Patrick Barker
3 posts
Feb 17, 2008
8:57 PM
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I've been experimenting with harmonica's to see which one I like the best. I know Adam prefers the marine band, but I thought it would be interesting to see other people's opinions as well. So far I've tried the hohner pro harp, marine band, and special 20. I like the marine band and the special 20 similarly, except I'd have to give my vote to the special 20 only because its easier to take apart and put together again and because the wood comb on the marine band is slightly annoying when it swells up after too much play. I think I'm going to try a Lee Oskar next, just to compare it to my existing harmonicas. If anyone else has any recomendations, please post them.
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oldwailer
2 posts
Feb 17, 2008
9:29 PM
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Hi,
I've tried several--my budget (wife) prevents me from trying them all--I have kind of settled on the special 20--but they usually need a little work to not cut my tender little lips. The Big Rivers are a few bucks cheaper and they are very good, in my experience. I went heavily for Bushmans Delta Frost a while back--easy on the lips--beard safe--bend great right out of the box--kick ass sound, but probably a little less loud than the special 20--but they keep jamming up on me and I've had one flat out on the 4 draw within just a couple months--So I'm back to 20's and Big Rivers because they last better and don't jam as much. I have a couple of Tombos that play great--but they have these hole numbers embossed into the mouthpiece deep enough to be read by Braille and the edges of the covers need a lot of work to smoothe them out. That isn't really much of a problem (to fix the cover edges)--but it bugs me when I paid a premium price for the thing and I don't think even Stevie Wonder can read braille with his lips--so why wear my lips out on the damn numbers?
One Tombo I have is an Am tuned and is really cool for songs like Summertime without doing anything fancy at all. I don't think it's possible to play an Am harp in cross position without playing Summertime--it just happens.
A Marine Band SBS (14 holes) is fun--I have one in F--so it starts out in low F at the bottom and then starts over on hole 5 as a regular F harp--great for Shortnin Bread type stuff.
Of course I also have a Marine Band 12-holer in low C--just to mess around with Sonny Boy II's "Bye Bye Bird" which is one of my favorite all time harp songs.
I'm rattling on too long here--but it's really your fault--you got me started on one of my favorite subjects. . .
Oldwailer
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birdman
3 posts
Feb 18, 2008
4:29 AM
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ilike the bluesharp 2nd choice is the pro harp and my 3rd choice would be marine band
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Jeff
6 posts
Feb 18, 2008
9:21 AM
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As far as stock harmonicas go:
1. Delta Frost
2. Seydel 1847
3. Firebreath
Once you try a custom Marine Band, you'll never go back. ; )
The Delta Frosts are the closest I've found to the responsiveness and volume of a custom harp though. I personally think they're the most bang for your buck if you're looking at harps under $40-50. Mine have lasted a long time also because of the Phosphor Bronze reeds. They last 5-6 times as long as my MB's.
Last Edited by on Feb 25, 2008 8:12 AM
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harpestry
5 posts
Feb 18, 2008
9:49 AM
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Yep, I primarily play the Delta Frost and Golden Melodies. Delta Frosts because the are really easy to play and durable, and the Golden Melody for overblowing. I never tried the Marine Band Deluxe, but I've heard a lot of good things about them. I've heard the Firebreath is a good harp too, but it along with the Marine Band Deluxe are kind of pricey. How do these two harps compare to a custom harp? Anybody know? I've never owned a custom either.
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Jeff
7 posts
Feb 18, 2008
9:56 AM
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The Firebreath is more responsive and loud than the MB Deluxe. But that's why it's more expensive also. It's of the most unique harps as it's setup for overblows right out of the box; not a thing any other harp manufacture can boast.
But unlike the Delta Frost or the Suzuki's, the MB Deluxe doesn't have the slightly brassy tone and has a tuning closer to just-intonation (most blues will sound better on a Hohner). It maintains the deep warm rich tone of a MB. It's actually *better* than one of my custom MB's (a Dude Harp). But a wood combed Seydel is better than even the MB Deluxe or Dude Harp.
The main thing is that you can get custom harps for about the same price ($60) that blow all of the harps mentioned. Check out Genesisharmonicas.net. They're making custom harps for Jason Ricci and do a hell of a job for an outstanding price ($60-90).
