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Hohner Chordomonicas and Seydel Chromatic Deluxe Chor

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John Broecker:
Hello, Greg. You asked about the Hohner Chordomonicas and the Seydel Chromatic Deluxe Chor harmonicas in the General category of SlideMeister.

Since these are diatonic harmonicas with slide(s), I thought this would be the proper place to discuss them. The General category of SlideMeister is for chromatic harmonica discussion only.

The Hohner Chordomonica I (1 slide), and the Chordomonica II (2 slides) were diatonic chord harps designed for the Hohner company by Chinese-born American harmonica virtuoso Cham-Ber Huang, in the early 1960s.

Production of these unique harmonicas was stopped in the mid-1980s. The Chordos could be played melodically (single notes), chordally (multi-notes), or melodically and chords together, like other diatonic harmonicas. They had wood combs, identical to the Hohner 270s (for Chordo II) or 260s (for Chordo I) of today.

The Chordo II had an additional slide spring and slider mechanism placed on the comb's left side, and the button was located above the 1st button, on the right side of the harmonica.

The Seydel Chromatic Deluxe Chor is a copy of the Hohner Chordomonica I, with the exception that the Chordo I had 10 holes, and the Deluxe Chor has 12 holes. The Chordo II had 12 holes. The Seydel Chromatic Deluxe Chor has a wood comb.

Three instruction manuals were written for the Hohner Chordos: Folk Song Fest for the Chordomonica I, Folk Song Fest for the Chordomonica II, both by Cham-Ber Huang, published by Mills Music, New York, New York, copyright 1965.

The third manual, also by Cham-Ber Huang, was a hand-size booklet, supplied by Hohner with purchase of the Chordomonica: Hohner Chordomonica, Complete Instruction Method with Music Arrangements, Copyrighted 1972, by Hohner, Inc., Hicksville, New York. The 1972 manual had an optional audio recording of the Chordos, performed by Cham-Ber Haung, sold by Hohner for $5.

The Chordomonicas were said to be favorites with gospel, country and jazz players, because they had chords (3 notes played simultaneously) not available on other diatonic harps. The Chordos were available in the major keys of C, A, E, F and G.

The standard 10-hole Richter system diatonic harmonica has chords starting on "do,""re," "so," and "ti," of the major (diatonic) scale, and 2-note double stops starting on "mi" and "fa." The Richter harps have no chord starting on "la."

To fill this void, the Chordomonicas were invented. The Chordo I, button out, had the chords starting on "do," blow chord, and starting on "so," a draw chord (dominant seventh). Example, on a C Chordo I, the chords button out were C-blow, G7, draw.

With the button in, the chords of the Chordo I were available starting on "fa," and "la*,"(*): note: the "la" chord, in this case is a diminished seventh chord, not minor. The  diminished chord may be spelled 4 different ways, but, for this example, we'll call it "la diminished." Example, on the C Chordo I: button in chords were F, blow, and A diminished seventh, draw.

The Seydel Deluxe Chromatic Chor is available in C or G, and has the identical pattern as the Chordo I, with more notes in the upper octave.

By pressing the second slider (the upper slider), the Chordo II added the chords of "la" (minor chord), blow, and "re," a minor 7th chord, draw. Example: on a C Chordo II, the 2nd button in produced the A minor chord, blow, and the D minor 7th chord, draw.

I own 3 of these great harmonicas, all Chordo IIs in C. Two were recently upgraded with acrylic combs, and screws replaced nails. The other Chordo II still has its wood comb and nails holding the plates to the comb.

The only negative I find with these great harmonicas would be in the playing of single line melodies. In order to allow more chords, some diatonic scale notes had to be re-located on the harps. Example: to play an A note on a C Chordo, you need the button in, blow.

That's a small adjustment, if you ask me.

I hope this wasn't too long. John Broecker.








 

root:
John-Nope, not too long, I appreciate the wealth of info I've been able to pick up on at this sight.Might have to get hold of one of these pups.Thanks.-Greg

John Broecker:
Hello, Greg. There's a Hohner Chordomonica II for auction at ebay. The most recent bid is $45, plus shipping. Less than 2 hours left on the bidding. The harmonica looks used, but the bag (leather pull-string harmonica case) looks almost new.

go to:   http://instrument.search.ebay.com/antiqueharmonicas.
 
Or go to:   www.ebay.com to musicalinstruments>antique harmonicas

Don't feel pressured to buy one. These instruments aren't rare, and another
one will probably show up again in a month or two. I'd limit a bid at $75, just
to be cautious.

I'm not a representative of E-bay, not an employee, not an agent, etc.,
not a seller, not a competitive bidder, etc.

John Broecker.

Gnarly He Man:
Glad I didn't see it in time, sold for 157.50 (yikes)
I'd like one at some point . . .
G

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