Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica
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A smoothly curved, diatonic harp with a 1950's look that features equal-tempered tuning, making it ideal for playing melodies.
The Hohner Golden Melody harmonica has an attractive 1950s look thanks to its rounded shape and closed-sided, full-length covers. An especially airtight harmonica with a strong, full-bodied sound, the Golden Melody is the only Hohner diatonic harp with equal-tempered tuning, which makes it especially suitable for melody playing.
Curved cover plates extend the entire length of the Golden Melody harmonica, providing increased resonant capacity. With a comfortably curved shape, the Golden Melody harmonica's smooth, rounded corners fit nicely into the palms of your hands as you play. Hohner sets the Golden Melody harmonica's reeds close to the open-framed mouthpiece, so it responds to the subtlest of commands—making the Golden Melody perfect for overblowing as well as for bending. You'll find taht the Golden Melody's sound is unique in its class with a slightly different tuning that produces full, rich, melodic tone.
Although it's a favorite harmonica among gospel and hymn players on Sunday mornings, the Golden Melody can definitely hold its own in the blues bar the night before. The Hohner Golden Melody harmonica is a favorite of great harpists such as Pierre Lacocque of Mississippi Heat, jazz virtuoso Howard Levy, and Levy's renowned Cuban-Canadian student, Carlos Del Junco. Its unique design, coupled with an airtight, dark red, plastic body sets the 10-hole Golden Melody harmonica apart. Its equal-temperament tuning makes the Hohner Golden Melody a natural for country music. And there's no doubt that your Golden Melody is the harmonica that can bring down the house on blues and rock numbers.
Choose your desired key!
About Hohner:
Hohner is a family company founded in 1857 in Trossingen, Germany by Matthias Hohner. Hand-made quality and close attention to detail has set Hohner apart from the beginning. A top leading brand in harmonicas, Hohner harps are distributed worldwide. Hohner harmonicas are played on the street by buskers, in intimate nightclubs, on festival stages, and even in Carnegie Hall. Despite a diverse harmonica line used in music from country to classical genres, the most famous Hohner harmonicas are their simple, 10-hole diatonics used frequently by blues, rock, country, and folk musicians.
Features
- 10-hole diatonic
- Standard (Richter) tuning
- Reeds: 20
- Reedplates: brass; 0.9 mm
- Plastic, red comb
- Length: 10 cm
- Hohner harmonicas feature:
- Improved reed profiles to increase reed life by over 200%
- Precision die punches to ensure reed plates with unparalleled air tightness
- Improved tuning accuracy (through investment in innovative new tools)
- Extremely stable stainless steel covers that won't tarnish and are easy to clean
- Dynamic range and highest volume of most any commercially made harmonica
- Super-fast response at all volume levels
- Easily adjustability for overblows
Play distinct country melodies or bring down the house bending blues notes with this curvy harmonica when you order today.
Review Snapshot®
by PowerReviews(based on 14 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Good audio (3)
- Quality craftsmanship (3)
Cons
Best Uses
- Small venues (3)
Most Liked Positive Review
Great out the box harp
I teach harp and gig regularly and the Golden Melody is the latest in a long line of harps I've tried. I consider them to be consistently the best out the box, along with ...Read complete review
I teach harp and gig regularly and the Golden Melody is the latest in a long line of harps I've tried. I consider them to be consistently the best out the box, along with Hohner Crossover. They are a great shape, very airtight, and seem to require the least adjustment out the box of any harps I've tried so far, I've bought harps 2x the price that have had greatly inferior quality control that I've had to set right. As proclaimed they are great for overblows, to the point i'm incorporating overblows much more into my style thanks to the Golden Melody. A minor drawback is they take a long time to break the reeds in, they can be very stiff to bend for the first few weeks, but if you treat them nice and gentle for that period the reeds seem to last forever.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Consider the Price
I bought a few harmonicas, but I did not play any as much as I played my two Golden Melody harps in the key of A and D. The tone and flexability of play ...Read complete review
I bought a few harmonicas, but I did not play any as much as I played my two Golden Melody harps in the key of A and D. The tone and flexability of play were truly wonderful.
However, over the years I've discovered some negative qualities that I feel may counter my praises. The reeds of these Golden Melody harmonicas tend to stick more often than my other harmonicas. When I first take them out of the package I always gently flex the reeds, and after playing regularly take apart my harmonicas to clean them.
On my Golden Melody harmonica in the key of A I found that the 5th draw reed became irreversibly jammed. First it dropped from playing it's G note to only playing a C#, and then it became completely unplayable. I tried to coax it loose, but found that I couldn't get it to play a note at all.
My primary complaint now that I retrurn to MF to order a new one is that I feel the price does not reflect the quality. I really want a new Golden Melody, but I don't want it to break down again.
