Easttop SS48 vs 12-48..?

[dixharp]

Hi Danny,

A question from the UK.
 
Can you please clarify - what is the difference please between the silver T12-48 (or 12-48Z) offered on your site at $125, and the silver SS48, priced at $135 (apart from the fact that the SS48 is available in a range of keys)?

The black-and-gold (only in C), at $145, is also styled T12-48.....   

Terrific harps by the way.. I'm lucky enough to have two, both black-and-gold.

[Danny G]

1248 and 12-48Z harmonicas.
Both have Food Grade ABS combs, chrome plated brass reedplates, welded Phosphor Bronze reeds
The 12-48Z reeds appear to be slightly wider and shorter but I have not measured them  to confirm
Reedplate thickness of the 12-48-Z is 1.0 mm, Reedplate thickness of the 1248 is 1.19 mm
The 1248 reedplates have 3 screws located directly behind the mouthpiece, the 12-48Z has 2.
The mouthpiece and slide assemblies appear to be interchangeable but I have not tried swapping them to confirm.

[dixharp]

Hmm....  Thanks for that (1248 is same as SS48, I take it).

For what is worth, the black and gold with ABS comb, marked "T12-48" on the box, has three screws behind the mouthpiece. 

[SlideMeister]

Yeah that black and gold jobbie is flat-out gorgeous!

[Mick]

Yeah that black and gold jobbie is flat-out gorgeous!

I second that! Gorgeous indeed!!

Danny or Wally one question though, if you will. I am assuming the black colour is powder coating, or something like that. Is it too soon to ask how the black cover plates, and also the numbering, stand up to wear? Also what of its'Slipperiness' for playing? Thanks

[Danny G]

Jimmy Halfnote has had a black and gold brass combed model for about a year, that's quite a bit longer than I've been selling them. I'll send him a PM and ask.

[Crawforde]

I've got a black and gold one.
No brass comb though.  Maybe next year...
It still looks good, no sign of wear, and is as slippery as anything else. Slides easier than my 270, and about the same as an SCX.
I am pretty sticky too.  I have that post chemo and radiation saliva that is a lot like glue.
I sip water regularly , sometimes I put a bit of mineral oil on my lips if I know I am going to be able to practice for a long time.

[Mick]

Thanks for the replies Danny and Crawforde.

[Jimmy Halfnote]

Jimmy Halfnote has had a black and gold brass combed model for about a year, that's quite a bit longer than I've been selling them. I'll send him a PM and ask.

  Sorry a bit late on this one, in transit between Spain and Ireland, no problem at all with the covers, in fact i prefer them to Chrome ones, this is the first non-chrome covered harmonica i have owned (  apart from a couple of CX'S ), what a beaut'.  As a side note SlideMeisters and a personal opinion , those brass combed Easttops are the harmonica bargain of the century !

                                                             jh.

[Edward Brock]

Hey Jimmy, since I have never even held a brass comb in my greedy little hands before
could you tell me about the attraction to the brass?
Is it the sound or tonal difference? The weight/feel in the hand?
Do you think they will threaten or challenge the Suzuki Fabulous ?
I hear great things about the Fabulous but wonder at what point the brass takes over.

[Jimmy Halfnote]

Hey Jimmy, since I have never even held a brass comb in my greedy little hands before
could you tell me about the attraction to the brass?
Is it the sound or tonal difference? The weight/feel in the hand?
Do you think they will threaten or challenge the Suzuki Fabulous ?
I hear great things about the Fabulous but wonder at what point the brass takes over.

  How do i answer this one Ed ?   First of all i am a wee bit piddled , been on the town tonight. To be faithful to the truth , i hate plastic combs, so be prepared for honest prejudice. When i pick up a Chromatic with a plastic comb , my heart sinks, never had one i could love. Now there are famous players out there endorsing models i would only practice with, what that means i am not sure myself, being a lover of the low register as per the bottom half of a 16 hole, then a brass bodied model has the guts a plastic model has not, the brass model has a substance, it has gravitas, it has warmth and maturity, it has a feeling in your hands that goes to instincts and aesthetics, now you are truly holding a real musical instrument, the old wood comb models have something the same but in a different way. In a nutshell the brass comb brings you closest to a real horn, all just in my opinion of course, keep in mind they are not any easier to get the best from, maybe even harder to get the best from because the bar has been raised.

                                                                        jh.

[Mick]

Jimmy Halfnote has had a black and gold brass combed model for about a year, that's quite a bit longer than I've been selling them. I'll send him a PM and ask.

  Sorry a bit late on this one, in transit between Spain and Ireland, no problem at all with the covers, in fact i prefer them to Chrome ones, this is the first non-chrome covered harmonica i have owned (  apart from a couple of CX'S ), what a beaut'.  As a side note SlideMeisters and a personal opinion , those brass combed Easttops are the harmonica bargain of the century !

                                                             jh.

Thanks Jimmy. much appreciated. Ooooooh they are so tempting!!

[pyro_fire60099]

Mick I've taken many of the Brass 12 hole and 16 Easttop apart for Quality checks and I can tell you they play with amazing power and the reeds resonates so beautiful through out each octave and the low notes produce and reed / growl sound and the high end notes are so easy to bend.. effortlessly results

The slide is so smooth and the weight of the harmonica make you feel like your playing a priceless instrument and the machining of the comb is pure art work.
Jimmy you own a 16 hole Fabulous so how does it perform compare to the 16 hole Easttop? 

