The
Hohner Crossover
The Hohner
Crossover Marine Band is probably one of the better out of the box harmonicas
on the market. Yes, I had the guts to say it, but remember that is absolutely
up for debate. It has a reconstructed (not hardwood) bamboo comb, with
excellent design of the Marine Band 1896 but without the hassle of nails or the
softness of closed coverplates. Any genre you want to play as a harmonica
player is right at your fingertips with the Hohner Crossover especially due to
its amazing tuning. Am I endorsing the Crossover? No I’m just stating my honest
opinion.
Let’s start
with the excellent bamboo comb. The comb is very
light, water resistant (not waterproof though don’t be fooled), and has an
excellent tone. It allows for brightness that the original Marine Band and just
about every plastic comb harmonica lacks. It doesn’t have that hollow tone of
the Seydel Session Steal or the Hohner Special 20 but also not the dull and
dampened tone of pearwood. I would take this comb over any out of the box comb
in a heartbeat.
Secondly,
open coverplates are amazing. They really blast and keep harp players from
playing softer than they want to. If you actually listen to the Marine Band
1896 and the Crossover pared next to each other the Crossover blasts over it.
That being said, the harmonica is designed so if the harp player wants to
perform a soft tune, they can. The dynamics on the Crossover are excellent.
Probably one
of the best features on the Hohner Crossover is its new compromise tuning. Unlike
the almost every single Hohner model, the Crossover uses a tuning sharper than
standard compromise but flatter than equal temperament. The thirds are all of
the notes that are usually flattened in the standard compromise tuning is a few
cents sharper, making melodies sound sweeter. In fact, the five draw is only
one cent flatter than the 6 blow making twelfth position playing much easier.
If you don’t know what 12th position is look it up.
Lastly and
most conveniently are the screws. The screws, unlike those on the Marine Band
Deluxe, are removed with Phillips heads. This way, taking the screws off is way
easier than using two screwdrivers, only one is needed. In addition, there are
only three screws inside when you crack it open. Three, count how many there
are in the danged Special 20.