When you're paying over $50 for a harp, don't even mess around with the Suzuki's or MBDeluxe. Just get a custom harmonica. It's nothing against the Suzuki's - they're awesome quality. But a good custom harmonica is always going to be better than a manufactured one. And if you're paying the same price, why not get a custom???
Last Edited by on Apr 08, 2008 9:23 AM
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harpestry
6 posts
Feb 18, 2008
10:05 AM
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I was on Genesisharmonica.net this morning. I think this is Paul Butterfield's son Gabriel who is building these harps. Paul Butterfield was the reason I started playing the harp. Have you tried one of his harps yet? If you get a moment join the Butterfield Society and vote for Paul's induction into the rock and roll hall of fame.
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Jeff
8 posts
Feb 18, 2008
10:16 AM
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I've tried a good friends harp from Genesis. And I've only seen stellar reviews on the net about their work along with Jason Ricci purchasing harps from them (who is ultra-picky when it comes to custom work). They're worth every penny considering they're about the same price as a Suzuki or Marine Band Deluxe.
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harpestry
7 posts
Feb 18, 2008
10:41 AM
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Thanks for the info!
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superchucker77
8 posts
Feb 18, 2008
2:03 PM
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I started out with a marine band. Next I got a set hohner peidmon's, which were pretty airy.My next har was a big river which I did not like because I was hard to bend. Next I got a special 20 and a golden melody. I like the was the golden melody plays but the cover plates are uncomfortable for me. They do not taper down enough to the front, which causes my lips to get tired quickly. I really liked the special 20 until the 5 draw reed died. My newest harp is a suzuki bluesmaster in D. This is one great harmonica. I is not quiet as warm as a special 20 but what it lacks in tone I make up for in playablity. I bends super easy and is very air tight. It is also the most comfortable harmonica that I have ever played. Very low mouth profile. I love this harp.
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BronxHarp
2 posts
Feb 19, 2008
7:39 PM
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I just find the traditional Marine Bands a lot harder to play than the Special 20s. Maybe there's a tonal difference but I can't tell, and why make practicing harder than it already it is? I like the one Lee Oskar (D) I have as well.
I know Adam disagrees. One day I'll probably wish I had listened to him, but for now ...
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missmymissy
1 post
Feb 19, 2008
10:37 PM
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When I started learning the Harp for myself six months ago I began using a Hohner Blues Band MS my dad gave me and a Pro Harp I bought subsequently there after.. Both are very similar as far as feel. The pro has the obvious black color which is cool and very sleek looking, although it does chip. I find that they are not as meaty as the Marine bands and to me, feel like it takes a bit more air to play and not as slim The ability to change the parts is a plus and it’s easy to take apart.
These days I have been using the marine band. Slim, with a rich meaty tone. They are known for being ruff on the lips which I have also found. (I recommend Blistex) They do swell during practice sessions after a while and a reed or two may get stuck when it finally dries out. I have started tongue blocking so I like the fact that it’s slim and fits better with in my mouth. The holes are smaller so it takes more subtle precise movement therefore not as forgiving. The Marine Band may not last due to the wood tweaking from the moisture and such, I love it. I play the hell out of it.
I bought a Golden Melody recently in the key of F and found it to be quite nice. I did however notice a buzz in the #1 hole at low air flow. May or may not be normal. I can’t tell. I think I may have been damaged in shipping. In any case this harp has an awesome rich tone. I love the classic look and curved shape. Slim thickness and round edges is user friendly. I’m going to pick up a few other keys at some point to try it out.
The Special 20 Hohner is a great harp. Really rich full bodied tone and plays loud! The plastic comb has the durability you need and is slim with larger holes. I think these are great beginners harp. I will probably buy another.
For now the primary harp of choice for me seems to be the Marine Band. I do like the Golden melody quite a bit though…and I might make the switch. I think if it was custom tuned and had some additional venting at the side like the Marine Band has it would sound even better……
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68Champ
3 posts
Feb 21, 2008
11:04 PM
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A vote for Turbolids from me. Whatever harp guts you stick in them, the 'lids give 'em a fatter sound. I'm sure this is due to the design itself, which increases the air-tightness and bell size of the harp. I have small paws, so I need every mechanical advantage I can get! :P
Now, if they made 'lids for my chrome and Koch harps....
