arzajac
1498 posts
Oct 16, 2014
9:19 AM
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@ HarpNinja "*The only "con" with the SP20 is not having the ability to flat sand the comb to perfection. I LOVE the SP20 for its playability, tone, and easy of tweaking. "
The comb can be made perfectly flat quite quickly and easily. That being said, the SP20 design mitigates some of the problem - you can get away with a less-than-perfect comb and still have a great-playing harp.
The Manji reedplates " extend quite a ways out from the comb"
It's not that the reed plates are too long, it's that the comb is too small! I can see how this could really bother some folks. But I reckon others don't even notice.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Oct 16, 2014 10:15 AM
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florida-trader
532 posts
Oct 16, 2014
5:42 PM
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The "Official" model number for the Marine Band Deluxe is the M2005 - precisely because it was introduced in 2005.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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The Black Pit
27 posts
Oct 18, 2014
11:34 AM
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After trying out most of the usual suspects to try and find what works best for me, I settled on both Hohner AND Suzuki. I find that if I buy either a Special 20, Harpmaster or Bluesmaster, that I'm all but guaranteed to get a nice sounding, airtight, quality harp.
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"The blues are the roots of all American music. As long as American music survives, so will the blues."...Willie Dixon
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Pistolcat
725 posts
Oct 18, 2014
1:34 PM
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"How about if we take the "Suzuki vs Hohner" discussion over to chromatics. For example, the SCX-48 and 270 Deluxe are pretty close, price wise. Both get good reviews, but they are pretty different design philosophies. Anyone have experience with chromes from both Suzuki and Hohner? Does one or the other tend to need less maintenance, or stay in tune better? Has Suzuki made significant inroads to Hohner's chromatic market share?"
I have played an OOTB hohner 270 for some time and think its kind of sluggish. It made me somewhat hesitant to learn the chrome but now I really gotten into it. Actually so much into chrome so that I bought a new chrome, a well set up Suzuki scx 48 from Filip Jers. It is way better and even though it's hardly OOTB I get the feeling that it's a better built instrument. The slide works smoother and look better and the coverplates and mouthpiece are just better made, IMHO. Even though I'm a hohner guy for diatonics. I believe that my next chrome will be a Suzuki too.
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
Last Edited by Pistolcat on Oct 18, 2014 1:38 PM
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Chris L
152 posts
Dec 13, 2016
8:13 PM
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Bump!
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Gnarly
2051 posts
Dec 13, 2016
11:25 PM
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Well, since you bring up the chroms--
I think the SCX series is a fantastic bargain, well built, airtight, spot welded reed made of phosphor bronze, and a two piece mouthpiece that minimizes leakage.
And of course, their one year warranty is unbelievable, it includes reed failure!
I am the repair guy, so I am biased, but I don't think I am overstating the case. What is Hohner's warranty, 60 days? Does Seydel's warranty cover reed failure?
And the Sirius chromatic is top notch--how good is it? It's the horn Stevie Wonder plays (even tho he endorses Hohner). There is no better chromatic player than Stevie. He could play any harp he wanted.
Of course, I could name other top players who use Suzuki, but I think SW says it all.
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jbone
2224 posts
Dec 14, 2016
4:39 AM
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I must admit to having a few MB's in my case. Best of them is hands down a custom but this is something I could never afford to do much at all. I have Manjis and a couple other Suzukis and like them a lot as well. I also have a few Eastops which I am putting through the paces. So far 2 out of 3 are competing well with other harps I use a lot. One is a bit tight and will need some gapping maybe. I plan to play it a while and see if the reeds will loosen up a bit.
Being strictly blue collar, I just don't have funds to get a lot of custom work done to any harp. One plus to Manji is reed plates for a decent price. Another is the dependability I've enjoyed. I do lose a draw reed occasionally but I've learned over many years that dynamics trump volume any day. Volume is what a p.a. or amp provides.
I will continue to use mostly what I can afford and can find. Mostly it's Manji, then Eastop, but also the MB's are in there as well.
For me good ootb instruments will always rule.
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Reverbnation
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dougharps
1318 posts
Dec 14, 2016
8:28 AM
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William Blake wrote, "Without contraries is no progression."
I find that I switch back and forth between them as suits my mood and the music. At times I like Manjis, at other times I like Special 20s, MBDs, and Crossovers. I like my Seydels OK and they are good harps, but the Suzukis and Manjis in my gig sets are what I most often gravitate toward when playing gigs. I am exploring East Tops and so far I like them, too, especially at that price point.
Competition in harmonica building has improved the instrument overall. Lee Oskar as well as the customizers of Hohner harps got it started when Hohner quality faltered late last century. The harmonica today is much better than it was then.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Dec 14, 2016 8:30 AM
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hvyj
3189 posts
Dec 14, 2016
5:31 PM
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I prefer Suzuki over Hohner. Suzuki reed plates have a more focused tone which I find more appealing than the more open tone you get from Hohner. In my experience, Suzukis are by far more durable than Hohners.
I almost always replace the combs on my OOB harps because stock combs are rarely flat. Exceptions: Suzuki Hammonds and Suzuki Firebreaths have very decent combs.
I don't play low tuned harps regularly, but I like to practice with them, and I have to acknowledge that the Hohner Thunderbirds are excellent. I put Hetrick bamboo combs on mine which are flatter and more responsive than Hohner's stock bamboo combs I also put Hetrick bamboo combs on the Crossovers I have. Crossover is a nice harmonica, but They are tuned a little sharp for my taste and I don't generally go for the sound of harps with vented covers. But a lot of other players do.
I put Blue Moon black anodized aluminum combs on my set of Olives and WOW! They sound and play great.
