I am not an experienced chromatic harmonica (or harmonica in general) player. I have only had limited tremolo and diatonic harmonica experience. Because of this, I will focus my review primarily on build quality rather than sound.
I had been dreaming of trying a chromatic harmonica for quite a while, but the relatively high cost of entry had kept me from going through with it. At first, I was seduced by the cheaper models without valves, but, having read a lot of excellent reviews here, on Thomann (thanks to everyone who has contributed!), I changed my mind. From what I have read, Suzuki seems to be the Lexus of the harmonica world, providing impeccable craftsmanship and reliability at a comparatively sensible price. The only disadvantage seems to be the slightly higher difficulty (when compared to Hohner, for example) in finding replacement reed plates. But, given that they tend to last so long, it is not a big deal.
When I received the harmonica, I was surprised by how large the case was. Since, at the time of writing this review, it is not specified in the description, I thought I would mention it here. It is (very approximately!) 18.5 by 6.5 by slightly under 4 centimeters, or 7.3 by 2.6 by 1.5 inches (keep in mind, however, that the edges of the case are rounded, and I was using a ruler). In any case, if you are looking for a harmonica that you could carry in your pocket, this is definitely not it (unless you have extremely capacious pockets!). The case itself is well made, and the interior looks beautiful, but it appears to be designed more so for presentation rather than protection of the instrument. Yes, it will protect it from scratches and even bumps, but if you dropped it, the harmonica would probably fall out of it and get damaged (the closure mechanism is not too secure). Having said that, as someone who will only play at home, I much prefer a beautiful-to-look-at blue-lined case like this than some zippered nylon pouch with foam interior. Included in the case is a lovely, although a little bit small, Suzuki-branded cloth with decorative edges. Those edges, by the way, appear to be heat-sealed, so they should never ever fray or shed lint. Just like Lexus from my previous analogy, even here Suzuki provide us with intricate beauty without sacrificing reliability — very Japanese!
The first time I opened the case, the flat meticulously polished surfaces of the harmonica nearly blinded me! The chrome-plating, the engravings, and the assembly are immaculate! As a perfectionist, I check even the most minute of details, such as the screw heads and the evenness of gaps between parts. Here, everything is virtually flawless! However, despite its said flawlessness, it still somehow seems to be hand-made, or rather, more precisely, artisan-made. Through the way how smooth the slide is alone, without having yet produced a single sound, this instrument demands respect.
Speaking of sound, as somebody who lives in an apartment, I was worried about the potential loudness of this harmonica. Fortunately for me and my neighbors, it rings like a bell even at the faintest of blows, as well as pulls, of air. There is an obvious improvement in sound when compared to all of the affordable diatonic Hohners I have ever tried. The dynamics are easy to control, even for a beginner like myself, and the instrument has a very well-balanced and clear (yet not at all harsh) ringing resonance (the materials of the covers seem to have been chosen very well). At first, I heard some whistling while playing the highest of notes, but, when I adjusted my blowing, it disappeared. Simply put, it seems to have been just an operator error on my part. The thing I like the most, however, is the shape of the mouthpiece. As someone with voluminous top and bottom lips, I had never in my life felt this comfortable playing a harmonica! It was my first time ever playing a harmonica without feeling the harmonica itself (if that makes sense). It was as if it had become a part of me, even if my imprecise playing sounded like a goose being strangled.
All in all, I have no regrets whatsoever about paying such a large (for me) sum of money not on one of my primary instruments (guitar and piano). I sincerely hope that this inexperienced attempt at a review has not offended the kind harmonica community or the talented people at Suzuki, for whom, if it was not already clear, I have practically no criticism. This beautiful instrument has instilled in me a new appreciation for harmonica, and I cannot wait to learn to play it properly. I will keep it and cherish it for many years to come. Thank you, Suzuki, for keeping the art of making such precious and delightful instruments alive (I have already bought another Suzuki harmonica!), and thank you, Thomann, for delivering it safely to my door, just as you have been doing for almost two decades now.