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Jeff
10 posts
Feb 22, 2008
8:04 AM
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The thickness of the metal used in the coverplate has a LOT to do with the volume and tone of the harmonica. Generally, the thinner the coverplate, the more resonance you're going to produce. Hohner learned this one the hard way when they made the coverplate of the MB thicker directly after WWII in an attempt to produce a more durable and higher quality harp. The tone and volume went drastically downhill and they immediately made them with the thinner coverplates again.
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D.C.
1 post
Feb 22, 2008
8:07 AM
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For me the best harmonica period is the suzuki overdrive mr-300 it is so airtight and responsive...
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charlyharp
2 posts
Feb 24, 2008
12:26 PM
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Hello all. I play both hohner marine bands and hohner bluesharp. They are both good harmonicas, But the marine bands have a better sound. I have heard from many people that the suzukis pro are the best in the market. They are more expensive, but I don´t know if they are better or not. If there is someone out there that has tried them please tell us me about them, I want to know if they are as good as they say they are.
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Jeff
12 posts
Feb 25, 2008
8:11 AM
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Virtually *any* Suzuki is going to play better than a Hohner. Now I state this as a Hohner player; Hohners are some of the most inconsistent and leaky harps out there. It takes hours of customization on my end to get a stock Hohner to play anywhere near as good as a Suzuki or a Seydel. But I stick with some custom MB's because of the classic tone I get (and yes, the pure aesthetic value).
If you want to try a Suzuki I would recommend trying a Suzuki Firebreath or Pure Harp. They're on the pricey side, though. If on a budget, I would try a Suzuki Bluesmaster. Most players on the different harp boards all agree this is the most bang for your buck if you want to spend less than $25 (they're $18).
You'll just start laughing out loud when you return back to a stock Hohner Blues Harp. The Hohners are almost a cruel joke when comparing it to the Bluesmaster. If you don't believe me, simply read the dozens of reviews on any harp site like Coast2Coast Music. And compare them to the reviews of a Blues Harp or stock MB. The Bluesmasters last a long time too.
BTW, if you like the Marine Band, try the Seydel Soloist Pro. It's a new sealed wood harp that blows the doors off the Marine Band Deluxe. It's the first manufactured harp that has tip scooping and many other features only found in a custom harp. They sound like a MB but have a much thicker tone and are infinitely louder and more responsive. And best of all, they're only $35.
I plan on customizing the Soloist Pro's from now on once my custom MB's blow. They have the same comb and reedplates as the Seydel 1847 which is a $90 harmonica and the recent rave on the pro circuit. If you go to Seydel1847.com you'll see that Charles Musselwhite, Howard Levy, Mark Hummel among a ton of other key names all play Seydel 1847's now. The Soloist Pro is a wonderful cheaper alternative.
Last Edited by on Feb 25, 2008 2:18 PM
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bluesnut
2 posts
Feb 29, 2008
12:32 AM
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Re: Marine bands that hard on the mouth. I like the sound so I used 600 grit wet sandpaper(with no water) to smooth out the rough edges because they were cutting my iner lip. I sanded at the metal all along the top and the and the bottom of the sound holes and select parts of the reed covers. Where ever my lips slide across somthing sharp, I sanded. Then rounded the wood and the metal at the corners at the one hole and the 10 hole. Now it is closer to the feel of the special 20's I have. 10 min max. Now I have question, what is the best method to get the 4draw on a marine band that works fine, then the next time I use it I may have to draw very hard or I suck air with no note?
Hey Adam love the forum. signed 101 days to go
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genesis
1 post
Mar 02, 2008
7:12 PM
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WHOA!!
My name is Randy. Genesis Harmonicas is my venture. I want to clear something up. Jasson Ricci has not purchased harps from me. I offered him free harps to try out. As of yet he has not even seen them. You are right about him being picky about his choice of harps. He wont endorse just any harp. He is a staunch user of Joe Spiers and Brad Harrisons fantastic harps. I hope this clears this up.
