For many years, Easttop's T008K has been THE budget harmonica. It is comfortable to play, accurate and reliable at a very reasonable price. It is frequently the best choice for a beginner, but has also been seen being played on stage. Obviously, there are better, much more expensive harmonicas from all the well known brands, but at this price point there is very little to rival the T008K.
So when Easttop announced an updated version, I was slightly nervous - what have they done to it to warrant an update, and will it be an improvement?
Easttop claim that the new version "...features a more refined and attractive appearance. The enlarged mouthpiece opening provides a more comfortable playing experience, making it easier to control airflow and produce clearer, fuller tones."
I'll be honest here, in saying that I really cannot see any size difference - indeed, pulling apart an old version and the new and comparing, the new comb is a fraction deeper (front to back), but around 1mm shorter across the ten holes, while the cover plates are about 1/2mm longer! What has changed is the actual shape of the comb, where all the corners are slightly rounded, making it feel, as they say, more refined. I have included two pictures of new and old together as a comparison (the old version is blue with a 'C' sticker on).
Sound-wise, I would say there is a fractional difference, with it being slightly louder, and maybe with a richer tone. But if you pinned me against a wall to do a blind sound test I think I might struggle to spot the difference...
Overall then, it is a very slight difference, but it does feel smoother to play, and sometimes the 'feel' of playing can make all the difference in whether you decide to play it or not.
Unlike the old version, this model is currently only available in black - Henry Ford would be proud - so that, at least is one less decision to make!
