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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Why even buy "top shelf" harps?
Why even buy "top shelf" harps?
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agarner
30 posts
Aug 24, 2018
5:23 PM
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So I have been playing for 3 years, and I have purchased harps in the $50 range: Hohner, Suzuki, LO. As I get more competent and my instruments begin to need replacement I am at a crossroads....
Does it make any real sense to spring for a Crossover or equivalent upscale harmonica, when it too will need adjustments? I gap my own stuff and have gotten to a point where I am happy with the response and OB capability. But since I haven't ever tried a higher end harp, am I missing out? I think my work is good, but how far from good is it?
I will not be forking out the cash for a custom, even though I know this is the real answer to.my question.
Cheers
Last Edited by agarner on Aug 24, 2018 5:23 PM
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arzajac
1855 posts
Aug 24, 2018
6:06 PM
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Yes, you are missing out.
Put ten harp of varying quality on the table and play them. They all will play the same notes so why not just pick the cheapest one?
The answer is that beyond being able to hit and control the note there is the tone of the instrument and there is also how FUN it is to play.
The reason why it's best practice to buy the best instrument you can when learning an instrument (any instrument) is because it increases the chance that you will have success in making progress. You won't practice if it's not fun. You won't play if it's not fun.
A better harp is usually more fun.
One measurable quality about a harp is how softly you can play it and still hit all the notes (especially the 2 and 3 draw bends). Can you play a riff using precise 3-draw bends at significantly lower volume than regular breath on your $50 harps? Chances are you could play much softer on a better harp. That equates to more control (and more fun.)
I hope that helps!
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
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agarner
31 posts
Aug 24, 2018
6:30 PM
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Thanks for the response Andrew. I'm sorry if I came off as rude stating that I wouldn't buy a customcustom. Im a young family man, and a harmonica doesn't fit into my financial plan. One day I will get a custom! But I did buy one of your tuning kits and it did get thinking.
Is it better for me to keep buying Special 20s and make them work for me, or buy the next grade up like a crossover? Will there be a marked difference.
Thanks for all you customizers do for our forum. You give away secrets that let us think we are pros!
Last Edited by agarner on Aug 24, 2018 6:33 PM
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jbone
2678 posts
Aug 24, 2018
7:17 PM
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I get your point here. I'm a long time player and I've tried a lot of harps, from $3 junk to full customs I had to barter for. Andrew makes a great point, if you love your axe you will be more likely to pursue the craft and excel.
I'm not a total precision player. Never done a scale. No idea how many draw bends are available on a given hole. Don't care. What I am good at is playing a decent harp, well, and making nice sounds that people enjoy.
I had some (mis)adventures with sealing combs and drill/tap/screw old MB's together, but never tried much reed work. I don't have the ear for it nor the patience. Tooling up to do a good job of customizing can cost out too. It's just not what I want to do. More power to those of you who like that, and I've had some nice custom harps from a couple of you.
This day and age there are a lot of choices in harps, and more every year. I like a replaceable reed plate harp and use Suzuki and Hohner for that reason. I don't use Lee Oskars these days but some folks love them. Bushman went by the wayside some years ago. What I want- and feel like I've found- is good quality for reasonable price, that I like.
My mission is different than it once was. I may not be a "player's player". I like what I do and so does my duo partner. And so do restaurant and venue managers. And most importantly audiences. And it's not just cover songs, we have 30 original songs on 3 CD's that folks buy.
Some 15 years ago, after maybe 30 years of struggle and some improvement, I made a vow that I would play for my whole life from that point on and do everything I could to spread joy with music. The past 15 years have been a true adventure and most especially the past 5. At the center of the adventure is dependable good sounding harps I can afford. I'm in the $60-65 range and buy replacement reed plates to keep my kit in working order.
Whatever makes you happy. Maybe if I'd begun working on harps earlier I'd have loved it but time is not on my side. Time playing is more like it for me!
By the way I have never tried a Crossover but recently fell in love with Deluxe MB's. Also keep Manji's in my acoustic kit.
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Music and travel destroy prejudice.