By mentioning him at my site, it was not my intention to imply endorsement. I should have engaged the brain before typing. My apologies for any confusion. Randy
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Bruce Valley
2 posts
Mar 02, 2008
7:32 PM
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I'd always played Marine Bands and Special 20s. After having come across Adam's site and videos, I thought I'd try a few different brands and models.
I picked up a Big River. It sounded good right out of the box, loud and brassy. You really can't go wrong with a Hohner.
I picked up a pair of Delta Frosts. The sound is definitely different, a little softer perhaps, but very sweet and very smooth. It certainly feels better on your lips, and seems to be more mustache-friendly.
I have a Lee Oskar and a Golden melody on the way and I'm looking forward to trying them.
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Jeff
15 posts
Mar 03, 2008
8:52 AM
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Eddy, how does the Seydel Favorite Black's tone compare to the Soloist Pro? I love the Soloist Pro's warm Marine Band-like tone. But I've heard the stainless steel reeds give a brighter tone. Is that true?
And is the Favorite a bit more more responsive and air-tight not having a wood comb? I'm just curious as to why the Favorite is twice the price as the Soloist Pro. Thanks.
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Harmonica Slim
7 posts
Mar 03, 2008
12:35 PM
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My choise would be the SP 20 and I'm using them with the Turbo lid covers mainly because they are so easy to dismantle when it's time to tune. This is my main complaint verses Hohner, every time you buy a harp you need to work it for some time to make it sound good. The harps that are tuned in a higher key (D and up) seems to work better but they all need tweekin'. One thing to remember tough is that if you want to use your harp for playing in first, second and third position you will have to compromise. I use one harp for second and third and another for first position playing and that works for me.
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superchucker77
17 posts
Mar 03, 2008
4:19 PM
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Suzuki Bluesmaster.I have one in D and It bends like a dream. Any comments?
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Peter757
9 posts
Mar 04, 2008
12:57 PM
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Always interesting to read comments about different types of harmonicas. As a beginning harmonica player, the thought of needing to adjust and manipulate my harmonica "off the shelf" to get proper playability is not a nice thought. Even though Adam did a great you tube lesson on it, I still wouldn't know how to properly adjust.
I'm just looking for a harp that has great tone and more importantly, "beginner friendly" (particularly when it comes to bends).
Thanks for the great posts.
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Jeff
18 posts
Mar 04, 2008
3:22 PM
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If that's the case, I would stick with a Suzuki or a Bushman (which is a customized Suzuki Harpmaster). A Bluesmaster, Delta Frost or Harpmaster would be perfect for a beginner. I wish I would have known this a long time ago and not have wasted hundreds of dollars on harps found at my local music store.
Yes, it's true most of the greats played Hohners back in the day. But that's all that was generally available. If you jump on Suzuki or Seydel's site, you'll see that everybody from James Cotton to Charles Musselwhite all endorse Suzuki and Seydels now. None of them play stock Hohners anymore.
You can also go to Coast2Coast's site and read all of the reviews of each harp. You'll see for yourself which are good and which aren't.
The Suzuki's are so easy to bend, one of my only criticisms of them is that they're *too* easy to bend. You have to have more precise control of your breath to not inadvertently bend them or bend them too far.
I haven't played a stock harp that is more durable and responsive than a Suzuki/Bushman. And they're the only company that actually backs it up with a month guarantee. If you could possibly blow one of the Phosphor Bronze reeds, they'll replace your harmonica for FREE.
Lee Oskars are just as durable. But they have a brassy almost shrilly tone and are not nearly as responsive, loud and warm sounding as the Suzuki or Seydels.
Last Edited by on Mar 04, 2008 3:52 PM
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Jeff
19 posts
Mar 04, 2008
11:15 PM
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I've written numerous bad reviews for C2C that have been published. Though I admit it takes up to two weeks for those to get put up. A positive one will be up in a day or so.
Harp-L is another great resource. I usually search for reviews on Harmonicaclub, Bushman and Harp-L. You can usually get a fairly balanced true perspective on products if you pull in all the different reviews of each board.
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NG
3 posts
Mar 06, 2008
2:29 PM
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Just received my first Seydel Solist Pro in the post last weekend and I absolutely love it. Sounds like a Marine Band but without the leakiness. My only criticism would be its not as great a fit in your mouth as a marine band. Especially if you play with a microphone.
