Harp players: which harmonica?

[FraKo]

Curiosity: which model do you play, and why?

[vjf1968]

Hohner Special 20. The reeds are more sturdier but after a little bit of playing they loosen up. Stay away from the Blues Harps, the reeds are way too thin and blow out quickly.

[FraKo]

Originally Posted by vjf1968

Hohner Special 20. The reeds are more sturdier but after a little bit of playing they loosen up. Stay away from the Blues Harps, the reeds are way too thin and blow out quickly.

Thanks, but as they're both MS instrument don't they mount the same reeds?

[Tdot]

Originally Posted by FraKo

Thanks, but as they're both MS instrument don't they mount the same reeds?

Special 20 isn't part of the MS System.

I'm new to harps but started with a Special 20. And a local store was having a clearance sale so I bought their last two harps, Marine Band in A, and E.

[skydawg]

Originally Posted by vjf1968

Hohner Special 20. The reeds are more sturdier but after a little bit of playing they loosen up. Stay away from the Blues Harps, the reeds are way too thin and blow out quickly.

This mimics my experience exactly. Special 20's are my harp now. The Blues Harp sounds better out of the box, but just doesn't last. Marine Bands are OK I just prefer the Sp 20. For a couple years I was getting the Golden Melody and had fairly good luck with them. Bushman harps are very good but a bit pricier. Lee Oskars are the same deal. I read where James Cotton buys Marine Bands by the case.

[wetland10]

Originally Posted by skydawg

This mimics my experience exactly. Special 20's are my harp now. The Blues Harp sounds better out of the box, but just doesn't last. Marine Bands are OK I just prefer the Sp 20. For a couple years I was getting the Golden Melody and had fairly good luck with them. Bushman harps are very good but a bit pricier. Lee Oskars are the same deal. I read where James Cotton buys Marine Bands by the case.

I have been playing harmonica for 10 years. I use either Suzuki Harpmasters or Bushman Delta Frosts. They are very similar, if not the same, and the Harpmaster costs about the same as a Special 20. I think it is a much superior harmonica. They play louder, bend easier, take less air to create sound, holdup for many gigs, and are overall easier to play.

Wayne

[Doug Ferguson]

I've used several different makes and models over the years, Marine Band, mostly -- though I currnetly don't have one. Right now it's:

Honer Blues Harp "E" So-so sound and quality.

Honer Big River Harp "D" -A little better than the Blues Harp.

Lee Oskar "G" -Always wanted a Lee Oskar and a few years ago had the money to get one. They sound great, but this one's tough to play. Takes a lot of lung power to pull and push those big reed holes!

Folk Master "C" -Nice all-around harp.

Do you play, or are you thinking of taking it up?

[monfoodoo]

When i used to play,i only used the Golden Melody.Good feel and sound.

[Tony]

I only used Marine Band. That was all that was ever recommended. In retrospect, I would suggest any harp that doesn't have a wooden "comb". They swell and cut your lips. Get one with a plastic comb.

[reverbbb]

Originally Posted by monfoodoo

When i used to play,i only used the Golden Melody.Good feel and sound.

I used Golden Melody myself. Unfortunately, after owning them for 20~25 years and playing infrequently, I came to realize that they were performing like crap and needed replacement. However, I sometimes use a neck harness so that I can keep my hands free and blow whilst playing geetar. The shape of the Golden Melody is not optomised for these contraptions. Therefore, I have recently began renewing my collection to Special 20s. I bought one Eb Blue Harp and was fairly disappointed after playing the Special 20.

Back in the late 80s, early 90s many serious harp players were exclusively Lee Oskar. Often they used minor harps as opposed to diatonic types that Hohner makes.

[Jeff Mason]

I started with the Blues Harp, but as someone pointed out..the wood can swell making playing a bit uncomfortable. I now use Hohner Pro-Harps & find them ok. They also last a while under hard use.

[Mojohand40]

I prefer Special 20's for all the reasons stated.

