The NONSLIDER Chromatic DE LUXE STEEL - playing chromatically re-thought
Is there a chromatic harmonica ...
... with direct tone response like a Blues Harmonica?
... that works WITHOUT slider and WITHOUT valves*?
... on which techniques like bending or overblow are playable?
The answer is YES. We named it the NONSLIDER Chromatic DE LUXE STEEL. This instrument is equipped with a newly designed mouthpiece that opens up many new possibilities for players to play chromatically, irrespective of whether they have played a chromatic harmonica or a diatonic blues harmonica before!
The NONSLIDER Chromatic is a very reliable instrument that is virtually maintenance free. 48 tuning-stable, stainless steel reeds guarantee a great sound and durability Furthermore, stuck valves or a jammed slider are things of the past.
In order to achieve optimal tone responses, the reeds of the LC, LD and LF variants, as well as the C 'Orchestra tuning' are equipped with valves (full and/or half-valving). Bending of certain half-valved notes is still possible - all valved blow notes can additionally be bent down in pitch. Overblows are not playable if the reeds are valved.
How does the NONSLIDER Chromatic principle work?
With the help of the newly developed double-row mouthpiece, the semitones are reached simply by tilting the instrument. A slight angling down or up is sufficient to reach all chromatic notes by directly playing the corresponding holes on the respective row.
The notes on the lower row of holes are the same like in the "slide-pressed position" on standard chromatic harmonicas. The instrument is tilted down or up, or the player changes the position of his lips (pointed-mouth technique/lip-pursing) to reach the right notes.
Thus, full chromaticism is achieved without the need for a slide and spring mechanism!
