Which Gives Best Tone 16 hole or 12 Seydel Symphony Kettlewell Chromatic Harmonica

It has been a debate for many decades amongst players of chromatic harmonica...does in fact the larger 16 hole instrument provide the best tone? How does a 16 holer compare to an Orchestra Tuned 12 holer (what you get if you tape off the first 2 and last two holes on a 16 holer)? And what about a 12 hole C Solo tuned? Which sounds best...if one does? Why?
We test all 3...each a superb customized harp: Seydel Symphony 16 ALU , or the Seydel Symphony 48 orchestra tuned...or the Seydel Symphony 48 C Solo tuned. ALL harps fitted with Kettlewell Frictionless Mouthpiece Blue Cool Ice Slider and ERGO button.
The premise goes something like this...a grand piano sounds better than a baby grand because it has more strings and they humm and create overtones which make the sound more complex, which we perceive as richer and more beautiful tone.
In like manner, then, do the unplayed notes of a 16 holer create a superior tone to smaller harps of the same type? Then how about orchestra tuning?
Yes, there are likely several factors...the total mass of the instrument, the 16 having greater mass, but the reeds themselves make a difference as is shown when one compares a 12 hole C Solo tuned harp with an Orchestra Tuned harp. One could even consider the reedplate itself as a sort of MEGA Reed...with its output affected by the mix of reeds on it. My guess is the effect seen here is the result of many factors, not necessarily all equal in importance.
I'm guessing we will discuss this for some time. I'm interested in your views.
YES...ALL ARE tested here, thanks to David Deibel, see his harps customized by Kettlewell with airtightening if needed, Sliders, and ERGO buttons at MASTERSOFHARMONICA.COM

(All these harps are wonderful, but perhaps some are more complex. See what you think.)

David's website with many videos and articles is MASTERSOFHARMONICA.COM

His book LOVE OF CHROMATIC HARMONICA...TECHNIQUES AND ADVICE FROM THE WORLD'S BEST! is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

David's Facebook Groups you'll enjoy are...LOVE OF CHROMATIC HARMONICA...CHROMATIC HARMONICAS...CHROMATIC HARMONICA REPAIR...CHROMATIC HARMONICA CUSTOMIZATIONS...CHROMATIC HARMONICA REVIEWS...JAZZCATS...BEAUTIFUL MUSIC ON CHROMATIC HARMONICA...and MASTERS OF HARMONICA.

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