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WinslowYerxa
1605 posts
Aug 24, 2018
8:00 PM
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Agree with everything Andrew says.
A few years ago I bought two C harps for a recording project, one Crossover and one Special 20. The Crossover is still in my kit; not sure what happened to the SP20. I remember at the time finding the SP20 brighter toned (which goes against what everybody says about these models, but then, every individual harp is different). But they weren't all *that* different, and I'm not sure I could say one was any better than the other. In fact, they have the same reeds inside even if the comb and covers are different. Are the reeds in the Crossover set up any better? I can't speak to that from any direct knowledge.
On the other hand, I've bought basic Marine Bands, drilled them out for screws, flat sanded and sealed the comb, done some reedwork, and ended up with something every bit as nice as a Crossover. (And by the time I did all that work I'm not sure I saved any money.)
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Winslow
Harmonica lessons with one of the world's foremost experts
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
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SPAH 2018 - August 14-18 in St. Louis
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robbert
478 posts
Aug 24, 2018
8:50 PM
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Having played Xovers, Manjis, Sp 20s, LOs, BRs, MBs, Seydels and customs, I’ve found that Sp 20s hold up fine, especially if you do competent work on them.
At the moment, I’m gigging mostly with Manjis I’ve worked on, but have most of the other brands in my backup kit.
My few customs are in reserve(not played), the LOs, although a pretty good harp, are not currently used, and the all the harps in the backup kit have been modified in one way or another.
The Manjis are dependable, loud, great for unplugged playing. The reeds seem stiffer so not as malleable(easy to work) as Hohner reeds.
I haven’t busted a reed or really had a harp go out of tune in years now, so I guess I’ve learned some breath control.
Although I practice the technique, over bending doesn’t figure into my performance work much, even though almost every harp I’ve worked on can overblow/draw. Some are set up well, others are not as good.
Anyway, bottom line, SP20s will do the job, especially with some work, and decent breath control.
If you find more budget, it’s good to try different makes and models, and get at least one great custom.
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6SN7
804 posts
Aug 25, 2018
4:48 AM
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I played special 20's for years. A little tweaking, makes them great harps along with opening the backs.
I now play Marine Band Deluxes. They have better parts and when set up , play better IMHO. And they last longer.
That's my experience.
You should buy one custon harp just to see what they about , choose a A or G. It will be in your kit forever. I still have the first one i bought 6 years ago and it works a charm.
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Aug 25, 2018 5:46 AM
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Dox
197 posts
Aug 25, 2018
5:30 AM
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Agarner, if you have no money do not try a custom harp, because after you can't return back!! Between a special 20 and a crossover... Mha... Different prices but same harp at the end... If you want to switch you need to go on custom.. Yes, some Suzuki and Seydel around 100 dollars are something different but the real jump quality is on custom... And here THERE IS DIFFERENCE, A LOT OF DIFFERENCE...
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6SN7
805 posts
Aug 25, 2018
5:50 AM
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Dox- no difference between a SP20 and a Xover....wrong. Let's see, the covers, the comb, the reeds, the bolts that hold them together, all different.
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agarner
32 posts
Aug 25, 2018
5:56 AM
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Thanks everyone for the feedback.
6SN7- if you were to put the components and specific tones aside, how different is the playability between let's say a: special 20, manji, MB and a Crossover.
Last Edited by agarner on Aug 25, 2018 5:56 AM
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dunn.andy
12 posts
Aug 25, 2018
6:15 AM
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Great answers all
I knew all that but it’s good to read it on a form from you lot
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Buzadero
1334 posts
Aug 25, 2018
6:15 AM
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First of all, I absolutely appreciate budgetary considerations during different periods of life. So, that said I’m going to echo the sentiment from those as stated above.
A quality harp will make you happy.
You don’t need a full quiver of top-shelf harps. It’s a nice luxury to have, but if you can’t you can’t.
Keep playing and developing your chops on what you buy that you feel is appropriate for your financial status and life priorities. But, get one or two really nice ones.
