Hey folks. Need to replace some harps and though I love the Crossovers out of the box, they just don't last long. Has anyone compared the Crossover or MB to the Lee Oskar Major Diatonic?
I just ordered one in D but would like to hear opinions before it arrives.
Lee Oskar harps are durable and take a lot more abuse than a Crossover. I started using them in the '90s when I kept blowing reeds on my SP20s. The Lee Oskar replacement reed plates saved me some money back then.
Though I have switched back to other brands now that I don't play quite so hard, I still have Lee Oskars and still occasionally play them. I keep a set in the car. I have adjusted them and can get a hole 6 OB on most, used as a passing tone.
That being said, I presently enjoy playing other tighter harps more.
The key of Hohner harp I have wrecked more than any other during years of playing is the key of D harp. ----------
Not very fond of LO´s per se (a bit too leaky etc) but if it hadn´t been for them and the easy availability of their replacement reed plates, I probably would have had to give up the harmonica entirely. I´m hard on my harps, a really bad habit that´s tough to change, and the costs of the instruments just kept on rising. Hohner´s replacement reed plates were an awful joke.
I have and still play LO's for years. Have spoke to Lee by phone, fine fellow indeed. Have some SP-20's, a couple of XO's which are inconsistent but I love their tone. Even have a few old Hering Blues in the case. LO's are the best harp for the money IMO. The top end can be a bit squeaky but I can usually adjust to this by cutting back breath force. Enjoy...BN
Lee Oskars I played religiously all through the 90s, pretty much my go to instrument. They were reasonably priced, that had a better than good sound, and they were durable.I have LOs from the nineties that are still playable! Crossovers are good too; for a year or so I was a fanatic for them; durable, great , gritty blues tone , these harps scream and have remarkable playability. But they are on the pricy side. Marine Bands I haven't played in decades and I never really cared for them. Granted, they have redesigned and likely my old objections are no longer a factor. ---------- Ted Burke tburke4@san.rr.com
You owe it to yourself to try 1. My preference for LO's started back in the '80's when, instead of replacing a blown out Hohner when I got a few bucks ahead, I could add another key to my box of harps. The LO's weren't blowing out. 30 years later, I have 30 or 40 Lee Oskar harmonicas and extra reed plates I can't even remember where I stashed.
For the money you can't go wrong with a LO. I like crossovers, and actually, if you offered me a Crossover or a Lee Oskar for free I might... might... pick the Crossover. Maybe. If I had enough money for a Crossover I would be more tempted by a Seydel. My everyday harps are L.O.s. To me they just offer the most bang for your buck. They are tough, sound good and comfortable to play (okay, they do catch mustache hairs). They even do key lettering better than Hohner.
You got me thinking too. I have LOs, sp20 and marine bands in several keys. Been playing juicy harmonica by bacon fat (my go to instrumental for testing harps)over and over again with all 3(Bb), for ease of playing and durability LOs for sure. These harps are at least 15Years old and still sound good. LOs are not as airtight as the sp20s but I got big lungs so not a prob for me. Hohners are easier to hold.a bent note, my Los tend to squeal when bent for too long(prob just my technique).Overall IMO LOs win. They last and blast. In fact I've just talked myself into buying some new LOs.
+1 on Lee Oskar- the workingmans harp. Kinda like a mexican telecaster or a Ludwig Acrolite-- not flashy or the latest and greatest but good sounding and reliable.
marine band for me. i only ever owned 1 LO. they arent cheap here, same as a Marine Band. $60 in the brick and mortar store. enough people say they are more durable for me to believe it, but the one i had was just a harp. an equal temperament harp i believe. i flatted the 4 draw a bit, as i usually did to C harps when i played in that band...
Crossover is not enough plus for the money imho, compared to standard MB.
Durability is not a big deal for me these days. If i break them i fix them, and LO is a more expensive fix because can't buy single reeds. but i don't break them much anymore.
if you are happy with replacing entire reedplates though, i think LO has the most reasonably priced plates.
I like L/Os for all the reasons above but if you want to be amazed whack a couple of L/O plates onto a custom comb and you have,imo, a class harp. I bought a few wood combs from (i think) Florida Trader? and they made big difference. Also the replacement plates are so (relatively) cheap that you can afford to experiment Melody Maker top plate and a standard bottom plate, nice to have for some tunes. I think that it is the ET tuning that puts people off them.Personally i just get the file out and tune them to what i want which takes 10 minutes.
