JDR Assassin is the top diatonic model in the JDR line. I do not know how they achieved this, but I actually switched from custom German harmonicas (over each of which I spent 10 hours sitting under a microscope and removing air loss) to factory Assassins. All overblow and overdraw are easy available and controllable out of the box, the bend are easy. I'm not going to lie - I'm doing some easy setup to my taste, but it doesn't take more than half an hour now. I haven't fixed any gaps in most of my Assassins, I haven't made any embossings or tuning, and I've already played several concerts on them. Moreover, I tried to make a full custom on the Assassin - I embossed it completely (although there is almost nothing to emboss, literally in some places), polished the reedplate, sealed the covers. In general, I did everything that I did on the Germans - I’ve found a certain increase in response (10-15 percent subjectively), but I like the sound without customization more so I made a strong-willed decision that I didn't want to do this nonsense customizing anymore and would play Assassins out of the box.

I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of harmonicas.. Tremolo, Diatonic, Chromatic.. interesting spins and edits on reliable platforms from various brands. I play a better diatonic 10 hole than I can with the others but I love the chromatics too. When I saw and heard some of what the Trochilus can do, a diatonic with the slide of a chromatic with the ability to bend and overblow I was floored.. so I picked one up. The blue richter tuned model- in the key of G. My goodness this is a nicely weighted, nicely built, airtight and small enough for a pocket, instrument. A new favorite after playing for just about 1/2 hour. The case it comes with is similar to an eyeglass case, with a soft covering and spring steel 'snap' when you close it. If you enjoy quality sound in a small package, versatility, and good value for your money then I think you might want to give this a try. A Beginner should be able to learn and play this well- holes are of good size and it doesn't require a lot of force to make sound. The comb is plastic but the body is metal and the slide and mouthpiece is metal. Switch works smoothly with a bit of a damper to keep it from clicking.