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I just received this totally awesome MAHARAJA MUSICALS HARMONIUM NO. 43 - A440, 42 KEYS, 9 STOP, KAIL WOOD, 3.5 OCTAVES, COUPLER, MULTI-FOLD BELLOW, DARK MAHOGANY.
When I got it out of its packaging and eagerly started playing, there was a note that constantly rang out when air was in the bellows. BUT KEEP READING, THIS STORY HAS A HAPPY ENDING! It also didn't play well, on the higher octaves, just seemed like the bellows were lame, arrested or the air was leaking or not even going in at all. This scared me, thinking the instrument was bad.
Then I took a second look; bringing my eyes to keyboard level I discovered one key was lower than all the others. So I pushed it up to level, and the note stopped playing. With the bellows full again, the sound was back, key lowered once more. To make a long story short, with a gentle push on the corresponding reed (from up top) all problems were solved. And permanently so! The reed(s) connected to this particular note must have moved during transport, and no wonder with a 10,000 mile journey!
Now the actual trial run could begin, which ended with the harmonium deemed satisfactory. Within a later session this day (today), I fell in love with the tonal quality, and with the way it holds the air - long, really long. The notes play out strong and very gentle, and the entire body vibrates in a comforting way. So you actually feel the music with your sense of touch, hear it with your ears and appreciate it in your heart.
The color of the wood (stain?) is also exceptionally deep, almost burgundy undertone. Absolutely beautiful.
I have another standard harmonium made of Teak wood (very pricey way back when already), and I now purposely bought one made of Indian cedar (forgot exact name of wood). My point here is that I probably already prefer this Maharaja one! There is something so gentle about its sound that I am already drawn to playing with more devotion (will be used for chanting before meditation for personal practice and group retreats).
Another feature I much appreciate with this Mahraja harmonium is the soft edges of the black keys, and it's a real treat to play on this keyboard. The black keys of my other one feels somewhat sharp on the fingers.
Last but not least, good price and exceptionally fast shipping. I can only recommend this instrument, at least for folks who use it to accompany devotional chanting.