I wondered, has anyone tried to sand and varnish the front of a marine band comb to make it more like the Seydel wood combs? And also, are they consistently good in every key?
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Homebrewer
Guest
Mar 10, 2008
10:03 AM
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Great forum! Great site! I have been playing for 30+ years, done many many gigs, in lots of styles, from heavily amplified hard rock to classic Chicago blues electric bands. My favorite is playing acoustic with acoustic guitar, stand up bass, mandolins, washboard percussion, low amplification. It allows much more subtlety of each instrument and vocals to come through, and it doesn't become a volume or who can play more notes faster contest. That being said, playing acoustic, I often use Huang (I know, I know....but they are crisp and bright and sure they don't last and overblows are near impossible, but they are quick - but need a lot of attention). BigRivers are also bright and fast after touching them up. I have many Special 20s, a Bushman, a Hering and 2 Suzuki Bluesmasters are also in my gig box, and I have a GoldenMelody in most flavors. Love the Low and High tuned Hihners, use them a lot. And SBS 14holers. Excellent, but fat. I have extra harps for most keys - different reed tunings and settings, multiple tonal qualities for some keys that are frequent in the gigs. No custom harps....maybe someday. A lot of money.
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bluzlvr
16 posts
Mar 10, 2008
1:10 PM
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A few years ago I decided to pony up for a couple of custom harps and ordered a Marine Band in A and a Special 20 in C. I have to tell you that going from the out of the box M.B. to the custom M.B. is like getting out of a truck with no power steering and into a Ferrari.
Needless to say I don't woodshed on these harps, but just use them for special occasions.
I haven't tried Bushmans or Seydels yet, but I'm planning on ordering at least one of each. (I've got those "need to replace a couple of harps blues".......)
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DTmonk
Guest
Mar 16, 2008
5:17 AM
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my 2cents?
good harp!
i have had:
hohner--
MSpro C
MSblues harp C
marine band deluxe C
Lee Oskar--
Major C
personally i have found that the normal Hohners are usaly in need of adjustment.
The Lee oskar is larger and actually cumbersum at first with its wider holes and oftion grabs my mastash hairs on my top lip. but even so i still reckon this harp is better quality out of the box, over the standard Hohners.
My favoret is the Hohner {Marine band "Deluxe"}
personally, `if you hold and blow on the above deluxe and compare to the oskar, i feel blowen away by the size difference and power needed, the delux just needs small breath to explode, and size is noticeably smaller.
if your been unhapy with your harps regarding outOFbox qulity
then go for the mentioned deluxe Hohner or Lee Oskar. you will understand when Deluxe Version is in your hand why i'm totally in love with them.
if your new to harping, then i recommend the lee Oskar as the price is in the middle class and quality is with the best of them. the lee Oskare major C is a classic work horse .
the normal marine band hohner is preferd by those who are skilled at customizing there own harps and is not sealed inside the harp.
The deluxe version is already sealed inside and with some other benefits by default like channeled blow\draw cavity's. ect etc,,,,,
I practice with [Lee Oskar major C],
and save my Hohner [Marine Band Deluxe key C] for special times.
;-)
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Mochamud
12 posts
Mar 16, 2008
1:23 PM
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I like the golden melody but I can stand the plates sticking out, they don't bug me. I love the sound and ease you get. I wish it was warmer but...I'm happy
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BocomoJoe
4 posts
Mar 23, 2008
9:02 AM
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I use Lee Oskar diatonic harps. Good harp for the price. Tried a bunch of others and like these the best. They hold up well under heavy playing and frequent gigging. Nice tone and easy to bend. Easy to take apart and work on. I may try a Seydel someday down the road.
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ChipperHarp
7 posts
Apr 05, 2008
9:35 AM
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Been playing harp for 35 years and have tried quite a few. Back in the day, everyone used either Marine Band or Blues Harps. Me, I use the Special 20 as it is a nice sounding and plays consistently well. It's good out of the box though it seems to play better if you "break it in" a bit.
Lee Oskar is a good harp but is tuned differently. Also if you prefer to really wail, well LO has reeds that tend to stick.
