ofer1992
1 post
May 29, 2014
2:36 PM
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So, I finally bought after more than half a year a new harp.
Up until now I had a blues harp, which I lost after a year and so, and a Suzuki Bluesmaster.
As I felt the Bluesmaster is starting to be "tired", I considered getting a new one as to not hamper my learning.
Bought a Marine Band in a key of D.
From my impression up until now it is extremely leaky, especially compared to the Bluesmaster. It feels like I've taken a step back with my bending and expressiveness while using this harp.
I am in a foreign country (Argentina), so it was expensive(60 bucks), and without access to any tools that might help me seal it as I've seen to be done on the web.
I welcome any suggestion, critisicm, opinions and mild bashing :)
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jimbo-G
191 posts
May 29, 2014
2:45 PM
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Try gapping it, ive almost always had to close the gaps a bit on every marine band I've bought.
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Adam Pritchard
35 posts
May 29, 2014
2:56 PM
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I've always found that you have to persevere with the standard Marine Band. They seem to get better the more they're played. I've bought several in the past that haven't been fantastic out of the box (a bit leaky) so I've kept them in my car as practice harps. Then after a while of playing them (weeks not hours or days) they become great. Of course, gently lifting off the covers and doing some very basic gapping work won't hurt. I think Kudzu has a video showing how on YouTube.
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ofer1992
2 posts
May 29, 2014
3:01 PM
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I've done some gapping as the video demonstrates, but I've increased the gaps.
Should I decrease them?
And Adam, your post gives me hope
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jackleg
18 posts
May 29, 2014
3:06 PM
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why would such a well known harp need to be gaped just to play rudimentary blues? maybe it was one of the harps made in the 80's?
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jimbo-G
192 posts
May 29, 2014
3:23 PM
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The reed plates should have a date stamped on them. Everybody uses different breath force so gapping it is different for each person.
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jimbo-G
193 posts
May 29, 2014
3:27 PM
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Decrease the gaps if its leaky
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Frank
4408 posts
May 29, 2014
5:07 PM
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Let me try to sincerely help out...
My criticism is - never spend 60 bucks on a 30 dollar harp :)
My opinion is - continue using Hohners they are considered by many to be the best harmonica in the modern world to date :)
My mild bashing is - towards the pricing system where you reside, shame on them for gauging you :)
My suggestion - would be to move to the USA, if that is at all practical :)
Last Edited by Frank on May 29, 2014 5:17 PM
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1847
1837 posts
May 29, 2014
5:17 PM
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never spend 30.00 dollars on a 20.00 dollar harp:)
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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JInx
787 posts
May 29, 2014
5:26 PM
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You' ve only ever played two harps before the marine band? Not to doubt you but, you can hardly know what "leaky" is. my advice is take all the internet "wisdom" with a grain of salt...don't fall to blimd.expectations----------
Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
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ofer1992
3 posts
May 29, 2014
5:53 PM
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There is no choice here my friends, the import tax is crazy and I'm travelling long term, would any of you choose to save 30 bucks and hamper your learning and enjoyment? especially since the harmonica isn't very popular here, so there isn't quite a market.
On another note, reduced the gap on most of the reeds, works much better, now, maybe I was quick to judge. Still less responsive than the bluesmaster but it will grow on me.
And I'm planning on getting to the USA, just got all of south and central america between me and it right now :).
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GMaj7
430 posts
May 29, 2014
5:53 PM
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I think Jlnx just put into 3 lines what many have tried to say forever.
Don't use the internet/forum jargon.
Describe the problem more specifically and you will get some sound advice.
One thing to note, you should not make comparisons of harps between keys. In other words, a Suzuki in (C) will probably play a little easier than a Marine Band in (G).
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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ofer1992
4 posts
May 29, 2014
5:58 PM
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As I wrote after decreasing the gap it is much more responsive. The bluesmaster is an A, the Marine Band a D. I will post in a few weeks after I've had some time with it if it still feels lacking.
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1847
1838 posts
May 29, 2014
6:19 PM
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at one time the marine band was the "gold standard"
by which all harmonicas were judged
sadly that is no longer the case.
heck... gold is no longer the gold standard
i think it is now, the "Euro" .... we are all screwed!
