Forerunner Chromatic Harmonica

Product: East top Chromatic Forerunner 1248NV or T12-48NV (NV stands for Valveless)Out of the box, every hole works. This is big for me. I recently purchased Hohner 64 Chromonica (16 holes) and Hohner CX12 Chromatic (12 holes) both in C key. Out of the box both with 3-4 holes not working no sound. I watched Hohner Service Workshop on YouTube on how to make adjustment on the reeds. The sound came out but not responsive and sound horrible. I contacted the seller through Amazon with no help. I contacted Hohner in Germany HQ and they sent me to Hohner US under warranty repair. Both chromatic harmonicas have sent to the shop and told would take 3 weeks after receiving them and 3 days quarantine with limited weekly work hours. The Hohner chromatic harmonicas have awesome sound if every hole works.I wanted an inexpensive chromatic harmonica to practice. I found the East top T12-48NV on Amazon for $45 something. Since it has no valve, I can do some heavy duty practice without worrying damage the wind savers (subject to fatigue much easier). The sound quality from this budget valveless chromatic harmonica is not in the same caliber as compared to the higher end chromatic harmonicas that have valves. The higher end chromatic harmonicas with valves or wind savers are air tight since the wind savers or valves will make the chromatic plays air tight. Also, seemed the sound comes out from the T12-48NV a little weaker than my Hohner, but Hey, this beauty’s every hole is working great with the tunes play accurately. Amazingly, this budget 12 hole chromatic harmonica is built in surprisingly good quality with good materials and great looking. Slider works great and smoothly without clicking sound. You can feel the weight when you hold the T12-48NV in hands but not heavy. Strangely, I thought the sound came out a bit weaker but the recorded practice session with the T12-48NV sounded great and laud.I am happy and can play it as much as I want without worrying a thing about if the sound will come out or not or something wrong especially the wind savers will get damaged and the blow holes will not play the notes. The T12-48NV does require a bit more air and you can feel it compared to the chromatic harmonicas with the valves or wind savers. I am very happy with the T12-48NV as my practice harmonica. As a practice harmonica, I can’t find any better one to take over this one.I heard from one of the elite harmonica pros on YouTube or some Website, the East top T12-48-Brass Comb or T12-48-Copper Comb is up there in the market against the best. Since the comb is brass or copper, the sound comes out from these two models are awesome. Normally brass comb will cost a lot more, but the East top T12-48-Brass Comb is not in 4 figures it’s around $350. I will check it out if my Hohner chromatic harmonicas break.

Very nice chromatic harmonica. All of the notes are strong and in tune. It functions as well as any harmonica I own.

This is an East Top Chromatic ‎T12-48-A Silver. Not my 1st East Top, but it is my 1st East Top Chromatic.Not as sleek & loud as my Suzuki or as smooth as my Hohner CX12. However, this is a very well-made and affordable harp.Very comfortable playing surface. Does not pull your mustache. Quiet slide. No sticky valves. Very nice finish on the cover plates, slbeita fingerprint magnet. It’s a heavy beast.All in all, I am pleased with this harp. But I would probably spend a bit more next time and buy a Hohner CX12 if I decided to get another Chromatic.

Really awesome harmonica with great sound. Definitely proves that you get what you pay for. This was a little pricey, but the quality, durability and sound of this piece definitely made it worth the cost. Recommend this item.

Needed a C chromatic to play one Stevie Wonder song for a gig and didn’t want to spend a lot of money. Bought a Harmo Angel, the parts are made in China and assembled in the U.S. 9 reeds wouldn’t play properly so I opened up the harmonica…Had to adjust 9 reeds to play right. There were deep scrapes in the middle of the reeds from tuning manual tuning, and 5 of the reeds were missing the plastic wind savers that they put over some of the reeds to help with breath, but it is a good sounding Harmonica. Out of the box, this Easttop, T-012/48 stainless steel covers, played beautifully, not much slide noise, no adjustments needed, and no wind savers to warm up, or worry about vibrating. Sound is nice. Since there no windsavers, you can bend notes like a diatonic. No wind savers also makes this harmonica easier to play, and you can’t beat the price. A Suzuki or Hohner will be far more expensive…Unless you are gigging a lot, There is really no reason to spend the money for them. Good purchase…No cons on this one.

First, I HATE Amazon lumps all the reviews for a product together even though there are different models with distinctly different characteristics. Note this review is for the T12-48-SR. This model has heavier reeds and reed plates than the other models. Also, the reed plates themselves look to be silver plated. I suspect the mouthpiece is too as it's the slickest, smoothest mouthpiece I've ever played.I'd read good reviews on Slidemeister about the Easttop harmonicas. I took a chance and I'm very glad I did. Harmonica sounds awesome. Good tone and projection. Seems to be well in tune. Slide is very smooth. Seems a little leaky on the high end but it just takes some UMPH!, nothing really excessive, to get those reeds moving. I don't think it's been made to be played quietly. I don't see this as a fault. Overall finish of the instrument is very nice, no scratches, no dings or dents. It's quite heavy for its size but not overly so. It's very comfortable to hold. Workmanship on this appears to be first class. It's a well made instrument. Interested to see what the long term durability of this is. I'm just a hobbyist player but do play with other people now and then.I recommend it!

I had remembered that my mother had mentioned awhile ago that she had several extended family members that all played the harmonica, and had always been envious. She is a very accomplished piano player and plays nearly every Sunday at church. She recognizes a quality instrument when she sees one. Loves the sound/tone!!! Needless to say, she hasn't put it down since I gave it to her!!!! She LOVES IT!!!!