Shredder, The Blues Band, Pocket Pal style cover will fit on Piedmonts. I have Frankenharp C with Piedmont reeds and a Blues Band cover. It sounded pretty good at first. I need to take it apart. I think something is jammed in there now. Special 20's look like they would fit too. Of course, you'd still have the plastic comb.
Looking at the pics I'd bet the Pocket Pal, Blues Band, Great Little Harp, Fuego Azul, Official Scout, Old Standby, and American Ace, plus heavier Special 20 and the Piedmont's lids would all fit on each other. (Maybe the Blues Bender and a couple other harps.) It would be cool to have a list of what reeds, combs and covers can fit in what.
Last Edited by on Nov 07, 2009 4:07 PM
I hear that jon, every now and then an old post I made makes its way back to the top & I have to shake my head and laugh! Ironic, a year from now I'll probably shake my head and laugh at this one.
---------- ~Ryan Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
My favorite harp, hands down is my Seydel 1847 Classic in G, although there are a few others that run a close second. In no particular order:
Hohner Sp20 (G) Suzuki Promaster Valved (A) Seydel 1847 Classic (Low C) Seydel Blues Favorite Black (Bb) Seydel Blues Favorite (Low F)
I actually like the Hohner MS Pro Harps and Big Rivers as well. They are pretty nice with a proper setup and well broken in. I have 75 harps though so picking favorites is not easy... I'm sure I left some out!
for the record im all for marine bands now. still never played a lee oskar or suzuki, but i did ride a suzuki once. actually i dont think iv ever played anything other then hohner. im kinda scared too. i think the only thing i will play other then hohner is a b-rad.
Sorry to be pedantic about language CJames, but a consensus is where everyone is in agreement! What we have here is either a slightly more frequent or a slightly more vociferous advocacy of Suzukis. Having said that, of course it's not the language that makes me object, it's my Hohner preference! ---------- Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Nov 09, 2009 2:54 AM
Hi, I'm new to the forum and I'm from the UK. I started playing around 40 years ago and apart from picking up a harp from time to time have not played consistently until about 6 months ago. Watching and learning from many great players on You Tube has really inspired me to take up playing again.
Anyway here's my roundup:
Marine Band deluxe in D-really nice tone but feels a little bit airy at times and you have to work a bit harder to grip some of the bends. Feels like it could be great with a bit of tweaking.
Golden melody in E completely different in tone nice and fluid less bluesy. Overblows and bends easiest of all my harps (but it is a high key)
Special 20 B Flat- A very easy playing harp with a good bluesy tone and good price
Suzuki Harpmaster A,G and D- My personal out of the box favourite. Has a loud bluesy, bright yet creamy texture and is a dream to play. It is so easy to play, you are not fighting with it at all and it bends really easily and what's more it's really cheap about the same as the special 20
Suzuki Promaster 350V- C a valved diatonic harp. I really like the harp, It's loud fluid and bright and easy to play and has the advantage that the valves allow for easy bending techniques that can't be done as easily (the same way) as on a normal diatonic. Pricey. (Also had to send 2 back as there was a rattling and sticking prob with the valves-so I probaby wouldn't get another one, but the C is great. Good for different styles Pricey though.
Suzuki Hammond HA20 in A- Another great harp, smooth and very responsive but less bluesy I'd say. Good also for chords.Very good to play. As above good for different styles - Pricey though.
Suzuki Manji in B flat-Now this is really loud! Its a great blues harp, gritty, very reponsive an absolute doddle to play and overbends on 5&6 out of the box pretty easily and I'm not great on overblows. It is very good but it is pricey over the twice the cost of the Harpmaster and IMHO the Harpmaster would represent better value for money while still getting a loud bluesy, easy playing harp.
Tombo Folk Blues in G- Not bad Hohner Blues Harp-I wouldn't bother! Hohner Pro Harp- Not bad, not great Hohner Cross Harp-My old one was great, but couldn't cope with my new found enthusiasm and expired!! Huang Star Performer- a very cheap Golden Melody look-a-like It's not bad but quite airy and the reeds feel weak.
Seydel Solist Pro (preferably with 1847 covers). They play like butter, are set up exceptionally well out of the box and have a loud, mellow and full bodied tone. Funny that somebody here mentioned that they sound dead compared to a MB Deluxe. IMHO the Seydels sound a lot better and more lively than all the Hohners I have tried but I haven't had a chance to try MB Deluxe yet. If it's really that much better than a Seydel then I will probably have to change my underwear when I play one for the first time :o)
I'm starting to come around to the golden melody tone again, I went off them for a bit. Ive got one in D and think the GM tone may transfer well to a lower key. Anyone have one in A or G?
But as for favourite harp, im yet to find it! tried a few suzuki's - can't say they won me over. Intrieuged at the manji though. Love my Sp20's, but i'm waiting for a seydel solist pro to arrive. Hoping for it to knock my sp20s out of the water!
Thinking of eventually going for a custom MB soon too, but that's a different thread.
Searching the old posts again and I decided to bump this one.
I am curious what harp(s) everyone considers their favorites now that some time has passed and new products are available.
I currently own and enjoy SP20s, MBs, and GMs. I do not have a favorite yet. I like the feel of the SP20s, the tone of MBs, and the response of the GMs.
I'm intrigued by the recent talk about the Manji, and I also hope to hear from anyone who has a Crossover and/or a B-Rad. Seydel, Suzuki, and LO players please also chime in.
