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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > 14 key sets - Hohner please listen!
14 key sets - Hohner please listen!
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A440
412 posts
Jul 19, 2015
11:22 AM
In 2015, I think a "full set" of harps that any serious player uses includes 14 keys: The usual set of 12, plus a Low F and High G. I find I am using HG and LF more and more frequently, for live gigs, recording, and informal jam sessions.

Suzuki now offers all of their better models in all 14 keys.

Seydel has been a leader in expanding keys both downwards and upwards (although their steel reeds stop at F on the high end, their brass models go all the way up to high A - a nice one for the dog!). I use my HG a lot these days. It cuts through the mix nicely, and is a joy to bend on. Also: Seydel cleverly makes their excellent soft cases to accomodate 14 harps. For me, a "full set" means 14 harps.

Meanwhile, Hohner seems to be behind the curve here. If they offered HG and LF models of Special 20, Golden Melody, Marine Band Deluxe, and Blues Harp, I am sure they would sell more harps. Not everyone can afford a Thunderbird to fill the LF slot in the harp case, especially when you can easily find a Manji, Promaster, or Session Steel in LF.

C'mon Hohner -- make the "standard set" 14 harps, like Suzuki is doing. Customers want them, and you will sell more harps - what's not to like here?

I would buy a Special 20 in HG and LF tomorrow, if I could find them. I get the impression that the HG exists, but none of the retailers I use are offering it.

Last Edited by A440 on Jul 19, 2015 11:26 AM
Kingley
3897 posts
Jul 19, 2015
11:34 AM
Well the common sense course of action, would seem to be to email Hohner directly and ask the question.
Mirco
289 posts
Jul 19, 2015
12:30 PM
I wouldn't trouble myself, A440. Let the free hand of the market sort it out. Hohner only offers a Low F in its Thunderbird, so I bought a Seydel. I like it, so in the future, I might try more Seydel's.

They used to offer more keys in the SP20, but they've since stopped. Maybe Hohner can afford to ignore that market. Maybe not. It's made my money go to other companies.
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Marc Graci
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timeistight
1817 posts
Jul 19, 2015
12:40 PM
Hohner made low F and even low Eb harps until recently. They phased them out when they introduced the Thunderbird so I doubt they'd be interested in bringing them back now.

They still make high G Marine Bands and Special 20s according to their website.

Last Edited by timeistight on Jul 19, 2015 12:40 PM
hvyj
2708 posts
Jul 19, 2015
1:46 PM
What they all should offer is Low F#. Standard F# is in dog whistle territory. Low F# is so much more useful.
2chops
406 posts
Jul 19, 2015
2:29 PM
I'm primarily a SP20 guy myself. But I have some Lee Oskars for my backups. LO makes a Low F. So I got one of those to cover that end of things. To each his own. But the thought of a high G makes my ears cringe.

Having said that, it would be nice if Hohner would offer a 14 harp set. The usual 12 plus the other 2 to be the harp of your choice. With one of the 2 being either a low F or high G. The 14th one you could pick whatever key. That way you could get a backup of your most used key.
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.

Last Edited by 2chops on Jul 19, 2015 2:30 PM
Harp Study
114 posts
Jul 19, 2015
7:10 PM
I would like it if Hohner offered a 14 harp set, but I'm with Micro: if it makes sense the market will sort it out. I've bought my low and high keys in Seydel harps and love them; therefore I've bought more regular key harps in Seydel as well and as other players do similar things it will either make Hohner respond or not; either way I'm really liking the Seydels I've been getting.
Bilzharp
96 posts
Jul 20, 2015
8:01 AM
As others have indicated, the big question would be which 14 harps? The home-made tray that I attach to my mic stand has 13 slots. I chose to put in a low F and low F# at the bottom end. Nothing above high F. I may add another slot in the next tray I build but it will be for a low Eb. It will either be a Seydel or a G Marine Band that I've tuned down since Hohner doesn't make "budget" low harps anymore. Probably easiest just to let each harp player fill in the blanks in his/her own way.


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