George Smith

Troy -

You're right, that is longer than a 16-hole harmonica. Note that it's also slimmer.

What he's holding is a type of harmonica that has no slide and has one semitone per hole. For instance, Hole 1 might be C, Hole 2 is C#, Hole 3 is D, and so on.

Some of these harmonica have all blow notes, while some of them give you the same note as both blow and draw in the same hole.

Hohner made these harmonicas under the model names Polyphonia and Chromatica. ("Chromatica" differs from "Chromonica," which refers to a standard slide chromatic).

These harmonicas were used for special effects in harmonica bands and came in several ranges, from bass to piccolo. (George appears to be holding a Polyphonia No. 7, the bass of the group and the biggest in that model series.)

You'd play a melody by sliding along the chromatic scale from one note to the next. Some players were known as "ploy specialists." (even though Hohner used two model names, most players refer to them collectively as "Polys.")

I have a few of the obsolete Polys and try playing around with them occasionally. Most of these models have been out of production since the 1970s, but one model is still made, the Chromatica 263:

http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?130

You can sometimes find the other models on eBay.

The "bass" Poly No. 7 goes down to D almost an octave lower than the low C on a 16-hole chromatic.

it has a great sound, but playing it without that "zipping" sound of the chromatic scale notes between the notes you're aiming for isn't easy. nad it's all blow notes, but you can bend them some and even play overdraws on the higher notes.

The reeds are only slightly longer than chromatic reeds (but are too long to fit a standard chromatic reedplate), and yet give good volume at that low pitch.

Makes me wish some enterprising manufacturer would come up with a "Thunderbird 64." I know a lot of players who would jump on it!