For me, cost counts. I think my favorites are my Delta Frosts, lately I've been fooling with Suzuki Bluesmasters, and I'm very happy with my SP20's. Don't seem to get along with Marine Bands, and I've got a Golden Melody, but rarely play it. ---------- I used to be young and foolish. Now I'm not so young.
mine is any one of my 4 1847s.. one is wood comb in d, 2 are silver in a and c, and one a noble(my fav of faves) in Bb.. ---------- Marty we're no GOD (Greenwood)
special 20s best harp for the money-just got a marine band crossover in D and have a Bb crossover on backorder-the crossover is probably my favorite but a little pricey-best cheap harp-johnson blues king about 6.00
@groyster1 You say the crossover is your favorite? Does it play better? How much better -vs- cost? Is it more air tight? Price isn't my main concern, but a leaky 3 hole draw is!
hello earlounge-the selling point on the crossovers is the bamboo comb which is h20 proof and will not swell I started out on marine bands and blues harps but the combs would swell and believe it or not had tiny splinters in my lips-the crossover has great action and very air tight doubt that you would have a leaky 3 draw with them-have been using mostly special 20s and never thought I would buy another wood comb of course time will tell-they are about 60 bucks from musician friends
I love my Suzuki Hammonds. The only harps i like better are my custom Buddha harps made with GM covers and reed plates and custom composite combs. I don't use anything else for performance but the Buddhas and the Hammonds.
As much as I like my Hammonds, the Buddha harps are unquestionably finer instruments.
Joe Spiers Stage II Marine band with a Lavoie maple comb. I have two, but I'm not worthy!
My second more affordable choice would be a Joe Spiers retuned, regapped, embossed with the cover plates opened up Special 20. Definitely better than any stock out of the box harp!
My favorite SOTB harp would be the Manji, if it was tuned to 7 limit JI, otherwise it's the Harpmaster. I don't have to do anything to it. I haven't tried the MB deluxe or Crossover.
I like and own a few 1847's, but they tend to choke up on occasion. Mostly the A harp. I can't hammer on them like my other harps.
Last Edited by on May 21, 2010 6:40 PM
even though i've never layed eyes on him before, the resemblence is so striking i'd say it was him with confidence even though i could change my mind tomorrow.
Right now my favorite is a new Seydel silver 1847 in Bb. 3 weeks ago it would have been Lee Oskars. The Seydel was w/out a doubt the best OTB harp I've purchased, but also the most expensive. If the stainless reeds hold up as well as Lee Oskars I may be swayed.The cover plates are are very comfy on the Seydel and it plays as well as my self customized Oskars. The stainless reeds were the driving force behind this purchase.
Have not tried the crossover yet. Dollar for Dollar I dont think these can be beat. Just some gapping needed and you are Good to go. For OB SP20 unless you get a real good manji or tweak it beyond gapping as they squeal on some keys and holes. The lower keys before B flat squeal. The B Flat C D E F dont squeal as much.
If the Seydel 1847's seem to choke up quicker it's because they're gapped lower than most others are out of the box. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I should clarify that I've been around the block, and have come BACK to Marine Bands. There are other fine harps out there, but for anyone who wants to a) work on their own b) overblow easily and in tune c) have that un-deniable marine band tone, there is just not another harp that will do it for you. Yes, a Marine Band might (*might*) take a bit more work to set up properly (but most of the work is replacing the comb), but after that, I just haven't found a harp that can take as much abuse and last as long as a MB. That's one of my main reason, plus the tone and the OB capabilities. Spec 20's seem to last well too, but the tone is a but more mellow, and I am NOT a fan of the plastic comb. It just feels wrong in my mouth. ---------- ------------------ The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
Currently I'm into Sp20's. Started out as an ardent Suzuki player and although I like Suzuki quality a lot, I am enjoying the Sp20 tuning and the decrease in size. Although it's only about 3MM shorter in length it makes a difference in my hands.
I've been playing GM harps for decades, and love how easy they are to hold and cup in my small hands, not to mention their great sound. Beyond the most common keys, I've often been motivated to purchase a new key in order to play along with some newly discovered song by one of the iconic blues harpists of old. Such is the case with my new favorite by Walter Horton. It calls for a "G" harp, but I'm a bit fearful of the reed rattle/buzz some have reported with GM and other harps. The cause comes down to a debate between hitting the cover plate and reed misalignment. Any thoughts from those who routinely repair and mod harps, as well as those who have owned this key in various models? I can't afford to throw away close to forty bucks on a harp that gives problems. Here's a clip of the song. I notice that he's not really honking hard on the harp throughout the song. Still, it would be nice to not have to worry about how hard you're playing.
the video won't play for me, maybe it has a geographical restriction. i cant really answer your question as i've never played a GM since i got the idea early on they are tuned ET. i'm not sure thats true, but i avoided them so long, now i don't care. I dont play G harps that much really, but i haven't really noticed a reed rattle problem on my special 20s/marine bands/1847
i was gonna say, i reckon you could have been ok starting a new thread for this, then i saw the OP on this one starts off with an apology in case the topic has been addressed already, so it was worth creating the zombie just for the laugh
Last Edited by SuperBee on May 18, 2015 2:11 AM
Another vote for the Suzuki Bluesmaster. I also have a Suzuki Harpmaster which is very good but I find it a bit small. It feels like there's not enough room on the cover plate for my finger and lips.
As far as keys go, I'm really liking A at the moment.
Tried a bunch of different brands over the five years or so I have been serious about this thing. Crossovers were my default harp for a while but now I am really liking the 1847s. Especially the low C and low D, The way those reeds hum for a while is something else.
@ Garlic Breath: While it is kinda interesting to see this ancient thread (nacotan 326 posts!) I really think you will be far more likely to get some answers if you start a new one
My favorite harmonica right now is the Hohner Marine Band Crossover, the best OTB harp I've ever played. That have the rich, textured rasp and bit of the classic MB, are wonderfully responsive, and bend in ways that are sweet and nuanced. This the harmonica Manji wanted to be. ---------- Ted Burke __________________ ted-burke.com tburke4@san.rr.com
