Does the Trochilus harmonica have good tone?

Listeners have various ideas about the tone quality of the Trochilus/Game Changer harmonica. Here I play it acoustically with only a bit of reverb so that you can decide for yourself.

[@jackbaer292]

Thank you ! Amazing demonstration!

[@bergethomasian2431]

Bad ass Winslow!

[@sigmonky]

Great demonstration and great playing. I like how you explore extensions of 2nd position conventions using the slide for both single notes and double stops. You made up my mind for me: I’m getting one ( probably the low F). I will quite likely get a MoreBendz too, primarily for the middle octave blow bends and top octave draw bends.

[@winslowyerxa8505]

Just took delivery on a Low F and a Bb, but am waiting to explore them while I plumb the mysteries of the red-combed "pop" tuning, whose unusual slide-in scheme creates some really interesting chords.

[@JoshuaDb_The_Witness]

I haven't been this excited since I got hip to Power Chromatic tuning. Im sold.

[@woozleharmonicas]

Well, this is just plain exceptional! I'll have to experiment with mine a lot more now!

[@ozharp7368]

Excellent demonstration, sounds great to me! As a matter of personal taste, I find there are times when bends and overblows sound great and are very appropriate, other times they can sound out of place and and can be quite painful to listen to. At least with the Trochilus you have the option of choosing between a straight or bent/overblown note and using the one you feel sounds most appropriate.

[@31416]

Well that sounded way better than in your car. Proper mic in studio vs phone in a car. Now I hear great tone out of the Tronchilus! Thank you Winslow. ❤

[@billykohler9153]

Sounds so beautifully innovative . As only Winslow can do. 😎

[@ikust007]

Surprised . Like it .

[@slq3263]

So Winslow, is this classed as a Chromatic?

[@winslowyerxa8505]

I call it a slide diatonic. It's not fully chromatic without a 1 semitone bend in Draw 2, both 1 and 2 semitone bends in Draw 3, and a 1 semitone bend in Blow 10. There are various chromatic harmonicas that have no slide at all (Seydel nonSlide, Tombo S-50, the various Hohner Polyphonias and Chromaticas), while a slide can offer additional notes that may not be intended to fill in gaps in the chromatic scale.

[@goozh]

Interesting...it's listed as a 10 hole chromatic, but I completely agree that calling it a slide diatonic is closer to the truth. Either way, very powerful demonstration!

[@bilbowaggins3036]

I got this harp. I actually love the tone, but I am not a fan of the mouthpiece, or protruding comb type mouth pieces in general as I feel it is difficult to get a nice deep embouchure and seal. That said, this is just my personal preference. I'd much prefer a typical sandwich type mouthpiece like the marine band or manji, but that's just me.

[@winslowyerxa8505]

I have no trouble getting this harp, with mouthpiece, deep in my mouth and getting a seal. You heard me playing tongue blocked octaves and bending with a tongue block.
-- This harp can't work without a mouthpiece and slide. Try removing them and playing the unfiltered sandwich harp - it'll be a hot mess. The naked holes are very skinny and there are now 20 holes instead of 10, with the individual notes of the G# harp placed immediately to the right of the individual notes of the G harp: Hole 1, G harp, Hole 2, Ab harp, Hole 3 G harp, Hole 4, Ab harp, and so on. Chords will be impossible, and to play a simple melody, you'll have to leap over unwanted holes with an extremely narrow mouth opening to avoid playing the discordant neighboring hole. Better to work on your embouchure.

[@bilbowaggins3036]

@@winslowyerxa8505 oh, I'm well aware it is an issue with me and not this harp In particular. I don't like recessed cover plates or protruding combs (I'm not sure the correct terminology) in general. It is just a personal preference. Like I said though, I love the tone of this harp and I'm shocked by how air tight they managed to make this without valves. It's actually kind of the hybrid between chromatic and diatonic that I've always wanted -- I just find different mouthpieces more comfortable.
I got the solo tuned version. I kind of hope they make a full 12 hole valveless chronatic with this same air tight engineering because I'd buy it in a heart beat. This sounds and plays significantly better than the forerunner in my opinion, which is its main competition in that market.

[@winslowyerxa8505]

@@bilbowaggins3036 I'm with you on the 12-hole solo tuned version. I have the standard diatonic version and will be receiving one of their Paddy versions where the slide sometimes lowers the pitch in order to achieve a complete chromatic scale in all three octaves.

[@fuckbored4724]

I've always wanted a ten hole chromatic and I've always wanted a reasonably air tight valveless chromatic that sounds good, so the trochilus is right up my alley. The forerunner is acceptable in regards to how air tight it is for a valveless, but I always thought it could improve, and I always thought it's tone could improve, too. From what I've heard of this trochilus thus far, I think it might be a step up from the forerunner on all the fronts that I care about. My trochilus should be here on friday, and I'm looking forward to trying it.