Hohner Harmonicas - The Best and Worst Buys
Buying a harmonica can be a daunting task. There are so many different types, made by plenty of great companies: Hohner, Seydel, Suzuki, Lee Oskar, Easttop and more.
I play harmonicas made my Hohner, and this article will help you to work out which of their harmonicas is best for you. We'll discover the best - and worst! - Hohner harmonicas in the diatonic, chromatic, tremolo, bass and chord harmonica categories, and I will give you Amazon links to make sure you're buying the right harmonica.
Note: Hohner Harmonicas have not been involved in or sponsored this article in any way so I am not making money from recommending their products. However, the Amazon links below are affiliate links so I do receive a very small commission from Amazon if you buy through my links.
Why I Play Hohner Harmonicas
Hohner is probably the most well-known harmonica maker in the world and produces a wide range of great quality models.
Many, many years ago, when I first started playing harmonica, I tried several makes and models from various manufactuters, and I found Hohner harmonicas were the most reliable and easy to play for a beginner. I am now an Official Hohner Artist.
I do not believe that everyone should play Hohner harmonicas just because I do, but it's worth trying them out to see if you like them. And of course, a great harmonica will not make you a great player; that's entirely up to you. However, a quality harmonica will probably make your job easier. So I want to help you to pick a quality harmonica quickly and easily, and that's what this guide is for.
I spend my life gigging, recording and teaching harmonica so these recommendations are based on all the experience I have playing harmonica for a living.
As a slide aside, check out this video tour I made when I visited the Hohner factory recently:
Hohner Diatonic Harmonicas - Best Buys
The diatonic harmonica is the type that Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen all play. They usually have 10 holes and are sometimes called a "blues harp". Diatonic harmonicas are well known for being expressive and emotive, and are the quintessential blues harmonica, as well as being popular for pop, rock, folk and country styles.
Diatonics are small and affordable so they're a great place for beginners to start. Below I have listed my recommendations for a basic budget option, a mid-range choice, and a luxury diatonic too.
Budget Option (diatonic): Hohner Big River
OK, so it's worth starting by saying that the WORST possible thing you can do is think that all harmonicas are created equal. The cheapest harmonicas - the ones that come free with a teach yourself book - are extremely cheaply made and as a result you will struggle to make them play anything more than a weedy little whisper of a note. They are not airtight and struggle with bending and more advanced techniques. In short, it's worth spending a little more to get a much better instrument.
All of that said, harmonicas are famously affordable and hopefully we can find a harmonica for you even if you have a limited budget. So here's my pick for a pretty cheap harmonica that will still give you a good sound.
The first harmonica I ever played (after a terrible freebie that hardly made a sound) was the Hohner Big River harmonica. These are affordable and pretty decent harps. They're airtight and tuned well, and you'll be able to get all the techniques you need. They were even the go-to choice for my harmonica hero, Paul deLay. Good enough for him, good enough for me!
The Big River is part of Hohner's modular system (MS) which means the comb, reed plates and cover plates are interchangeable with all other MS series harps (Blues Harp, Pro Harp, Meisterklasse) in case you want to chop and change parts.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
You probably already know this, but diatonic harmonicas come in a range of keys. The most common is the key of C, but you may also want to consider buying the following as your collection expands.
Hohner Big River (key of A): https://amzn.to/3Camn25
Hohner Big River (key of D): https://amzn.to/40lM1ZC
Hohner Big River (key of G): https://amzn.to/4httDVG
Hohner Big River (key of F): https://amzn.to/4hqoJbZ
Mid-Price Option (diatonic): Hohner Special 20
For those with a few dollars more to spend, I recommend the Hohner Special 20. This is a mid-range model meaning it offers good quality but without making you spend more than you need to. It's actually my day-to-day gigging harp because it's so reliable and sturdy but not so expensive that I'm scared to blow it hard at a pub!
It's with good reason that Hohner calls it "The World’s Most Copied Harmonica Design". The Special 20 was the first harmonica to have reed plates recessed into the comb to aid projection and volume. For this reason, make sure you're not buying a similar-looking copycat harp because it will probably be totally inferior.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
Here are some other common keys of diatonic in case you want to expand your collection of Hohner Special 20's:
Hohner Special 20 (key of A): https://amzn.to/3OsrsoG
Hohner Special 20 (key of D): https://amzn.to/3YIuvxX
Hohner Special 20 (key of G): https://amzn.to/3Z55kH4
Hohner Special 20 (key of F): https://amzn.to/4fG0HcA
Luxury Option (diatonic): Hohner Marine Band Crossover
The Hohner Crossover is a very popular choice with professional harmonica players. It features a stable and water-resistant bamboo comb and great airtightness for a truly responsive and expressive instrument.
