Welcome to my guide to some of the best harmonicas on the market. I have owned several ones over the years and some of my favorite models are listed below. If you are a complete beginner I suggest starting with a 12 hole model then upgrade to 14 and finally to a 16 hole. All right let's dive in!
- Sturdy construction
- Air tight
- Great response across the octaves
- Good resonance
- No 16 hole version
5) The Suzuki Sirius S-48S has perhaps the best tone of all the harmonicas I have played. I personally love it and I used it on my last album "Breathe" and bring it to every gig. The sonority is warm, and I can't find another harmonica that matches it. It’s highly responsive in the middle register perhaps less on the low notes if you are playing on a 16 hole model but this is a common problem shared by most of chromatic harmonica. It has ABS plastic combs with weighted brass, which it gives more comfort in hands. Is it worth $700? I wish I could say yes. Unfortunately harmonicas don’t last forever and after a few months or years you’ll need to replace parts. That’s why I would recommend using it for performance and have a cheaper model for your daily practice. The Sirius comes in all sizes 12, 14 and 16 hole.
If you liked this article you might want to read My Top 5 Toots Thielemans Albums

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