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

[The Lone Harper]

I just sent Danny a package with a brass 16 hole Easttop the I Supersize for him and I'm blown away at the end results is a Monster harmonica.

May I ask what the supersizing involved?

[SlideMeister]

Now you did it Wally! I want one!!

[Mick]

Now you did it Wally! I want one!!

yeah, me too! Not helping my H.A.S!! lol 

[Danny G]

I posted about that 16 hole brass harmonica here ...
https://forums.SlideMeister.com/index.php?topic=12710.msg153196#msg153196

[SlideMeister]

The black and gold brass is available in 12 hole too, no?

[Danny G]

Age, they come in 12 and 16 hole versions now and you can believe that at NAMM I'll be pushing for them to make 14 hole models too.

[Mick]

A 14 holer would be good, or perhaps an 'orchestra' tuned like the seydel saxony?

[Jimmy Halfnote]

Checked my posts from last night, forgot about my Sirius with the grey/silver covers i like them also Mick, maybe it is just a change from the chrome, but nothing is lost AT LEAST ( IMO).

 Wally , the comparison between a Suzuki Fabulous and an Easttop brass 16 is very difficult to quantify, i use ultra- suede valves on the bottom ends of all my harmonicas, haven't got round to it yet on the Easttop, ( must order some from Danny), but for what it's worth the Easttop is of course much lighter than the Fabulous which really is a heavy lovable brute, has been my favourite for a good few years now, i judge all chromatics against it, they all fall short of my old second-hand much worked upon Fabulous, took me almost a year to get it how i wanted, and to adapt to playing it, the Sirius is a much easier model to play, but in my opinion doesn't have such a rich warm bottom end as the Fab' , nor such a variety of tones to play around with.
            Before the Easttop brass came along i dreaded the thought of something disastrous happening to my dear old beat up Fabulous, that was the main reason for trying out the brass Easttop in the first place, well now i am much relieved , i have TWO chromatics in the same league, each a bit different in their own way, hope that answers your question some Wally.
             Oh nearly forgot, the Fabulous has a fault i can't rectify, tried everything my tiny brain can think of, at one point stretching over roughly two holes the top -plate is not quite hard down on the comb so there is a bit of leakage, have to remember and give these holes a bit more welly, pity there are no plate screws at the mouthpiece end.

                                                                           jh.

                                     

[pyro_fire60099]

Jimmy it's good to know the differences between  the top 16 hole harmonicas

Suzuki Fabulous  : $3,575.00
Suzuki Sirius.       :    $688.00
     Easttop            :    $450.00

They all have the same wind saver material and Suzuki did change to a taper wind saver design and the Fabulous and the Sirius both share the same reed design and it's good to know you get what you pay for. The Fabulous and Sirius have the same reed plates.. so that means your paying the difference in the brass machined comb verses ABS plastic with brass weights. I need to make this Very clear..that Suzuki reeds on the Fabulous and Sirius are..Sirius Fabulous! ! they are in its own league with a unique profile lenth..Good job Suzuki! !

 So that means Suzuki is charging  $2,907.00 for a brass comb. .
If I was making one of a kind brass comb it would be costly and the Easttop has got it down to roughly $300 dollars for their 16 hole brass comb..wow

[Edward Brock]

Thank you Jimmy. And BTW just for the record, I prefer honest prejudice opinions.
Me thinks They always seem more heartfelt somehow.
Of course this has put a itch in my pants I can't scratch just yet.
But then it's good, I think, to have goals in life.
So until I win the Billion Dollar Lottery I will have to stick to plastic. 

[pyro_fire60099]

Guys  I have an Easttop  12-48 with flat top cover plates in the key of D and this is the one Danny sells for $125.00 on his web site. It has wider reeds all the way to the highest reeds and all have wind savers.
It plays loud and with a rich reed sound and the high notes respond with little effort. .
Danny do you have pictures to compare this harp with black cover / gold mouthpiece showing the guts?

A very fun harmonica to play guys..

[Danny G]

I have them in the key of C but I don't have anymore of the keyed 12-48Z harmonicas in stock.
PS .. this is a gif file so it takes a few seconds to start playing

[pyro_fire60099]

Danny what are some of the future style / choice  of harmonica that you will be offering from Easttop?

[Danny G]

I won't know for sure until I see what the manufacturer brings to NAMM and then it will be about another 6 weeks to get whatever I order delivered.

I really like the looks of the segmented reed plates on that 48 Orchestral Chord.
I'm going to bring one home from NAMM. If you like it, I'll carry it and the Extended Bass.
Depending on prices, I might stock Bass and Chord microphones too.
I'm having a lot of fun with the one Bruce loaned me so I'm really hoping that they carry something similar to it or the Hohner Vineta or Suzuki SCH 24.

I think the 12-48Z harmonicas will be available with both ABS and brass combs in black and gold
All models of the 12 hole chromatics (including the brass comb model) will likely be available in Low C - G - A -Bb - C - D
Since none of the other manufacturers are producing them any longer, I might order a few of their 10 hole chromatics.

Their chrome plated brass comb model comes with silicone gaskets, it's an awesome harp and equal to the best.
The combs for their non-recessed diatonics are flat sanded. I'll likely carry any diatonic they make.

I've played them and own a few but I'm really only just learning about tremolo harmonicas.
Seydel recently discontinued their Mountain Harp. I think I may carry the Easttop equivalent as well as some other models.