Golden Melody's are nice BUT the are equal tempered tuned. This is why they are diff from the other Hohners. Great for playing first position (or "straight harp" as some call it) or third postition. Not great for cross harp (or blues harp as some call it). Can sound a little harsh for this.

Lee Oskars are also equal tempered tuned (but are really well made and sound good). Again, this is why sometimes people say Lee Oskars are harsh.


Hohner Big River harps are a bargain. Useally a little micropore tape and some quick filing can make these sweet!!
But to me, for common available- out of the box-playability, I vote Special 20.

It occurs to me that some might not know about micropore tape etc.
here is a good link I just found:
http://www.harmonicasessions.com/oct04/h-workbench.html

[Califiddler]

I have used Special 20s for a long time. They have a nice, "folksy" sound, they bend easily enough, and they last a pretty long time. I tried a Lee Oskar and didn't care for it. It didn't have the "folksy" tone (I think this is because of the equal temperament) and it was hard to get a good sound out of the #2 draw, which is the most important note as it's the tonic when you're playing cross harp.

After reading some of the comments here and elsewhere, I'm interested in the Suzuki Harpmaster. They're hard to find. None of the major online music retailers that I tried had them. Where do you get them?

[wetland10]

Originally Posted by Califiddler

I have used Special 20s for a long time. They have a nice, "folksy" sound, they bend easily enough, and they last a pretty long time. I tried a Lee Oskar and didn't care for it. It didn't have the "folksy" tone (I think this is because of the equal temperament) and it was hard to get a good sound out of the #2 draw, which is the most important note as it's the tonic when you're playing cross harp.

After reading some of the comments here and elsewhere, I'm interested in the Suzuki Harpmaster. They're hard to find. None of the major online music retailers that I tried had them. Where do you get them?

You can get a Harpmaster at:

http://www.harmonicasandstuff.com

Or

http://www.coast2coastmusic.com

Both are quite reputable and are "major online music stores" in the harmonica world.

Wayne

[reverbbb]

Wow. There are a lot more choices in harps than I ever knew about.

I once had a Suzuki Bandmaster. I liked it, but I gave it to a friend.

I also bought a couple of those Hohner Meisterklasse at a Dallas Guitar show. They were a great price at the show. VERY solid and feel outstanding in workmanship. Unfortunately, I find them a little harder to bend the notes.

[monfoodoo]

plus on the Special 20.Always a few in my case.also had an original green bullet that i found (back in late 70's) in the rear storage of an old electronics store in down town Balto.Somehow it got lost in the shuffle when i moved to Colo in the 80,s.Miss that mic.

[numeric]

I've got a Lee Oskar in C. I'm not very good yet, but I can still carry a tune (provided it's a light one)

[freshmattyp]

I play Lee Oskar's. IMO, they are head and shoulders above anything else.

[Califiddler]

Thanks, wetland10!

[BellyBoy]

I started with Marine Band's but switched to Lee Oskars.... they last a long time and if you blow a reed you can get replacement reeds and just put them in.... saves a ton of money in the long run!

[skydawg]

Originally Posted by FraKo

Curiosity: which model do you play, and why?

Here's another online store to check out FraKo: http://www.bushmanmusic.com/

And here's a source for free online lessons: http://www.harmonicalessons.com/

[reverbbb]

I used to alwayws wash the spit out of mine BEFORE I played. However, it makes more since to wash it out AFTER - but who ever thinks of that?

But recently, a harp player told me to NEVER get the harps wet, even if they are plastic combs.

Any opinions on that?

[Tdot]

Originally Posted by reverbbb

I used to alwayws wash the spit out of mine BEFORE I played. However, it makes more since to wash it out AFTER - but who ever thinks of that?

But recently, a harp player told me to NEVER get the harps wet, even if they are plastic combs.

Any opinions on that?

I read that the old time players used to soak the whole harmonica in water (or whiskey) before playing, to make the wood swell and get a better air seal.

[Tdot]

If you haven't found this guy on Youtube yet, take a look through his 100+ videos of different harp amp/mic demos.