Melodica, 37 Key Wind Musical Instrument Ergonomic Design Blowpipe Melodica with Bag F37s(black)

I don't even remember what got me started on melodicas, or melodions, but they're my latest thing. I think it was a YouTube video by a melodion virtuoso comparing his $3000 antique italian instrument with the cheapest one he could find on Amazon. I didn't want to get the cheapest, though, and bought a 37 key instrument because I knew from previous electronic keyboards that there's no such thing as having too many keys, and the cheapest ones have just 32 keys. I don't regret this - the instrument actually has a separate wind chamber for the upper register, which allows high notes and bass notes to be played simultaneously, so I think it is objectively superior to the cheapest ones.Based on the videos, it's all about technique when it comes to the melodica. Just like it is with the recorder. These are instruments traditionally given to children because they are simple to get started on, but in both cases the sound you get out of them is more about the musician than the instrument. I'm an adult, but clearly I missed this part of childhood. Anyway, you won't sound like a viruoso at first, because you won't be one, if this is your first instrument. But there's a lot of instruction out there, to get you going in the right direction.Just one small nit to pick: I picked this particular instrument because in the pictures, its all black - black little keys over black big keys, on a black body. And when I opened the case, what I saw, in bright white ink on the top of that black body, was "Xiaoyun Supersolo 37 Melodica". Which took a great deal away from the instrument, in my eyes. But ten minutes with a paper towel and some toothpaste took care of that - no sign of anything but black, now. This is something I learned when I worked one Christmas season for Nintendo, "refubishing" returned NES store returns. A little buffing compound and rubbing alcohol will make anything made of ABS plastic look like new. The rubbing alcohol is for dirt and grime, while the buffing compound is for scratches and tough dirt. And this is made of ABS. And toothpaste is mostly buffing compound. Sorry, I didn't take before/after pictures, but I promise you, if you buy this instrument that stark white branding is going to bug you, at least a little. And it looks a whole lot more professional without it. Even when it's in a case that says "Kongsheng" on it. Which is hilarious since it doesn't even match the branding on the instrument!

The product photos make you think what you're getting is a solid black melodica with no logos, which is what I really wanted. Instead it has a Chinese logo in white on the body of the melodica and on the case. This is not what i wanted at all.. Plus, one of the keys sticks up higher than the surrounding keys. I couldn't get a good photo. On the bright side, the notes sound great.

I got this as an intro to melodica. It really plays well and is a legit instrument on its own.