The Hohner Super Chromonica 270 Chromatic

Coming from a tremolo background and egged on by a cheap chromatic harp, the Hohner Super Chromonica 270 Chromatic, Super 270 for short, harmonica easily becomes a highly coveted instrument for its widely acclaimed distinct melodious tone. 

Laid side by side with the Hohner Echo Celeste, its shortness can throw off the uninitiated because what it lacks in size, it shows off in its muscle. The 12 holes actually produce four notes each, making the Super 270 a 48 notes instrument. In other words, it is a 3-octave harp with the full notes of the scale, i.e., including the sharps and flats, available in each octave.

Notes Chart .  Here are the notes forming the tuning chart of the Super 270:

To say that the Super 270 is a 12-hole instrument is a mistatement because as can be seen in the above pictures the mouthpiece has two rows of 12 holes each.  The slider mechanism makes it possible to play both rows containing each of the 24 holes that hold two notes each, a blow and a draw.  This makes the Super 270  a 48-note harmonica, hence its complete description is Hohner Super Chromonica 270/48 Chromatic.  The top row is activated with slider in "out" position, or at rest, while the lower 12 holes are activated by pushing the slider in.  All the sharp and flat notes are produced with the "slider in" operation, while major notes are produced with the  "slider out" operation. 

Regular Maintenance.  The effect of liquid and saliva on the longevity of the Super 270 is much more pronounced compared to other makes of harmonica.  This is because the comb of the Super 270 is wood, and wood is susceptible to warping if liquid is absorbed or if exposed to extreme temperatures.  As a precaution the Super 270 and every harmonica for that matter is usually tapped several times against the palm of the hand after every use to take the saliva out.


But even with this precaution there is a need for a  regular cleaning of the Super 270.  The parts where the mouth comes in contact with and where saliva will accumulate, i.e.,  the mouthpiece and the slider assembly, should be pulled out regularly and washed thoroughly with soap and water.   

Here is a video showing  how I clean my Super 270:

Here is the semi-disassembled view of the Super 270:

The Comb Assembly.  Note in the above picture that the comb assembly is shown intact.  Actually, there is really no compelling reason to take apart the comb assembly for cleaning purposes because the parts forming the assembly - the reeds, the windsavers and the wooden comb - do not need regular cleaning. The windsavers are the white strips of plastic material, as differentiated from the strips of brass metal called the reeds, which produce the notes. The windsavers act like open and close valves such that if a blow reed in a hole is being activated the draw reed is closed so air leak is minimized, if not prevented.

While the windsavers are glued to the reeds plate,  the reeds are riveted.  Thus, these parts are very delicate and are the key to the acceptable level of performance of the Super 270, and is better left alone untouched.  This is perhaps one of the reasons why the comb assembly is held together by nails and not by screws, in order to discourage untrained hands from making unnecessary access and in the process disturb the proper functioning of these delicate parts.

The use of the nails is peculiar to the Super 270.  Its comb is wood and the reeds plate are attached to the comb with nails. This wooden comb is claimed by some enthusiasts the reason behind the mellowed sound of the Super 270.  However, the wood makes maintenance and repair of the reeds and windsavers a very difficult operation. But it does not explain why the latest models coming out of the Hohner factory are now equipped with synthetic combs and the reeds plates are attached with fastening screws.

The problem with wooden comb and fastening nails is the inconvenience, if not extreme difficulty, in pulling out the nails.  And once pulled, the nails will, of course, lose some degree of hold on the wood.  Thus in many cases, once the nails are pulled out, these are discarded and replaced with screws. In fact, the upgraded version of the Super 270, the Deluxe Super Chromonica 270, has plastic for its comb and the reeds plates are held by fastening screws.

In reassembly, it is important to make sure that the slider is properly fitted into the housing created by the match-fit of the back plate and the plate cover.  The back plate has six flanges that match the six lugs of the back plate.  These flanges and lugs must be wedded together to create an even space between the cover and the back plate which serves as the housing for  the slider to operate.  An incorrect matching could damage the slider due to obstruction in its operation.

Here is a video demonstrating how I reassemble my Super 270.

Taking apart the comb assembly.  In exceptional cases such as when the comb or the inner reeds and  windsavers need to be accessed for repairs or replacement, there is no option but to take the comb assembly apart.  The most important consideration in doing this disassembly procedure is making sure the reeds plate is not bent or twisted as the nails are pulled out.

A special technique using a single edge blade alternated by a box cutter blade is the method I follow in loosening up the nail and preparing it for removal by a plier.  Using a thicker blade pen knife is not recommended because it can bend or warp the reeds plate and cause it to malfunction.

A video showing how I take out the nails can be viewed in this posting: How not to repair a cracked comb 

Replacing nails with screws.  Here is a picture of  a comb assembly of the Super 270 which I have taken apart, showing the tiny screws that have replaced the nails, which have been discarded:

Thread-through design.  Fastening screws that thread to the opposite plate of the Super 270 is also an alternative.  In fact, the better alternative,  and is used in new models of most harmonicas.  The superiority of the thread-through design lies in having the wooden comb pressed from both sides, instead of being pulled, as in the case of separate screws driven on opposite sides of the comb.  


Whether the wooden comb is affected by the pull exerted by the screws is difficult to ascertain, but I would go for the thread-through design because no pull pressure is applied on the wooden comb.  Rather, the comb is sandwiched between two plates and pressed from both sides, thus the design could actually help in preventing warping or misalignment of the wooden comb.

Here is an example of a thread-through design applied on the comb assembly of an Hohner 64 Chromonica Chromatic after replacing the nails with screws:

Note the screw head in the top picture and the thread end in the lower picture.  The same renovation cannot be done fully on a Super 270 because the head of the four screws that will be placed near the two cover bolt holes will put the cover plate out of flush.  Instead, tiny flat head screws can be used near the four cover bolt holes while thread-through screws can be used for the rest of the holes.