These are tremolo harmonicas which the reviewers have personally used and tested. There are many others. If you would care to contribute a review of these or others, using the same or different criteria, please email me.

Hohner Echo Celeste

Overall:  Some have seen this as one of the most excellent tremolos on the market today.  This is a new model; Hohner just recently began to make these, as of the middle of 2004.   So far, there are three very good reports, and two reports that are not good. It is tentatively suggested here that there are good and bad production runs of this instrument. One recent reviewer bought two, found both to be less than excellent, called Hohner, was told to mail them both directly to Hohner for replacement...and within two weeks he had two excellent replacements in his possession with which he was most happy.

Price and availability:  US$14.95 plus shipping from Coast To Coast Music, and approximately the same from Hohner retailers worldwide.  An excellent price for a quality instrument.

Keys:  All twelve major keys.  We have hopes that the minors will eventually be produced.

Size:  24-tone.  The Hohner Echo Celeste is the only 24-tone tremolo available in all twelve major keys, so far is currently known. 

Box:   A very interesting and visibly durable case, with a wrist strap.  Looks to be made of strong nylon fabric reinforced, and closes with a good zipper.  It is reminiscent of certain cell-phone cases.

Physicality:  Good strong plastic comb, behaves as if it will last a long while.  Good sheet metal covers. Two good screws secure into nuts, holding it all together, with more dimly visible inside. Brass reedplates, edges visible.  The usual sheet metal covers are polished to a high sheen, with just a few light markings to indicate make and tones. Overall feel is good and strong, like Suzuki Humming, though not as heavy.

Tone & Tuning:  On the one owned by the writer, the tone is so good it's almost scary. It is excellent in all of lows, mids, and highs. Solo-tuned. The tuning is extremely precise, possibly even better than Tombo 1521. The off-tuning is normal tremolo, and very well done.  On this instrument there is interesting mystery as to how the excellent timbre is produced, because although the comb is plastic, the sound is wonderfully rounded, yielding better results throughout the range than any other tremolo this writer have played.  And one can control this instrument better, too: one can produce very pleasing notes at very low volume as well as high volume.  The loudest volumes from this instrument are not as loud as Suzuki Humming or the Tombos, but that is a tiny price to pay, particularly with powered gigs being the rule these days.  Chords are as easy as single notes, just like 1521.  This harmonica is full-scale (solo) tuned, unlike most other Hohner tremolos, so multiple-octave runs are ready for the playing.

Downsides:  On this writer's Echo Celeste, the max volume is not quite as loud as the more expensive instruments out there (Tombo, Suzuki), but not badly so.

Suzuki Humming Tremolo

Overall:  A very good instrument. In general very much like Tombo 3121, but higher in quality. Very good feel, among the best overall.  Sadly not available in most keys.

Price:  US$47.50 plus shipping from Coast To Coast Music.  Much more expensive than Hohner Echo Celeste, significantly more expensive than Tombo 3121, less than half the price of Tombo 1521.

Keys:  C, C#/Db, A, G, D, Am, Gm, Dm. The Suzuki web site says that they're available in all keys, but this writer have not yet found anyone in the world willing to sell in most keys to destinations outside of Japan.

Size:  21-tone.

Box:  Good strong plastic box.

Physicality: Good strong plastic comb, behaves as if it will last a long while. Good sheet metal covers. Two good screws secure into hollow screw studs, one on each opposite side, holding it all together, with more dimly visible inside. Edges of reedplates are visible, like Tombo 1521. The reedplates are very heavy-gauge metal, not brass in color; conceivably they could be stainless steel. The usual sheet metal covers are polished to a high sheen, with just a few light markings to indicate make and tones. Overall feel is very strong, even stronger than either Tombo. Heavier than a 3121, not as heavy as a 1521.

Tone & Tuning:  Excellent for the mids and highs, satisfactory for the lows.  Solo-tuned. The tuning is extremely precise. The off-tuning of each tone is normal tremolo, not 1521-special. Overall this could be a higher-quality edition of the Tombo 3121. The plastic comb gives a very satisfactory timbre, less rounded than Tombo 1521, almost exactly like my old Brelli, far better than my Huang Musette 24. The timbre is close to my Hohner Double Echo, but not so brash; sweeter, better for vocal accompaniment. Every note comes out smoothly and well, without exception. Chords are as easy as single notes, just like 1521. This harmonica is full-scale (solo) tuned, unlike most Hohner tremolos, so you will be able to play three full octaves in runs.

Downsides:  The big one is the limited availability of keys.  There is a second: the lows are satisfactory, but not very.  For better lows, you're going to need Hohner Echo Celeste.

