Hello, Ed:   That's correct. When every player is tuned to A=440, your A=440 harp will fit like a glove. When the group's other players' instruments are not A=440, perceptive ears will hear a sound similar to playing an Asian tremolo harp. My ears are not perceptive. They are deceptive, not receptive. Maybe I should hire a detective ..read more

John, When the piano or other players I am with are tuned to A440, everything works perfectly ..read more

Hello, Ed: Factory pitched A=440 tuning is no problem when you are a soloist without accompaniment. Age: My Swan 1248 was a #5 or earlier. It had straight reed placement ("Knittlinger System"). Knittlinger system harps have all of the reeds of a major scale on one reed plate. On a slide harp, the lower reed plate has another major scale, slide in, a half step higher. JB ..read more

Quote from: John Broecker on Today at 01:09:14 AM Hello, Age. My Swan 1248 was won in a prize drawing circa 2000 or earlier. It was not a production #5 or #6. I don't know it's production number, but it was earlier than #5 or #6. JB If it's straight tuned, it's a -5 or less.  I'm pretty sure the -6 and -7 were all cross tuned. I bought two -5 fourteen hole, straight tuned Swans anout twenty years ago and was completely disappointed. Sand man's calling ..read more

440 works fine as long as you don't load the reeds when you play ..read more

I tune my harmonicas for A440 as I am playing them. I don't bother with any seat of the pants guess about starting at 442 and then having the pitch come down to 440 as I play. Other people can play that game ..read more

Hello, Age. My Swan 1248 was won in a prize drawing circa 2000 or earlier. It was not a production #5 or #6. I don't know it's production number, but it was earlier than #5 or #6. JB ..read more

Quote from: Ed McCullough on Today at 12:54:00 AM I know that other harmonica players use the 442 tuning that comes out of the factory, but. . . . . . do not get together with other harmonica players. Join us on Zoom next Thursday ..read more

John, Over the years, Swan sent me four 1248's and all of them were either .442 or 443. Is your Swan a 1248-6 or -5 ..read more

All I know about silver mouthpieces is that I really like them. I have an old 270 with what looks to be a solid silver mouth piece, and also on a Suzuki Serious 14 holer and both are excellent.  ..read more