Hohner

Description

The Hohner XB-40 Extreme Bending Harmonica was designed by Hohner USA's own Rick Epping and with a 40 reed system that gives harp players complete bending freedom with overdraws and overblows in all 10 holes. Precision engineered and manufactured under the highest quality standards, the Hohner XB-40's revolutionary design permits a level of expression and note bending capability never before possible on any harmonica.

On a regular 10-hole diatonic, or Marine Band type harmonica, the standard blues note bending technique involves an interaction between 2 reeds, one blow and one draw. On this style harmonica, only the higher pitched of the 2 notes from any given reed cell can be bent and then only to a point somewhat above that of the lower-pitched reed.

The Hohner XB-40 overcomes this limitation by incorporating an additional set of reeds, tuned so that all twenty of the harmonica's notes can be bent using the standard blues harp bending technique. Using a system of patented valve chambers, the auxiliary reeds come into play only during note bending. The Hohner XB-40 is tuned so that every note can be bent a whole tone, with an additional semitone bend on the 3-draw to complete the chromatic scale in the first octave.
Hohner XB-40 Extreme Bending Harmonica Key of A
Hohner XB-40 Extreme Bending Harmonica Key of A

Features

  • Plastic comb
  • 40 reeds
  • Brass reedplates (.9mm)
  • Length: 12.3cm (approx. 5")

Reviews

5

2 Reviews

0%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

  • Big, Fat Sound. The Blues will never be the same.

    5

    submitted15 years ago

    byJake Robinson

    fromNew Lebanon, Ohio

    Buy this now, thank me later. I have been playing Hohner Special 20s for years and wanted to try the XB-40. This harp is unlike anything I've ever played. Right out of the package I noticed that this harp is huge. Almost twice as thick as a normal harmonica. It has a hefty feel similar to a chromatic. Even though holes on the comb are twice this size as I'm used to, I was very easily able to adjust to this. It's sound is similar to a Hohner Pro Harp but it is very easy to blow and draw. Being able to bend on EVERY hole blow and draw takes a little getting used to, but you can usher all sorts of great sounds out of the XB-40. Hohner outdid themselves with this harp. It has a big sound and is very, very playable.

  • Awesom Harp!

    5

    submitted17 years ago

    byDaniel Gray

    fromSacramento, CA

    Rick Epping & the folks at Hohner have really thrown down the gauntlet with this gem. If you are a serious blues harp player, you've got to try this little beauty - it does everything you can ask it to do & begs for more. I'm going to have to completely rethink the boundaries & forget old limitations. Awesome!

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