Big Rivers I don't like as they are a big harp and I have a smallish mouth.
The Delta Frost is an awesome harp but still doesn't hold up as well as a Special 20.
I also tried the Hering Vintage 1923. Another good sounding harp that didn't hold up as well as a SP20.
By the way, the SP20 is the same as a Marine Band but with a plastice comb.
I have also talked with quite a few pro harp players. Cotton uses Marine Bands. Musselwhite uses "hard to get" wood comb Golden Melodies. James Montgomery uses Blues Harps. The list goes on. The bottom line is this: It is what YOU like and how you play. It is like a microphone. Some guys like a Green Bullet, others a JT30, others like Montgomery use a custom built mic and amp.
One other bottom line: A lot of harp players are disappointed with the present quality of the harps, esp. Hohner. It seems that Hohner is working on this.
As for prices, try Coast2coastmusic.com ($23.97) or musicians friend. The prices, due to the Euro rate are rising though which sucks enough on one harp and is really bad when purchasing a bunch.
All the best,
Chipper
www.myspace.com/chipperharp
Last Edited by on Apr 05, 2008 1:13 PM
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shaneboylan
10 posts
Apr 08, 2008
3:09 AM
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So far I've bought and played Tombo Folk Blues, Tombo LO, Hohner Bluesharp, HOhner SP 20, and Hohner MB.
I'm definitely a Hohner person thus far. The Tombo models are generally not pleasant for me to play. For me - it's a coin toss between the MB and the SP 20 - with the SP20 being more pleasant to play but the MB having an ever-so-slightly nicer sound.
I've yet to try the other newer brands like Suzuki and Bushman though. Has anyone ever played/ got anything to say about Hering?
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Jeff
32 posts
Apr 08, 2008
7:50 AM
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I have a couple Hering Vintage 23's. At first I was disappointed with them as they were much more leaky than I was expecting and have a gross musty taste when you play them for the first couple months. A few people on the boards mentioned that they were close to the quality of a pre-war MB or custom harp. I have many pre-wars and a few custom harps and this is NOWHERE near the truth.
But after some time I've grown to enjoy the harp particularly for foxchases and train songs. The just-intonation and double thick reedplates give it a massive full sound when playing chords. It's very beautiful to hear. But for quick single note playing, it has a very weak sound, the harp is not very responsive and takes a lot of breath force to get it to do what you want it to do. It also doesn't have the crunchy bends you can get on Marine Bands and Suzuki's.
And a major downer about this harp is that it blows reeds so easily because they're double-thick. I try to play with a soft breath to preserve them. But again, it's too leaky to even get good sounds when using a light breath.
I'd rather pick a more responsive harp and retune it to just-intonation myself as it's not that difficult. All of Seydel's models can come in just-intonation, also. And I think they're better harps all around.
Last Edited by on Apr 08, 2008 1:58 PM
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honeydawg
6 posts
Apr 08, 2008
10:47 AM
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What a great thread.
I thought I'd chime in regarding custom harmonicas. They come in varying degrees of customization; I hadn't heard of Genesis Harmonicas (thanks for that!), but as I understand it, the customization consists of a different, corian-made comb. No reedwork or other other tweaking (please correct me if I'm wrong!). So basically, you're getting a stock harmonica with a different comb. That in itself makes a difference; I think the combs can be made with better tolerances and can therefore be more airtight than a stock off-the-shelf harp (I have a couple of Mark Lavoie's maple wood combs on Big Rivers, and they do make an improvement).
A fully customized harmonica, such as made by the Filisko guild (Joe Filisko, Richard Sleigh, or Jimmy Gordon), Brad Harrison, Joe Spiers, Rupert Oysler, Tim Moyer, and some others (forgive me if I've forgotten somebody), is optimally gapped and tuned for your style of play, the reed profiles are worked, and various other adjustments are made. These harps are responsive up and down, they bend easily (to the point where you really have to be spot on with your bends), and they overblow/overdraw well (to the point where you can bend those overblows/draws expressively).
I have a few custom harps by various makers, and they are a joy to play. But at $100+ a pop I can't afford a whole batch of harps, and besides these guys are usually backed up on orders for months at a time. So I'm trying to learn what I can about working on them myself (the teach a man to fish approach).