Reviews
Reviewed by 14 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-10
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Pros
- Easy To Play
- Quality Craftsmanship
- Rich Sound
- Warm Tone
Cons
Best Uses
- Accompaniment
- Small Venues
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
I really like the sweet, mellow tone of this Hohner. It feels good in the hands due to the shape, and the design is easy on the mouth. I like everything about it except that my particular harp is not that accurately tuned. It's not horribly off, but it could be better. The plastic box protects the instrument, and is quite functional. The price is a little steep, but then again, harmonicas are expensive these days (I remember buying them in the music store for just a fraction of the current cost). The comb is plastic, and the covers screw on, which makes maintenance easier than on a Marine Band. This is a really fine harmonica, and one of my favorites. Highly recommended!
Pros
- Easy To Play
- Quality Craftsmanship
- Rich Sound
- Warm Tone
Cons
Best Uses
- Accompaniment
- Small Venues
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
Purchased as a gift for a musical savant who has the ability to pick up & play any instrument cold! He sounded like a professional within 45 minutes of playing with this particular model. Adapts well to any genre. Definitely would recommend to other's who may be looking for a reasonably priced gift in similar situations.
Pros
- Consistent
- Quality Craftsmanship
- Rich Sound
Cons
Best Uses
- Small Venues
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
I teach harp and gig regularly and the Golden Melody is the latest in a long line of harps I've tried. I consider them to be consistently the best out the box, along with Hohner Crossover. They are a great shape, very airtight, and seem to require the least adjustment out the box of any harps I've tried so far, I've bought harps 2x the price that have had greatly inferior quality control that I've had to set right. As proclaimed they are great for overblows, to the point i'm incorporating overblows much more into my style thanks to the Golden Melody. A minor drawback is they take a long time to break the reeds in, they can be very stiff to bend for the first few weeks, but if you treat them nice and gentle for that period the reeds seem to last forever.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
The features are near perfect in body, comb and reeds. The tone on all notes are prime and give 100% resonse on draw and blow, which is uncomon. The only thing I don't like is the same with all Harmonics and that is the reed edge hanging over the comb and the edges of the shell connect. Other than a redesign in my specks, this harmonic is very well made using quality material and finished edges.
The smooth edges and curves imediately felt great in my hand and mouth. The tone right from the start was sweet. My bends were effortless. The reeds never resisted reponce. I'm comparing this Eb Golden Melody to two dozen othe Honer's like my blues harps, Big Rivers and Marine Band. All of which have their own charactors in resonce and tone. However, I'd have to say now at this time, my favorite is my newly acquired Golden Melody in the key of Eb which I picked for one song in peticular. The comb is smooth, all edges polished smooth, resonse is like cream baby!
Materials are a step above my other harpoons. Very sturdy metal with no give when sqeezed hard, unlike the blues hard which you can easily crush.
No doubt the price range is in the middle and so is the quality of this unit. So the value is in comparison to your other options on the market. This is not over priced by comparison in my opinion.
If the quality remains consistant, then the value is fantastic.
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
The best Harmonica Experience I have had!!!
The Curve of the body was perfect for my hands!!!!
The sound quality is like no other Harmonica I've had!!!!
Good price, for a good instrument!!!
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
Great harp, good tone and sound for single notes, still very bendable for blues, great sound on overblues. Still has easy to maintain and dependable plastic comb like the special 20. I love the sound and performance of this harp as well as the price. As I need new harps I am buying golden melodys to replace special 20s, wish I also like very much. The golden melodys just have a deeper, richer, and fuller sound as well as a unique shape and ergonomics that natural cups well in your hands even while holding a mic. Great harp for the price.
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
Easeist harmonica to play
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
Was concerned if I could still get the good bends in my blues playing with this harp like I could with a Special 20. Not dissapointed, it bends just as well with a smoother, cleaner sound on the individual notes with no overblow. Great harp, great compact feel to it, better construction, better sound, good bends and overblows, and plastic combs like the Special 20. As I wear out my remaining Special 20s, I will be replacing them with Golden Melody's.
Great shape and easier to take apart, clean, and reassemble.
Great sound. A little more resonance than the Special 20.
Fair price for a quality product.
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
I bought a few harmonicas, but I did not play any as much as I played my two Golden Melody harps in the key of A and D. The tone and flexability of play were truly wonderful.
However, over the years I've discovered some negative qualities that I feel may counter my praises. The reeds of these Golden Melody harmonicas tend to stick more often than my other harmonicas. When I first take them out of the package I always gently flex the reeds, and after playing regularly take apart my harmonicas to clean them.
On my Golden Melody harmonica in the key of A I found that the 5th draw reed became irreversibly jammed. First it dropped from playing it's G note to only playing a C#, and then it became completely unplayable. I tried to coax it loose, but found that I couldn't get it to play a note at all.
My primary complaint now that I retrurn to MF to order a new one is that I feel the price does not reflect the quality. I really want a new Golden Melody, but I don't want it to break down again.
Comments about Hohner 542 Golden Melody Harmonica:
Out of the box #3 would NOT draw on this model 542! Extremely disappointing as my Special 20`s have been great. Since I cannot return it, I gave it to my daughter as a learner.
