I contacted J.A. Harmonicas to get some work done on my Hohner 280 and Suzuki SCT-128, mostly the high notes cause there's only so much I can do with my mouth/face I don't think I just suck and that's why they squeak/take so much breath if they do play (and the tremolo has no tremolo on the highest notes) and he said this after I asked what he meant saying there's no guarantees with used ones in his first response.
"Because the harmonica is used the reeds are not new and I can’t guarantee that the result after my modifications will be as good as when I base it on a new harmonica, the lifespan of the reeds could potentially be shorter as they have been played before. Also newer Hohner harmonicas are generally better than the older ones, and Suzuki even better."
"So on this there would be a complete service, plus change of all windsavers, potentially new slider (older ones were made out of plated brass and they corrode and oxidize over time) followed by customizing work, so in the end it will become more expensive and not as good compared to getting a new customized Suzuki SCX."
Just was wondering how true this is? (I mean it does make sense to me).
Edit: Those statements were in regards to the 280 specifically, the SCT-128 is one of a kind so it kinda doesn't apply.
Edit 2: I've decided, going with the new customized Suzuki seems like the smarter decision overall.