Tombo Band Deluxe, also called Tombo Band 1521

Overall:  A very good and obviously very refined instrument.

Price:  This writer has have bought all of his Tombo 1521's for about US$90 plus shipping.  This does vary according to the U.S./U.K./Nippon exchange rate situation.  The most reliable source thus far has been Harmonicas Direct; it has been found best to order by voice phone.  Full contact information for Harmonicas Direct is here.  Reliance should not be made on prices posted on any web site for this instrument, because currencies change quite rapidly.

Keys:  All, major, harmonic minor, natural minor.

Size:  21-tone.

Box:  Some of these harmonicas are shipped by Tombo in good strong plastic cases, some in cardboard boxes which should be thrown out as soon as possible!

Physicality:  Heavily treated wooden comb, behaves as if it will last quite a while. Good sheet metal covers. Two good screws and semidecorative nuts on opposite sides hold it all together, with more inside. Edges of reedplates are visible, obviously very high quality heavy grade brass. Sheet metal covers are polished to a high sheen, with just a few markings (high-pressure die press) to indicate make and tonage. Overall feel is very strong.

Tone & Tuning:  Excellent for the mids and highs, just usable for the lows. Solo-tuned. The tuning is extremely precise. The off-tuning of each tone is considerably less than Hohner Double Echo, Huang Musette 24, or 20-year-old Brelli. The treated wooden comb gives a good, strong yet sweet, rounded timbre. Every note comes out smoothly, but lows have a just-usable timbre balance. It is almost impossible to get this instrument to squeak or make other unappealing noises, which is rather unlike Huang Musette 24. Chords are as easy as single notes, which is very different than Hohner Double Echo, Huang Musette 24, or my twenty-year-old Brelli. This harmonica is scale-tuned (a.k.a. solo-tuned), so you will be able to play three full octaves in runs.

Downsides:  Three.  First, the price is very very high, and it is by no means certain that its price is justified by its performance.  Second, the low timbre is simply not excellent, not even as good as Suzuki Humming.  Third, the close-tremolo tuning is less strongly tremolo, less 'wet', than the other instruments this writer prefers.

Tombo Band 21, also called Tombo Band 3121

Overall: A very good instrument.

Price:  About US$25 plus shipping.  This does vary according to the U.S./U.K./Nippon exchange rate situation.  The most reliable source thus far has been Harmonicas Direct; voice phone orders have produced best results.  Full contact information for Harmonicas Direct is here.  Reliance should not be placed on the prices posted on any web site for this instrument, because the currencies are changing quite rapidly these days.

Keys:  All. Some sources may not be aware of this fact, but if they are willing to contact Tombo, they will be able to order whatever keys you need.  However, some sources have been unwilling to do this simple bit of legwork.

Size: 3121 is 21-tone. There are very close relatives that are larger: 3124 (24-tone, in C, C#/Db, A, and A#/Bb, no minors), 3326 (26-tone, in C only), and 3328 (28-tone, in C only).

Box: Ditto 1521 above.

Physicality: Good strong plastic comb, behaves as if it will last quite a while. Good sheet metal covers. Two good screws secure into hollow screw studs, one on each opposite side, holding it all together, with more dimly visible inside. Edges of reedplates are not visible, construction is different than 1521. Sheet metal covers are polished to a high sheen, with just a few light markings to indicate make and tonage. Overall feel is very strong, quite possibly stronger than 1521: screw-and-stud is usually better than screw-and-nut, and there are fewer parts visible from the outside. 3121 is also not as heavy, which almost certainly means better ability to withstand accidental impact. This writer does not impact-test his harmonicas :), but he is definitely more comfortable temporarily carrying a 3121 in his pocket than a 1521.

Tone & Tuning:  Excellent for the mids and highs, just barely usable for the lows. Solo-tuned. The tuning is extremely precise. The off-tuning of each tone is normal tremolo, not 1521-special. The plastic comb gives a very satisfactory timbre, less rounded than the 1521, more so than my Brelli, far better than my Huang Musette 24. The timbre is close to my Hohner Double Echo, but not so brash; sweeter, better for vocal accompaniment. Every note comes out smoothly, but the lowest octave does not have a satisfactory timbre balance.  On two test units (Cm and Am), one note very near the lowest rattles slightly while still delivering true tone when played in a certain way just off-optimal, but the notes can still be played.  Chords are as easy as single notes, just like 1521, which is very different than Hohner Double Echo, Huang Musette 24, or Brelli. This harmonica is full-scale (solo) tuned, so you will be able to play three full octaves in runs.