Btw, the dymondwood (composite) Sjoeberg combs from JA Harmonicas are also really good and Joel is a great guy to do business with, as is Tom at Blue Moon. I don't like plastic combs.
I like full length unvented covers and there are quite a few Suzuki models with that design, and not so many Hohners. I like the ergonomics of the Golden Melody and I had some harps made with GM covers, custom combs and Suzuki reeplates. I just think Suzuki reedplates sound and play better than Hohners. And they absolutely do last longer in my experience. Also Suzuki customer service is top notch
I just bought a set of 1847 Nobles with full length covers which I had tuned to A442 ET. These may be the best OOB harps I've ever had.
But as far as Hohners and Suzukis are concerned, put my vote firmly in the Suzuki column. I like them much better than I do Hohners.
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Gnarly
2055 posts
Dec 14, 2016
9:39 PM
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Jason Ricci plays Manjis.
I know, I wasn't going to keep dropping names . . . sorry!
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Goldbrick
1715 posts
Dec 15, 2016
6:08 AM
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I think those of us of a certain age have a sound in our heads embedded by years of listening to certain records
Hohner has a rumble , gritty sound that I like-it makes me smile when I play one with just my dog and a glass of rum late at night
My band has a very expensive Taylor acoustic that I use for overdubs-plays great and looks fine its a good tool with nice electronics-but I dont love it like my Martin or Gibson AJ -that Taylor sound is not in my head
I often play suzuki harpmasters or older Delta Frosts at gigs cause they are easier to play and live performance cancels out a lot of tone nuances.
Suzuki chromatics are great. They make fine outboard motors and I loved the suzuki Samurai I had ( wish they still imported them)
Endorsements dont mean crap to me-the great players sound good on anything and often customize their stuff and switch when they get a better deal
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Dec 15, 2016 6:09 AM
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Gnarly
2057 posts
Dec 15, 2016
6:29 AM
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You should always go with what works--and much of what is in my gig kit are Special 20s.
That being said, I find the Suzuki harmonicas to be well built and innovative.
BTW, they don't make chainsaws or automobiles--different company.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_Musical_Instrument_Corporation
All the chromatics I use are Suzuki tho--Sirius and SCX. I favor Orchestra tuning, and also use the bebop modification (so the blow chord is C7).
Last Edited by Gnarly on Dec 15, 2016 6:31 AM
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6SN7
681 posts
Dec 15, 2016
10:57 AM
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the suzuki scx chromatic is great value for the money and is a great right out of the box: in tune, very air tight, no rattles. It plays so easy, you will want to play and practiced. I didn't put mine down for months. One thing I found is that you have to keep breath control in check and no heavy breathing as the wind savers get stuck easy. To my ears, Hohners brass plates sound better, thats purely a subjective comment. While my Hohner Deluxe 270 and Super 64 didn't play as well as the SCX out of the box (leaky) once I had the chro set up by a customizer, the harp play as well as the SCX and to my ears, it sounds better and louder. For a chro beginner , I would suggest a SCX and then a CX12. The CX12 is a second choice only because it is more expensive, but personally, I prefer them
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Dec 15, 2016 10:59 AM
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jbone
2225 posts
Dec 15, 2016
3:30 PM
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I have worked with both the 270 and the SCX48. May as well throw in the Hering 5148, both regular tuned and bari in C.
I still use the Bari C on some stuff and it's held up well for several years. I had fits with the 270, went through a couple before I left them behind. The SCX, I have had the same one tuned in G, which I find to be a blessing. I thoroughly enjoy playing it and it performs as I need it to.
So SCX, 100%. Hering Bari C, 85%. 270, fail.
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snowman
229 posts
Dec 18, 2016
8:39 AM
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I've own and have owned-
[Hohner] GM,---- SP 20-----[Blues harps way back 30 yrs ago]-----crossover-----marine band
[Suzuki] --pro master---manji---
Harp I like 'out of box' the most
1] Manji
2]GM and crossover
Suzuki
manjis I have-- A C D E F
pro master --- A D
Hohner
GM--- Bb C Eb F# Ab Db ---and more
Crossover-- A C D E F G Bb
I 've settled in on crossover for future purchases and GM--
-MAIN REASON; INTERCHANGEABLE REEDS ON [SP 20---GM---Marine band-cross over]
I have lots of old reed plates etc -Im mediocre at set up of harp [SLOW]--but can easily repace a reed if needed—plus u can buy individual reeds from hohner-albeit expensive-
I prefer the tuning on GM
So favorite sounding, plaYing ,best looking harp, is manji with crossover a very close 2nd
But prefer reed possibilities off Hohner-SO I PREFER HOHNER specifically crossover
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snowman
230 posts
Dec 18, 2016
8:39 AM
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I've own and have owned-
[Hohner] GM,---- SP 20-----[Blues harps way back 30 yrs ago]-----crossover-----marine band
[Suzuki] --pro master---manji---
Harp I like 'out of box' the most
1] Manji
2]GM and crossover
Suzuki
manjis I have-- A C D E F
pro master --- A D
Hohner
GM--- Bb C Eb F# Ab Db ---and more
Crossover-- A C D E F G Bb
I 've settled in on crossover for future purchases and GM--
-MAIN REASON; INTERCHANGEABLE REEDS ON [SP 20---GM---Marine band-cross over]
I have lots of old reed plates etc -Im mediocre at set up of harp [SLOW]--but can easily repace a reed if needed—plus u can buy individual reeds from hohner-albeit expensive-
I prefer the tuning on GM
So favorite sounding, plaYing ,best looking harp, is manji with crossover a very close 2nd
But prefer reed possibilities off Hohner-SO I PREFER HOHNER specifically crossover
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