And, as I understand it, Hohners are generally preferred by the customizers because they are easy to work on. I like Suzuki's harps, but the reeds are welded on (Hohner's are riveted) and therefore very difficult if not impossible to replace. All IMHO, YMMV.
At a minimum, you should learn how to tune your own harps.
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Jeff
33 posts
Apr 08, 2008
1:48 PM
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Honeydawg,
Ironically, Joe Spiers (Jason Ricci's personal fav and arguably the best customizer in the industry) stated last week on harp-l that he will no longer use or work on any post-war Marine Band reeds due to them limiting the quality of his work. He said he'll only be using Suzuki's long-slot reeds in the future. Apparently Suzuki themselves made him privy on how to replace and work with individual reeds:
http://harp-l.org/mailman/htdig/harp-l/2008-March/msg00881.html
Dave Payne also recently stopped using Marine Band reeds on his customs.
The only downside of Suzuki's harps is that you have to retune them to just-inontation yourself. But being Phosphor Bronze, they last forever and are so loud and responsive. And like you mentioned, everybody should learn how to tune a harp.
Oh and if you read the front page of Genesis's site, you'll see that Randy does the entire gamut of custom reed and coverplate work. The harp better have more than just a new comb if it's $120, lol.
Last Edited by on Apr 08, 2008 7:04 PM
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harpmonkey
7 posts
Apr 08, 2008
4:03 PM
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Greetings Oldwailer!
Can you tell me your experience, how you rate the playability and anything else you feel relevent to the 12 and 14 Hohner's?
I am looking for the lower and am a bit confused about the 364 and 365 MB. Hohner's site and other's anecdotes I have read disagree on the notation of the harps.
The 365 SBS is pretty clear on the notes, but I was wondering about the others.
(I posted here a topic called "Low Range Harps" listing the sites and info I have)
I am also considering the Seydel 12 hole Solist Pro, and have heard some recordings of them, so I have an idea of it's sound.
Thanks in advance.
Harpmonkey
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oldwailer
21 posts
Apr 09, 2008
5:50 PM
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Hi Harpmonkey!
I tried to post a direct answer to the question that you sent to me on YT--but the thing wouldn't post--at least it didn't seem to--I hope you didn't get 27 copies of the same crap.
Anyway--I didn't really see what your question was until I checked here anyway.
The 12-holer Low C plays great--its a Marine Band with an open back. I have the kind that are just normal tuning on the bottom end--I love it so much I bought a back-up one.
Same with the SBS--plays well and I love the wood combs now that I have learned to clean them with Gordon's London Dry Gin--plastic combs just don't hold the flavor for very long :).
I also have a low F Tombo--I guess I like it OK but I will always reach for the MB's when I want a low harp--can't really say why. Actually, that is true of all the Tombos I have.
I agree--Rice Miller is definitely the Lord of the Blues harp--I don't always love the singing or even the song--but the harp is always OUTSTANDING!
Harp On!
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Warbleman
1 post
Apr 09, 2008
6:54 PM
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I don't really have very much money but I'm a pretty good harp player. The most I've ever spent on a single harp is $35. But I'm looking in to purchasing a Suzuki harp. James Cotton plays the Pureharp so I'm currently leaning towards it. But I would just like some feedback on which of the Suzuki harps are the best.
Last Edited by on Apr 09, 2008 6:55 PM
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Jeff
38 posts
Apr 09, 2008
8:25 PM
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Cotton endorses the Pure Harp. He predominantly plays custom MB's though ($$$).
The Pure Harp and Firebreath have a very full 'sweet' sound. The Harpmaster and Hammond have a gnarly gritty sound. And the Bluesmaster and Valved Promaster fall in the middle between those.
They all have the same playability. So it's up to you what sound you desire. As I've previously mentioned, they're all equal-tempermant in tuning. So the chords aren't going to be as lush as a Hohner. I retune all of my Suzuki's to sound like a pre-war Marine Band.
