonicas that I have tried are really impressive but as you might imagine, they take a long time to warm up.

[Mick]

Thanks Danny. I just read pyro-fire review on another thread. They look like a quality instrument for the price. I imagine similar (but more expensive) metal combs like the suzuki fabulous would take the same amount of warming up? In any case it sounds like the Chinese will be giving other manufacturers a run for their money. This sounds like just the beginning ....

[Gnarly He Man]

The brass harmonicas that I have tried are really impressive but as you might imagine, they take a long time to warm up.

And I might also assume that they would retain heat longer!

[pyro_fire60099]

Mick, my review was straight forward from a,customizer / Tool & Die maker look into the quality of these harmonicas and the prices that Danny has on his website will make you look twice.and say Huh?

There is such a mark up on harmonicas and it has always rub me the wrong way.. it's been out of control

          Wally

[John Broecker]

Hello, Danny.

Thanks for posting the future Easttop harmonicas.

Is the Easttop 48 chord harp a 13" long model, like
Huang, Victory, Golden Cup, or, is it a full 24" length
model, like Hohner and Suzuki?

Is it a double- or single-reed per note harmonica?

It appears to have sectioned reed plates for easier maintenance-repairs.
That's an excellent idea, only seen in custom-modified chord harps.

John Broecker

[Mick]

Mick, my review was straight forward from a,customizer / Tool & Die maker look into the quality of these harmonicas and the prices that Danny has on his website will make you look twice.and say Huh?

There is such a mark up on harmonicas and it has always rub me the wrong way.. it's been out of control

          Wally

thanks for posting Wally, your article was very informative on the quality / manufacturing aspects.  It has certainly made me look twice. i dont believe that these are available down under at the moment but i will be keeping an eye out. They look like works of art, so if they play as good as they look there will be one on my list.

[pyro_fire60099]

John  Easttop has made all these high end changes that people are paying top dollar for.. every time Hohner makes a change the price goes up it’s time people open their eyes and enjoy a great harmonica for a fraction of ehat they are paying for now.

[Danny G]

John
Easttop makes a compact chord that is approximately 35 cm long.

[SlideMeister]

The brass harmonicas that I have tried are really impressive but as you might imagine, they take a long time to warm up.

And I might also assume that they would retain heat longer!

Yeah, that's why I've always personally liked the idea of a copper combed job, but so far no one's ever offered one :'(

[Norm]

Sorry if this has been answered already, but what's the story with replacement reeds and/or reedplates on the Easttops?  Are they compatible with other brand reeds and/or reedplates, and what are costs and availability?

Thanks,

Norm

[Danny G]

Hi Norm
I'll be able to give you a more accurate answer when I get back from the NAMM convention but for now......

When I received my first order of Easttop chromatics I got a few extra reedplates. I didn't ask about prices but we will carry replacement reedplates, at least for chromatic harmonicas. My guess is that chromatic plates will be under $100.

I haven't asked about diatonic reedplates but if they are available, I'll likely carry them too.

Easttop plates will fit on Sirius combs but Easttop plates have 3 additional screw holes near the mouthpiece.

[Norm]

Thanks, Danny.

Norm

[Danny G]

I just sent Danny a package with a brass 16 hole Easttop that I Supersize for him and I'm blown away at the end results.. a Monster harmonica.  So Danny did you play it? if so please share your thoughts. .................  Wally

It was a great harmonica right out of the box, now it's on steroids.
I'll make time to do a demo video and post it.

I'm very fortunate to have several harmonicas that Wally has "Supersized". These harmonicas have had done whatever it took to optimize everything about them. On most harmonicas he starts out by flat sanding the comb to make the mouthpiece airtight. There's no need for that with Easttop harmonicas. Easttop reeds are made of a much harder phosphor bronze than Suzuki uses. That means that they are more difficult to work with. Embossing profiling and tuning takes a lot more time and effort. I can't tell all that he does or how he does it but the end result is magic. You have an airtight  harmonica with increased compression and tuning where all of the octaves sound perfect. Wally tells me that I like my harmonicas set up the same way Dominick Sgro and Chris Bauer like theirs setup. Well, either one of those guys would die for this harmonica.

Supersizing isn't for everyone. Most players would be more than delighted with how an Easttop plays right out of the box.
But for those who play a little harder and need that something extra, in the future we plan on offering a limited number of Wally's "Supersized" Brass combed Easttop harmonicas for sale and offer this service to our customers who have already purchased one.

[Ross Garren]

Looking forward to meeting you at NAMM, Danny!

[Danny G]

Looking forward to meeting you too Ross.

Hey Gary, are you going to be working the Suzuki booth ?

[Gnarly He Man]

Yes, we will be there--the Japanese are bringing a bunch of new stuff that I don't even know about, it should be an interesting week!
Are you bringing Bruce out too? And the missus?

[Danny G]

Bruce and I will be at Booth# 2713 (Hall D)

[Gnarly He Man]

Party time, soon enough!

[Danny G]

Lin doesn't like to fly so she's sitting this one out.
Bruce is already out there, he's been exploring California for about a week now.
I'm flying out Tuesday morning.

[stevenpetkov]

Danny G,
       Will Easttop be making their top of the line 12 hole chro with orchestra tuning?

                      Steve P.