Downsides:  Just one.  Low quality and timbre is simply not very good: it is usable if you must, but if you can, use another instrument for lower tones.  If Hohner were not delivering the goods in Echo Celeste, this writer would still be slowly collecting 36 of these, and even more slowly having harmonica techs work out all of their bugs; but happily, things are now different.

Suzuki Two-Timer

Overall: A very nice looking harmonica with sturdy cover plates. Feels comfortable in your hands and mouth. Reed response is very good across the whole instrument.

Price:  US$18.95 plus shipping from Coast To Coast Music.

Keys:  C, A

Size: 21-tone.

Box: Nice strong cream color plastic box. Key label on top and end of box. Velvet line with a good thick cleaning cloth inside.

Physicality: Black plastic comb marked with white at the beginning of each octave making it very easy to see the beginning and end of each octave. If you are new to tremolo this is a nice visual learning tool that can help you learn the note lay out quickly. Reed plates look like stainless steal with eight screws holding them to the comb. Cover plates also look like stainless steel with one brass screw and tap holding them in place at each end. That makes ten screws holding this harmonica together. All of the above gives a nice hefty feel to the harmonica making it feel and look like a quality instrument in your hands.

Tone & Tuning:  Tune to A-443 in a compromise tuning. While single note play sounds best to my ears, chords are not bad, but may sound a little rough if you are used to true Just Intonation tuning. As for the tone I would describe it as being not to bright or mellow but somewhere in the middle.

Playability:  The reeds respond very well to light and hard play across the whole harmonica. No need to change breath pressure on some reeds with this harmonica.

Downsides:  The only downside reported about this harmonica is it is a dry tremolo. Also chords are reported as being a little rough to the ears, but not very bad.

Huang Musette 24

Overall: A satisfactory instrument. Excellent tone-quality for ensemble, not so good for solo or vocal accompaniment.

Price: My Huang Musette 24s I bought as the “Huang Musette Twin Pack (C and C#) Tremolo for Chromatic Playing". The pair was $20. Low price is one very strong advantage of Huang tremolos.  However, so far as I know, this instrument is no longer being manufactured.

Keys: Two tremolo harmonicas come in this set, one C, one C#. The theory is that the buyer will play them chromatically, obviously not chording, using the C# when needing notes not available on the C. Mr. Huang is a virtuoso playing the pair (among many other harmonica permutations), and others are playing thusly too. I tried to learn the technique, but have not yet succeeded. Single Huang Musette 24's are available in C and G. "Wheels" of four, easily unbindable, are available with keys F-C-G-D. Wheels of six, also easily unbindable, are available with keys Bb-F-C-G-D-A. Reportedly, individuals can be had from other sources in keys Bb, F, C, G, D, and A, sold mostly as replacements for the wheels.

Size: The two instruments I have are 24-tone, as are the others mentioned under "Keys" above. Huang Musette 16 does exist, in the key of C only.

Box: My C/C# pair arrived in an excellent wooden box, vinyl covered, lined with velvet.

Physicality: Satisfactory plastic comb. Good and simple covers. The instrument is held together with straightforward screws and nuts. Overall feel is good and strong. Weight factor is roughly that of Tombo 3121, allowing for slight increase for slightly larger instrument.

Tone & Tuning: The tuning is good, but not excellent. It's solo-tuned, which is excellent; but the tremolo off-tuning is only acceptably consistent all the way up and down the instrument's range. The tremolo is not as close tremolo as either of my Tombos or my Hohner; in consequence, the tone has many high overtones and few low overtones. This tends to interfere slightly (not unusably) with vocal accompaniment, and is not as pleasant as pure solo. But the upside is interesting: as the quantity of close ensemble instruments rises to two and especially above, it rapidly exhibits its forte, and becomes truly excellent. And last but not least, as the instrument warms up, the off-tuning reduces towards something very like Tombo 3121. If I were playing with orchestras and not solo, and if it were available in all keys, Huang Musette 24 would be my utter and sole preference. I do use them as my primary C and C#.

Downsides: Tone not so good for solo work, vocal accompaniment, or work with only one other instrument.

Hohner Double Echo 32/64

Overall: An acceptable instrument. Sometimes this is the best that can be had from musical instrument stores in a given geographical area. It is Richter-tuned, and as a result, poorer than all of the others here in availability of notes.

Price: Approximately $50 U.S. plus shipping from Coast to Coast Music. They list it as "Hohner Echo 64 Tremolo Double Sided". Most retail stores add about $20 to this price.

Keys: It's double-sided, two keys per instrument. Available key-pairs are C/G, Bb/F, and D/A.

Size: This model is 16-tone per side. The 32 refers to reeds, not tones.  There are larger models, but the larger models are available in fewer keys.