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oldwailer
31 posts
Apr 25, 2008
6:12 PM
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Hey Jeff,
This thread is getting a little old--so if you don't see this, it's OK--I was just wondering--is there a formula for tuning "I retune all of my Suzuki's to sound like a pre-war Marine Band?" Or do you have to get one to copy it? I'm just getting into tuning and this struck me as a very interesting thing. . .
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Jeff
65 posts
Apr 25, 2008
10:42 PM
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Pat Missin explains it all on his site in the tuning section. There's also a lot of great posts on harp-l explaining the process. If you really want to dive into harmonica customization, I highly recommend Rupert Oyslers videos. They'll provide you everything you'll need in solid detail.
I can do a decent job at JI tuning. But for a recent set of Delta Frosts, I had Randy Sandoval at Genesis retune them. It definitely takes a real pro to get them absolutely perfect. Joe Filisko takes a period of 5-6 months to retune a harp. He'll go back day after day to get the chords perfect.
As with most, I'm still perfecting my craft. But, I recommend getting a pro to tune them if it's a set you really care a lot about and will use for gigs. Usually pro's like Randy, Rupert Oysler, etc. only charge $10-15 a harp. That's not too bad for such tedious custom work. You'll easily spend more than that just buying the right files and tools.
Last Edited by on Apr 25, 2008 10:56 PM
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EddyLizard2
19 posts
May 26, 2008
1:08 PM
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Jeff
Finally found that photograph again that might (or might not) clear up that 'Bushman (which is a customized Suzuki Harpmaster)' statement... but better look for yourself:
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Seydel/Categories/AboutUs/Mitarbeiter/Mitarbeiter_01%5B11%5D
(Or maybe they just make the boxes?)
;-)
Btw. I DO love my Bushman, too!
Last Edited by on May 26, 2008 1:20 PM
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eharp
32 posts
May 26, 2008
1:59 PM
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it's been a while since i used my german, but i think the caption says, "we photoshopped this to keep the controversy going."
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Jeff
86 posts
May 26, 2008
7:44 PM
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Eddy, the Delta Frost has Suzuki Harpaster coverplates with Suzuki's Phosphor Bronze reeds. The Bushman Soulvoice is made by Seydel (the picture you posted). And if you look at the new Bushman Steelie, you'll see the coverplates are a Huang Silvertone. Though, Bushman's products are still tweaked and unique.
Last Edited by on May 26, 2008 7:45 PM
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bluzlvr
32 posts
May 27, 2008
1:46 PM
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I was in serious need of new harps, so I decided to try a couple of brands I've never tried before. I ordered two Bushman Delta Frosts (C and F), and two Seydel Solist Pros (Bb and D). The Seydels played alright, but the way the cover plate bends over creates an annoying facial hair grabber (three hole draw..ouch!), a design flaw as far as I'm concerned. I have a serious problem with the Delta Frost in F. I cannot bend the two hole draw no matter what I do. I tried gapping the reed a couple of times, but no luck. This is the first harp I have ever played that I couldn't bend the two (or any) hole. Needless to say the harp is missing some pretty important notes. All the reeds bend on the C harp, but not as easily as a Special 20. After this experiment, I think I'm gonna stick with Hohner.
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Patrick Barker
62 posts
May 27, 2008
4:27 PM
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I always hear about the Bushman Delta Frost but never Bushman's "soul's voice" which sounds like a better harp to me. According to Bushman's website, its supposedly high note and over blow friendly, which are two qualities that are important to intermediate and advanced players, not to mention that it's only $2 more expensive than the Delta Frost. This sounds like a great price for a great harp to me. Has anyone here ever tried it?
Last Edited by on May 27, 2008 5:03 PM
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oldwailer
51 posts
May 27, 2008
5:36 PM
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Yo Patrick,
Check out this page:
http://www.harpdepot.com/productdetail/~model/12~/d.html
It kind of tells the reason I've never tried a Soul's Voice--in spite of the very cool name!
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Jeff
89 posts
May 27, 2008
6:54 PM
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Even Bushman states in their marketing materials that they do not recommend buying the Soul's Voice. The Delta Frost blows the Soul's Voice out of the water. Bushman states that they only continue production of the Soul's Voice to satisfy the small die-hard group of Soul's Voice players. Otherwise, they try to direct everybody to their best product: the Delta Frost.
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