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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Problem with new Suzuki Promaster
Problem with new Suzuki Promaster
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rhetoriccamel
2 posts
Jun 21, 2017
4:51 PM
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Sorry for the long post.
So I have been playing the Hohner Special 20 for about a month and I've really enjoyed the harmonica and learning how to play. I decided that since I am enjoying this instrument quite a bit I would splurge and drop some cash on a pretty fancy harmonica. If I'm ever going to play it for anyone I wanted to pull out a sleek shiny flashy harmonica. Wow with the eyes, and then destroy eardrums with the sound (I've only been playing for a month, so I'm not expecting any applause, haha).
I narrowed my decision down to Suzuki harmonicas, the three flashiest once I saw; the Promaster, Hammond, and the Olive. Green being my favorite color I really liked the olive. I also found the Hammond to be a beautiful looking harmonica. I ended up with the Promaster because I read quite a few good reviews on its build quality, sound, ease of playing, etc. Plus the price was pretty good on Amazon.
Shortly after it arrived I began to get a little disappointed by the playing of the harmonica. Holes 1 and 2 are slow to respond, and hole 2 seems quite a bit quieter than any other holes, and it is hard to blow and draw. Holes 3-10 are fantastic. I also notice a bit of air leakage around the first 3 holes when playing. I never had this type of issue way back with the marine band or currently with the special 20. I almost feel a bit of suction on my lips on the cover plates when drawing on the 1 or 2 notes on the Promaster.
I have attempted gapping, but who knows if I even made a difference. I've never done anything like that before and I was a bit worried doing it, but then again if it's not working what's the worse that's going to happen, I will make it not work? No adjustments seemed to make any difference to the volume of hole 2, draw or bend. Also didn't seem to notice any less air leak when playing hole 2. I found that I made 2 blow sound a little better, but it's not very responsive still. I'm at a loss.
Is there any possible way to fix this issue, or do I just take the loss and learn my lesson? I don't think a refund or warranty stands since I bought it on Amazon.
If by chance a video example of the problem would help at all, let me know, and I'll record and post a video of the problem.
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Philosofy
827 posts
Jun 21, 2017
6:34 PM
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The aluminum comb on the Promaster has been known to have problems with flatness: saw marks, etc. That makes your harp leaky, which is bad. You can try flattening the comb. Also, Suzuki warranties their products. Gnarly here is the tech in the US.
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florida-trader
1151 posts
Jun 21, 2017
8:04 PM
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By any chance, is the ProMaster in the key of G?
No disrespect meant to you, but if you have only been playing for a month, it is unlikely that the issue is the harp. It could be, but chances are if you put that harp away and come back to it in 6 months it might be one of your favorite harps. What would have changed in that time? The harp? Or you?
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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Gnarly
2243 posts
Jun 21, 2017
10:05 PM
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Assuming the problem is the harp, call 1-800-854-1594 extension 4410, and have your receipt handy.
We are on the West Coast, and I am in tomorrow from 8 to 5.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Jun 22, 2017 8:42 AM
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rhetoriccamel
3 posts
Jun 22, 2017
4:45 AM
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While I'm aware that the 2 hole is a problem for a lot of beginners I did take that into consideration before posting. I have not had any issues with the 2 hole aside from maybe the first day or two of learning to play. I'm a pursed lips player, not a tongue block player. I did attempt tongue blocking for the 2 hole which didn't seem to make a difference in the sound volume or air leak issue I'm talking about. As I said this also happens a little on the 1 hole along with slow response on 1 and 2, but 3-10 are great.
@florida-trader the promaster is in the key of C. No disrespect taken, I'm aware that it could possibly be an issue since I'm a new player, and since I've only ever played on two other harmonicas (mb and sp20) I don't have a lot of experience, but the 2 hole has never given me issues before.
@Gnarly I purchased via Amazon from Suzuki, so the receipt I have is an email confirmation of my purchase with the order number. Is it still doable? I'm on the east coast and the earliest I'd be able to call is around 5pm eastern time.
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Gnarly
2244 posts
Jun 22, 2017
6:19 AM
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Call me and we will see if the documentation is sufficient for warranty work.
This comes up from time to time--proof of purchase not being strong enough due to purchase online. A big clue is the price--if you paid less than dealer cost, you probably bought from a vendor we didn't sell to.
Sometimes these same vendors offer a return policy--again, a clue since harmonicas are not refundable!
But call me!
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rhetoriccamel
4 posts
Jun 22, 2017
6:51 AM
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Thanks, Gnarly. I will give you a call this afternoon once I get out of work.
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hvyj
3339 posts
Jun 22, 2017
9:22 AM
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I LOVE Suzukis. And I've bought a lot of them over the years. PROMASTER combs can be problematic. And Suzukis sometimes come from the factory gapped too tight. This can diminish volume. Stalling is also a gapping issue (the gapping can be too tight or too high--too tight if it stalls with strong breath force, too high if you have to blow/draw harder to get response). Also, believe it or not, the welded reeds can get off centered, but you can fix that with a feeler gauge.
Sometimes if you take the reed plates off and put them back on it improves the leakage issue by causing the plates to seat better on the comb which makes the instrument more airtight. But if the comb is not flat, that won't help.