There's no need to spend the extra cash if you're a beginner, but the Crossover may give you the extra edge if you're a serious player looking for a top quality harmonica.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
For other common keys, click the links below:
Hohner Crossover (key of A): https://amzn.to/40wyKh3
Hohner Crossover (key of D): https://amzn.to/4juLgpN
Hohner Crossover (key of G): https://amzn.to/4gcwOji
Hohner Crossover (key of F): https://amzn.to/3PKz5HX
Hohner Tremolo Harmonicas - Best Buys
Tremolo harmonicas have two rows of notes, tuned slightly apart from each other so that they produce a beating - or tremolo - effect. They are tuned to play simple melodies and are very popular in Asia and for traditional Irish folk music.
The Hohner Echo 32 is the classic tremolo harmonica and a good place to start if you're looking to explore this unique type of harmonica.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
Hohner Chromatic Harmonicas - Best Buys
The chromatic harmonica is the one you've heard played by Stevie Wonder and Larry Adler. Chromatic harmonicas have "all the notes" so they are more versatile than the diatonic, but they don't have the same bluesy bendiness. Chromatic harmonicas are most often used for jazz and classical, but can be used for any genre of music if you know how to get the best out of them.
Chromatic harmonicas come in various sizes including 10, 12, 14 and 16 hole versions. The recommendations below are all 12-hole models, which is the most common type of chromatic. It's also worth noting that chromatics come in various keys - although they have a full chromatic scale, the different keys give different note ranges and phrasing possibilities. My links below are for standard C models.
Budget Option (chromatic): Hohner CX12
For chromatic harmonica, I play the Hohner CX12. What I love about the CX12 is that it is easy to play, sturdy and reliable without breaking the bank (in chromatic terms). It is also revolutionary in that the cover plates and slide can be removed without the need for a screwdriver, which means you can clean it quickly and simply, or even dismantle it at a gig for emergency repairs.
It's important to note that even a "budget" chromatic harmonica is going to set you back a fair whack. You'll notice the prices rising steeply now we've left behind the more egalitarian diatonic and tremolo harmonicas. However, if you do need a chromatic, I believe the CX12 is the best place to start.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
Mid-Price Option (chromatic): Hohner Super 64
The Hohner Super 64 has been the go-to chromatic harmonica for a long, long time. The latetst model features various new features including a VarioSpring System permitting individual slide spring adjustment, and a new SilentSlide to avoid unwanted slide sounds. It's a very reliable harmonica and has been Hohner's signature chromatic option for many years.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
Luxury Option (chromatic): Hohner Amadeus
Designed in collaboration with legendary Italian harmonica player Willi Burger, the Amadeus is Hohner's luxury chromatic model. It is aimed specifically at classical players, and includes a distinctive transparent comb and gold-played mouthpiece.
To be clear, I'm not suggesting you need a chromatic of this quality and precision, but if you're looking for a luxury option then this is it.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
Hohner Bass Harmonicas - Best Buys
As the name suggests, bass harmonicas are tuned extremely low so that they can do the job of a bass instrument. They are extremely expensive, come in more limited options than other types of harmonica, and are used mainly in harmonica ensembles and orchestras.
Bass harmonicas look amazing - they're actually two harmonicas joined together with a hinge - and they sound out of this world. You can hear me playing bass harmonica a couple of minutes into this video.
For bass harmonica, I recommend the Hohner Bass 58. This is the smaller of Hohner's two bass models, with a range from E2 to E4. My copy is an old version of the Bass 58, but if you buy it today you'll get the latest incarnation with improved volume and handling.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
Hohner Chord Harmonicas - Best Buys
Like bass harmonicas, chord harmonicas are used in orchestras. They are extremely long in order to fit a big range of chord arrangements and are impressive (and quite funny) to watch due to the fast movements needed to get the required chords.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Hohner Chord 48 is the largest harmonica in the world and I believe it's the most versatile chord harmonica on the market.
Disclaimer: I have not actually played this type of harmonica, but the options are limited for such a niche instrument and I trust in Hohner's craftmanship so this is the one I recommend.
(Amazon affiliate link - I receive a small commission)
The WORST Hohner Harmonicas
Although I play and love Hohner harmonicas, they do make some cheap and nasty harps. Like every company, they produce harmonicas across the full spectrum from luxury models to the most basic instruments. I do not recommend any of their 'Enthusiast' series (Blues Bender, Blues Band, Hot Metal or Silver Star) simply because they are made cheaply and it shows in the sound. I'm not kidding here - they simply aren't as well made as the more expensive models. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a great harmonica, but it's not worth wasting your time with the cheapest of the cheap.
Hohner Harmonicas - Conclusion
I hope this guide to Hohner harmonicas has been useful for you. These are my personal recommendations based on my experience as a professional harmonica player, but finding the perfect harp is a personal journey so it's worth shopping around to find the harmonica that suits you. Best of luck!
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