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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atty1chgo
949 posts
May 29, 2014
6:22 PM
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Do they open all packages from abroad from private citizens? My suggestion is to have someone in the States buy a harp for you and have it mailed from the US as a GIFT. Does the government tax you for THAT?
If what I am suggesting is a possibility, then you won't be forced to buy only one brand or model (in this case Hohner Marine Band), which open up a lot of options including pricing.
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SuperBee
2042 posts
May 29, 2014
6:33 PM
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Yeah but postage
Gmaj7 advice about comparing harps across keys is salient.
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sonny3
180 posts
May 29, 2014
6:35 PM
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Everybody likes different harmonicas there is a learning curve for different keys as well.Don't be too quick to judge.I've tried harps from every manufacturer.For me Marine bands are still the best.Bought many over the last couple years and have yet to get a dud.I have bought a Seydel solist pro that produced almost no sound when played ootb and a Manji that wasn't much better.Both much more expensive harps.
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nacoran
7789 posts
May 30, 2014
1:20 AM
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I don't know what their quality is like at this point, but Hering has, in the past, supposedly made good harps, and they are a lot closer geographically. They are made in Brazil. (Bends harmonicas were made in Brazil too, but they went out of business). They've also got a pretty good harmonica scene.
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Nate
Facebook
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Joe_L
2480 posts
May 30, 2014
8:09 AM
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If this is your third harmonica, you really don't have a frame of reference of what is good and bad. Different key harps play differently.
My suggestion don't worry about modifying it, just learn to play it. Plenty of great players learned how to play or played on "sub-optimal" harps.
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rbeetsme
1537 posts
Jun 01, 2014
7:22 AM
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The current crop of Hohner harmonicas are vastly improved over what they were selling just a dozen years ago. Hohner has since re-tooled. Where did you buy yours? It is quite possible you received an older one. BTW: I picked up some 1923 Hering harps a few years back. Sure look and sound a lot like Marine Bands. I really like them. They are made in Brazil, maybe you can find a better price on those in Argentina.
Last Edited by rbeetsme on Jun 01, 2014 7:25 AM
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Kingley
3587 posts
Jun 01, 2014
8:43 AM
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The easiest way to tell if you have the older Marine Band or a newer one is by the comb. If the comb has black sides and back then it's the older stock and they were often pretty leaky. If it has a brown colour comb on all sides and the name Hohner on the back, then it's the newer stock and they are very good out of the box harps.
Last Edited by Kingley on Jun 01, 2014 8:44 AM
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Frank
4439 posts
Jun 01, 2014
10:20 AM
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The 1923 is a nice harp and after the reeds started dying which was fairly quickly and keeping it alive as long as possible replacing them, I took its lids off - which are rather nice and put them on an old Huang Silvertone and it made that harp even better then it was.
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 01, 2014 10:24 AM
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jbone
1643 posts
Jun 02, 2014
10:12 AM
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ofer- there are a lot of choices in brand and model of harmonica. All will have different assets and liabilities. Different key harps are definitely different to play when you are starting out. An A will take very little air to make sound while and F, D, or E will demand your every cc for a while. It's all about getting used to each key and each brand that you try.
I personally favor Suzuki Manji but some don't. I may give Hohner another try before long. Hering has had some good harps in the past, I don't know about these days. I had a Free Jazz and a Free Blues along with some 1923's. Worth a try if possible. Choosing and learning a harp and how to play is very subjective. You will grow in skill if you learn to adapt to what you have before going on a search for the perfect harp, which I tried for a long time before realizing I needed more skill in my playing.
Success to you!
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Gnarly
1017 posts
Jun 03, 2014
10:29 AM
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I have a thing I like to say, "You can always improve a harmonica."
Many times making the instrument more airtight will go a long way toward making that happen.
Gapping is part of that equation, as is profiling.
Sometimes embossing is indicated.
I like the Marine Band reeds, but the 1897 is the poster child for harp improvement, as compared to, say, the Crossover.
