Paloma Scale-Changer Foldable
Scale-changer foldable from Paloma is ideal for experienced musicians, who seek a top quality instrument with all extras and the largest range of functional possibilities for use in all kinds of different contexts. Our best scale-changer model!
Superior workmanship makes this our top-of-the-line harmonium. The whole keyboard of three octaves can be shifted in half note steps from g sharp up to e (scale-changer) - which makes transposing child's play! Each note is fitted with three reeds in high, middle and low octave (female / male / bass). They can be played separately or in various combinations, giving many different tonal colours. When using the octave coupler up to six reeds can be played simultaneously with just one key, creating a particularly powerful, rich and carrying sound. However, the more reeds are used the more air needs to be pumped with the bellows. The multifold side bellows give you all possibilities of using air supply for dynamic artistic expression. The level height of the keys can be adjusted. The instrument can be folded into an integrated wooden case for safe carrying with one hand and storage at home. A special Paloma feature is the surface treatment with wax in order to enhance the beauty of the natural wood veining.
"BONUS: One month free online access to comprehensive harmonium teaching material at the Bhakti Breakfast Club with harmonium purchase!" - more info here!
Sound sample Paloma Scale-Changer
- complete melodic range with all three registers
- three-note chords in middle range
- complete melodic range with all three registers without cover (jali)
Total range of 3 3/4 octaves (= 45 notes), moveable keyboard of three octaves (= 37 notes), triple reeds
(female / male / bass), four register stops, five drone stops, lower octave coupler, 5-fold side bellows, adjustable keys, cabinet made of dark stained teak wood, wedges for easy opening, surfaces wax treated, integrated wooden case, including cover.
PALOMA is the international brand name for instruments by Haribhau Vishwanath from Mumbai (formerly Bombay). Haribhau Vishwanath was founded in 1925 as a small repair shop. Today Paloma is an international top brand for harmoniums. This is due to successful innovations such as the Compactina and Maestro models and unique quality standards. Working techniques and tools have been permanently developed further over decades. Under the direction of Ashish Diwane, Haribhau Vishwanath in 2018 was the first Indian instrument maker to integrate a computer-controlled CNC milling machine into the traditional handcrafted manufacturing process, in order to get consistent precision in the production of essential components.
Apart from harmoniums, Haribhau Vishwanath also manufactures shrutiboxes, santoors, swarmandals and some drums. In addition, the company is active in the instrument trade and procures some rarely needed instruments for which direct purchase from the manufacturer would not be worthwhile. Haribhau Vishwanath has been a partner of India Instruments since 2005.
In India, our harmoniums are tuned to international concert pitch of a = 440 hertz. In Europe, however, they usually sound slightly higher at a = 441 to 442 Hertz due to the colder climate. The difference is small and not necessarily noticeable even to trained ears.
We do not offer manual set-up of other tunings for harmoniums with 3 sets of reeds - the extremely sensitive reeds in the highest register can too easily be damaged beyond repair.
NOTE:
Air temperature and blowing pressure influence the vibration frequency of harmonium reeds. At higher temperature and higher pressure, it decreases; at lower temperature, it increases. In our workshop in Berlin we tune at room temperature around 20 degrees Celsius.
Measure (folded): height 19 cm, width 61 cm, depth 36 cm, weight: 17 kg
Each instrument is individually hand-crafted and might differ from our description.
