johntrem
2 posts
Jun 02, 2008
5:15 PM
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I have a Big River in A (my favorite key). I find it has less reed resistance when blowing or drawing, especially on the lower notes. I tend to blow out of breath on a note with this harp more easily than others. Due to this less steady resistance, it is more difficult to maintain a clear, steady tone. When I A/B the Big River with a Hot Metal in A, I don't blow out of breath as quickly, get clearer tone and have more control with the Hot Metal. There is more steady blow/draw resistance with the Hot Metal. I find this puzzling as the Big River is a more expensive harp and made in Germany as compared to the Hot Metal being made in China. I would assume that the BR would be of a higher quality than the HM.Is the playing phenomenon I am describing what is known as being leaky? I hope I am explaining what I am experiencing with the BR clearly enough to be understood. I like the Big River's sound and the fact that it is a bigger, chunkier harp. It feels solid. I like it asthetically, but when I pick up the Hot Metal, I can play it better. Is there any manner of adjustment that could be made to the Big River to increase the blow/draw resistance? Also, getting back to my original question: Is this phenomenon common to the Big River line? I've seen leakiness mentioned in reference to Big Rivers in other posts. I'd hate to buy another one and encounter the same problem. Thanks.
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geordiebluesman
29 posts
Jun 03, 2008
1:34 PM
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The answere to your question is YES,the Big River in my experience is an awfull harp,they leak like a burst tyre on a bike ridden by a fat lass down a bumpy track! do yourself a favour and get a Marine Band Deluxe they're the one's with the real MOJO!
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Patrick Barker
67 posts
Jun 03, 2008
4:18 PM
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I haven't tried either, although I've tried a couple China- made Hohners and they're usually pretty similar. I can't say for sure, but what you may be interpreting as airtightness in the hot metal may actually be a lack of responsiveness, since sometimes a harp won't take much air and won't be very loud either, while your other may be a bit louder. I'm guessing both harps are probably pretty leaky though as they are low end.
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johntrem
4 posts
Jun 03, 2008
4:23 PM
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After tightening the reed plate to the comb, there was an. improvement in playability. I discovered this while changing out a reed plate on a Lee Oskar, which I hadn't done before. Though Geordie, I'm sure your MBD is a superior harp.
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oldwailer
58 posts
Jun 03, 2008
7:04 PM
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Check out this article on how to seal up a leaky harp--I found that it works for me, and it is a pretty easy thing to do on a BR harp--which I like a lot, by the way. . .
http://www.hunterharp.com/moyer1.html
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johntrem
5 posts
Jun 03, 2008
8:39 PM
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Thanks Oldwailer! I was trying to come up with something along these lines while replacing the reed plate in the Lee Oskar but couldn't think of anything viable. I'll give it a try.
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Jeff
95 posts
Jun 03, 2008
8:51 PM
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Just read a few reviews online and you'll find the entire MS series from Honher is pretty much leaky cheaply produced Chinese junk. If you're going to stick with Hohner's diatonics, I would only get a MB Deluxe, MB, Sp20 or Golden Melody.
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Jeff
98 posts
Jun 05, 2008
10:40 AM
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Here's a very interesting post from pro Bob Maglinte on another board about the MS Series and why the Big River is such a sub-standard harp:
"They were gonna make the MB's part of the MS series, but when a number of players here in the US got to play the prototype in 1991, myself included along with Jerry Portnoy, we all hated it, and a number of players who had endorsement deals with Hohner threatened to bolt in a hurry.
The MS Big River was exactly what the MS Marine Bands were, but with a different engraving on the top cover plate, and used the same comb that the MS Blues Harp used.
Nothing from the MS series will be compatible with the original (hand-made as they call it) setup at all. The very first of the MS series stuff used short slot reeds, and anything below the key of C were extremely difficult to bend in the bottom octaves, even for really good players. Many pros in Europe actually ordered the hand made MB's from the US for that very reason, and ditto for Special 20's. The changeover was because of changing European health laws that meant nothing could be small enough to easily fit a baby's mouth."
Last Edited on 5-Jun-2008 11:08 AM
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Ant138
33 posts
Sep 26, 2008
3:43 AM
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They are rubbish and also catch your facial hair in them even if you have a very small growth on you r face.
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mr_so&so
2 posts
Nov 05, 2008
1:57 PM
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For what it's worth, I have a few Big Rivers and I quite like them. They sound good, are more consistent than MBs and don't have the comb-swelling issue (plastic comb). I'm talking about the made-in-Germany ones. No experience with the Chinese ones.
P.S. I've tried a few other harps, Marine Band, Suzuki Blues Master (also a nice harp). Not sure that leakiness vs. air tight makes that much difference --- to me. Your mileage may vary.
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Aussiesucker
54 posts
Nov 05, 2008
5:06 PM
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My Big River in A is really leaky. I will not be buying another to find out if they all leak! It looks a quality harp and the marking on the coverplate suggests it is German made but it sucks heaps of air!! Have had it apart a number of times and fitted micropore tape between comb & reedplate but little to no improvement. Any suggestions of what else I should try would be welcome?
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