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Ted Burke
6 posts
Jun 03, 2014
12:16 PM
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Truthfully, I never cared much for Marine Band; I bought them because they were, literally, the only decent diatonic available. I didn't use Blues Harps because they have always been a horrible instrument--sluggish, easily blown out. Marine Band Crossovers are magnificent instruments, however, but I think it was a response to the competition from Suzuki and Seydel , with their quality instruments, that made them up their game. For the record, Hohner's Special 20 harmonicas have rarely let me down in my 45 years of playing.
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Gnarly
1018 posts
Jun 03, 2014
3:05 PM
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Yup, the SP20 is a good harp, although I think they suffered quality control issues in the past.
SP20 is, of course, a Marine Band.
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wolfkristiansen
281 posts
Jun 03, 2014
7:55 PM
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"SP20 is, of course, a Marine Band"
Gnarly, you gave me the opportunity to bring up a question that's bothered me for a long time. If an SP20 is a Marine Band, why not just buy an SP20?
Reasoning:
1. Wood combs swell, plastic combs don't.
2. After you pry Marine Band cover plates off to tune the harp (I've tuned many), they don't go back on as tightly because the nails are now looser in the wood. After you unscrew Special 20 cover plates, they go back on just as tightly, assuming you use the same torque when reassembling.
This question is sincerely posed. Maybe I'm missing something. For what it's worth, I have played Marine Bands most of my life, but switched to Special 20s about 10 years ago for the above reasons.
Cheers,
wolf kristiansen
ps I've piggy-backed this question onto this thread because I, like many, am not able to start a new topic from my home computer. I can only do that from work. I'm at home right now, where I can add to old topics but can't create new ones.
pps It's not my intention to restart the "wood-combed harps sound better" debate, unless someone absolutely has to.
wk
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garry
517 posts
Jun 03, 2014
8:17 PM
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I've never found marine bands even remotely playable. Everyone else seems to love 'em, so it must be me. But I wouldn't use 'em if they were free.
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STME58
862 posts
Jun 03, 2014
10:06 PM
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I have purchased about 5 Marine bands, two of them are quite good.
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Fishlips
26 posts
Jun 03, 2014
10:25 PM
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I'm interested in people's thoughts regarding the differences between the MB and SP20, as Wolf raised above. Given that the reed plates should be the same (?) and assuming a reasonable seal on the comb, the main difference in design impacting tone is probably the cover plate. This may be why the SP20 is regarded as having a darker tone, and perhaps especially so in regard to what the player hears.
I have been playing OOTB Crossovers, but recently pulled out some old SP20s, opened up the covers, tuned them to JI, adjusted the gaps, and replaced the combs with some from Andrew Zajac. These are (at the moment) my favorite harps, and sound a lot like the standard MBs that I have similarly tweaked. Perhaps I have altered too many variables to make a valid comparison, but I tend to think that with the better comb and opened covers, little or no difference remains between the SP20 and MB.
I welcome your advice, commendations, and blunt rebukes!
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jnorem
250 posts
Jun 03, 2014
10:32 PM
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I like the SP20 comb, I like its playing surface. Smooth on the lips. Also, I think the SP20 has a more springy, twangy action.
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Call me J
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STME58
863 posts
Jun 03, 2014
11:15 PM
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My son's sax teacher just told him that when you buy a box of 10 reeds, three of them will be good right out of the box, two of them can be made good with some skill and a reed knife and the rest, well perhaps you can keep them in case everything else is broken. Sound familiar?
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Gnarly
1020 posts
Jun 04, 2014
11:02 AM
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Very.
I bought one of those MB 7 packs that comes with a case used for $100, set about improving them all. Great fun . . .
I don't play them, tho, guess I should sell them--
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Gnarly
1021 posts
Jun 04, 2014
11:04 AM
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It's worth mentioning that Hohner makes a 14 hole Marine Band that also responds well to customizing; some of favorite harmonicas is an SBS in D that I retuned to circular on the bottom--comb sealed by Mike Peace, he put in screws to hold the reed plates too, now it's like a real harmonica LOL
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sonny3
182 posts
Jun 04, 2014
11:24 AM
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I love classic marine bands, swelled comb and all.I don't like the protruding comb on the 20s.To me they play different.I like knowing I'm playing the same harp that all my musical heroes played.I doubt Rice Miller spent much time complaining about swelled Combs.I like the size, playability and feel of 1896s...
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