[Daren]

Thanks for all your thoughts and suggestions Alan and Kevin, really helpful. I’ve added a couple more – feel free to add more when you think of them! I’m considering providing a link in the melodica description to another page called ‘review criteria’

Here’s the list so far:
Air tightness
moisture release valve design
key size
key depth
keyboard action
keyboard evenness
quality of build
weight
colour
factory tuning
tuning stability
reed response
reed strength
reed moisture tolerance
volume
air efficiency
hand strap
tube
mouthpiece(s)
case
looks/image
tone
evenness of tone
number of keys (listed in description).

Alan – have you tried a Clavietta? The tone is really very similar to a chromatic harmonica…