Hammonds are much better than PROMASTERS. They have superior combs and their covers darken the tone. Love my Hammonds.
But what I like even more than Hammonds are Olives with aluminum combs on them. The longer profile reeds on the Olives respond with better precision than the reeds on the Hammonds and PROMASTERS, and I am partial to aluminum combs. I get black anodized aluminum combs from BLUE MOON. I also have my Olives tuned to ET which is my preference. Hammonds and PROMASTERS come from the factory tuned to ET. I think all the Suzuki diatonics use a reference tuning of A442. BTW, PROMASTERS and Hammonds are EXTREMELY durable.
As far as AMAZON is concerned, it all depends on what vendor FULFILLED the order. I wouldn't assume that you are not covered by the warranty.
Last Edited by hvyj on Jun 22, 2017 9:41 AM
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Gnarly
2245 posts
Jun 22, 2017
2:32 PM
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I am going to help this customer, simply because his screen name is an anagram of his actual name.
Oh, and the price seems like it's not a direct sale from Japan--but Amazon doesn't make it easy to know what vendor is actually selling you the item.
Hopefully it's something simple!
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Irish Soul
7 posts
Jun 22, 2017
4:32 PM
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I had this happen with not one , not two, but three Manjis before I figured out normally Suzuki USA does not warranty MOST Suzuki products sold by Amazon or similar. I had no way to know because I didn't check their site. Hopefully you bought from an Amazon sub vendor who was straight.
The way I see it, if Suzuki made it and it isn't counterfeit then it shouldn't be a customer issue...but...they disagree.
Good luck and if you need to flatten a plate yourself talk to Andrew on here...he makes and sells top quality tools.
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Gnarly
2246 posts
Jun 22, 2017
8:18 PM
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Yeah, here's the deal . . .
The company I work for isn't owned by Suzuki Japan, they have a trade agreement and are the United States distributor.
If you buy a harmonica from us, you get warranty service from us--one year, includes reed failure, pretty generous.
If, however, you acquire your harmonica from a vendor outside the US, you need to get yer warranty service from them!
Harps sold by Amazon and shipped from Japan do not benefit from warranty service from the company I work for, simply because you didn't buy it from us.
Hey, two words: Rockin'. Ron. There are other vendors, but Ron deserves your business--he earns it.
If you are offended by my endorsement, call me and tell me about it. I am secure in my belief that you can't go wrong ordering from him. He's been getting all my business!
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Irish Soul
8 posts
Jun 22, 2017
9:08 PM
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Not offended at all...I think you tried to help me on the phone.if that was you, you were professional and did what you could...Rockin Ron is the only man I buy stock harps from period now.
It is just frustrating as a consumer for any of us I know how the thread starter feels if you think you are buying Suzuki with a warranty....I'm sure you understand ...I didn't mean to sound offensive toward your company if I did, but I think I'm a bit thick headed when it comes to is it a Suzuki or isn't it? Probably stubborn on my part....but you will never go wrong with Ron, total agreement
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Gnarly
2247 posts
Jun 22, 2017
11:22 PM
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The harmonicas seem to be Suzuki to me! Just grey market--not counterfeit.
It is tempting to get a better deal on these harps, and I don't make more money if you buy them here, but I like working on harmonicas!
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rhetoriccamel
5 posts
Jun 23, 2017
1:56 PM
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@Gnarly thanks again! I dropped it off at the post office today.
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Tim Czarkowski
1 post
Jul 12, 2017
5:19 PM
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That's crazy I was in basically the exact same position just a few days back. I'm also a new player, already had a Special 20, bought a Promaster from Amazon, thought it took much more air than the Special 20 to play it, and naturally it was the worst on the lowest holes.
I ended up exchanging mine(completely free through Amazon) and the new one was significantly better but still not as loud or as easy to play as my Special 20. I prefer the way the Promaster fits into my hand much better but I think I'll still probably end up playing the Special 20 more often because it's slightly easier(on my lungs) and I honestly prefer the sound a bit more. I suppose that might change as I advance, right now I've only been playing a little more than two months I believe (an hour a day, everyday though). However my wife would probably like any harmonica that's quieter when I have to practice while she's home, lol.
I also just wanted to say that Suzuki should backup there products no matter where they're bought. What they should do is work out an agreement with their US distributor or another harmonica repair shop where they pay them for repairs made under warranty for harps not sold by said US distributor. I certainly understand why, barring that, that the US distributor would not want to repair harps sold by someone else who I assume is violating their agreement with Suzuki. It's not the customer's fault that some company is selling "gray market" harmonicas and they should stand behind genuine Suzuki products no matter the source. I imagine most people who buy them have no idea and then to compound the problem apparently some people in Amazon are doing it the right way and others are not worth no way to tell. In sure this is a good way to scare off customers. It's also unlikely that they'll ever be sold only by 100% approved vendors either. This is the reason I buy my backpacking gear from small homemade shops and every now and then one of the larger specialty brands, they back their products 100% with no questions asked.
Anyways after that wall of text, lol, all I wanted to know was what was the outcome of this? I'm happy with mine since I exchanged it but I'm still interested in what the cause was.
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