Box: Weak paperboard box. Must be replaced more or less immediately.

Physicality: Wooden comb, not treated much if at all; some splinters nearly loose when brand new; now after more than a year of ownership, I have had splinters come into my mouth. Good and somewhat ornate sheet metal covers. Covers are nailed onto the comb, and as a result, I have had professional harmonica technicians tell me they will not touch them. Overall feel is acceptably strong, but definitely squashable: I would expect ruination (perhaps a hammer and anvil could effect a crude and unaesthetic emergency fix) if I accidentally sat on this instrument on a moderately soft sofa. If there is any risk of squashing, I carry my Hohner Double Echo in a very strong felt-lined oak box which a craftsperson friend made for me. He won't make any more, sadly; apparently this one took much longer to make than he expected, and he says he has more interesting things to do, even if he were to be highly paid. The squashability is, no doubt, a necessary part of the "double" design. Hering and Merano doubles are designed in much the same fashion, except that Merano doubles do use screws.

Tone & Tuning: The tone is excellent, the tuning nice and precise, and the tremolo off-tuning is a very good choice by Hohner. If the tuning were not Richter, this instrument might be quite recommendable by yours truly, because the wooden comb makes a very good timbre.

Downsides: Richter tuning, crumby wood comb, self-destructive nails. I have been told that the crumbiness of the comb is not universal with Hohner Double Echo. Some tell me that they have seen none of it, and others tell me that they have seen it as bad or worse. Reportedly, there are nails inside Tombo 1521, though Tombo covers are screwed together in exemplary fashion. Regardless, with these three strikes, the writer cannot recommend this instrument, unless the very nice wooden-comb timbre is a strongly overriding desire.

Merano Double

Overall: A playable instrument, very inexpensive, and happily, not Richter.  Needs an unusually large amount of air.  The tremolo effect is almost absent, so best used for solo, not ensemble.  Good diaphragm exerciser!

Price: $9.95 U.S. plus shipping from this page at Fishlips3.com.

Keys: This instrument is double-sided, meaning it is really two harmonicas in one, one of each key. It is available only in C and G.

Size: 16-tone (sixteen notes) per side.

Box: Weak paperboard box. Must be replaced more or less immediately.

Physicality: Good plastic comb, looks like it will take heavy use. Good sheet metal covers available in many different colors. Instrument is held together with screws, which is surprising in a double, and in such a low-cost instrument too. Overall feel is acceptably strong, but definitely squashable: I would wonder about ruination (perhaps a hammer and anvil could effect a crude and unaesthetic emergency fix) if I accidentally sat on this instrument on a moderately soft sofa. However, the instrument is sufficiently inexpensive that concern is minimal. If appearances are any indication, the squashability actually appears to be somewhat less than Hohner Double Echo. The reedplates are nice-looking brass.  I have been tempted to send this to a custom shop with a substantial dollar maximum and instructions to "see what you can do"; I suspect the results would be immensely interesting.

Tone & Tuning: The tuning is nice and precise, and it is solo-tuned.  But the tremolo off-tuning is not very present, and there is a major deficit in volume: if I attempted to deliver the same ordinary volume range on this instrument as is the norm on any of my other instruments, I would be demanding an enormous amount of air from myself, and I would expect to damage reeds over time. But it is solo-tuned, and the instrument generally works rather nicely, and so this instrument becomes very useful for a new learner, partly because it will help build a new player's air-delivery capability, and also because it is an inexpensive double, with the two keys being present.

Downsides:  Relatively low volume and minimal-to-zero tremolosity. But this writer has given two of these away to new learners, and they have been appreciated.

Mississippi Harmonica Co., by Regal

Overall: An acceptable instrument, quite inexpensive, and happily, not Richter.  Seems to be quite useful, although it does lose air.

Price: $7.97 U.S. plus shipping from this page at dreamproductscatalog.com and other general retailers.  It appears to be a very recent introduction to English-speaking markets.

Keys:  C only.

Size: 21-tone.

Box: Weak paperboard box. Must be replaced more or less immediately.

Physicality: Good plastic comb, looks like it will take heavy use. Good sheet metal covers. Instrument is held together with very satisfactory brass screws and decorative nuts. Overall feel is very strong, more so than Tombo 3121. The reedplates are nice-looking brass.  

Tone & Tuning: The tuning is nice and precise, and it is solo-tuned, with no deficit in volume.  The tremolo off-tuning is barely there, less than Tombo 1521.   The comb and reedplates are extremely well-designed, such that every single note in the instrument can be reached and produced without the slightest squeak or concern for lip-precision.  

Downsides: Single-key availability, and lower volume than most, due to air loss.