Keep them in a safe place. Bring them out from time to time and treat it like an event. Of course you treat every practice or noodling session with serious intentions. But, go that just a bit extra in your respect for a top notch axe. Bring it out ceremoniously. Brush your teeth and rinse out your face with a little extra care. Get situated in your woodshed and let the process happen like a rite. Take that hard earned Cadillac out and let the quality enhance what you already bring to the table.
You get your mind in that set and you will quickly come to really appreciate what a quality product and what some of these customizers can do.
But….a word of caveat. Be prepared. Once you do recognize just how much nicer quality is and what it does for your playing and sense of musical self, you’ll find yourself re-calibrating your personal finances and budget.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
MBH poseur since 11Nov2008
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Lou
35 posts
Aug 25, 2018
7:06 AM
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I just started to take the harp seriously about a year ago (I play other instruments in a band) and after trying Sydels,Lee Oskar, SP20, Manji's, promaster, Crossover I bought a Blue Moon ready to go A and it is by far and away my favorite Harp I keep telling the band just play something in E ! As far as "missing out" if your asking the question then there is only one real way to find out & you gotta scratch that itch. Save some $ and buy a custom.
Lou
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Dox
198 posts
Aug 25, 2018
7:16 AM
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6SN7: ok, you are right but in this post you have to think in quadridimensional mode...a special 20 and a crossover at the end are in the same class of harp, in the same class of production...maybe agarner can feel some difference but there isn't a jump of class between harps, which is the base question of post...I'm pretty sure that Agarner can buy a crossover or a manji or a marine band and, apart some physical feel about cover shape and hole space, he will not find a significant reason to justify an higher cost...trust me, the REAL differences come up with the custom harps where the works is focused on reedplates and reeds...
Last Edited by Dox on Aug 25, 2018 7:23 AM
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jbone
2679 posts
Aug 25, 2018
7:37 AM
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Great point Buzadero. I do have a couple of really nice harps, one a full custom MB that plays very nice indeed and comes out just on certain songs, another is a Suzuki Pure harp, rosewood comb and covers and a very sweet warm harp to play, which comes out on just one song. It's a song Jolene sings that I wrote for her and she was the one who told me to get a really nice harp one day, so it's special. I did use it for other stuff and killed a reed so now it has fresh reed plates and is just for the special song.
agarner I did neglect to talk about durability of different harps. A 5$ Johnson harp may sound good for a few songs or a set or a whole gig, played like you play out live, but the thin reeds and leaky comb and plates will doom it to a short life. That's one example. Other hand $27 Eastop 008s harps in my kit that, while I don't play them all the time, they do have a place in my case and they are both over 2 years old. Solid and good sounding.
More $$ can mean better build. Better materials and better manufacturing. Some 25 years ago or so I used SP20's because MB seemed to be bad quality at the time. I was not a very refined player and was hard on harps. I regularly blew out reeds and replaced harps, at the time SP20 went for like $27. But I had nights out gigging with blues rock bands where I blew out 2 or 3 harps. Once even 5. In one night. This was due mostly to my bad habits. I began a search for the perfect atomic blast proof harp I thought I needed. I tried several solutions to my problem including buying a lot of cheapass harps and blowing them up frequently.
In that time guys like Joe F., Richard S., and a few others were doing custom harps. They had begun rebuilding their own harps and word got out and a cottage industry was born. I have never been able to justify the expense for a set of custom harps but I wait for the Lotto to hit. Being retired and broke and all.
I've always been a blue collar guy, not a lot of extra $ to spend on harps, so budget concerns have always been a consideration. As much as possible I have been out playing, street, farmers markets, benefits for disaster victims, regular gigs, etc., and have needed a decent kit with me for many years. So I first of all needed to get a grip on how to play without killing reeds so fast like the bad old days. Breath control, air column, voice coaching. These ideas came to the front and my voice- and harp longevity as well- improved.
Between treating a harp like what it is, and finding bands that didn't break windows sonically, and using sound equipment where needed, I have seen harps last much longer. My kit has Manji for acoustic stuff mostly. Then I use MB Deluxe, Eastop, a Big River or two, couple Suzukis, even a Bushman Delta Frost in there, for amped work in the duo.
Most people can't distinguish the sound difference between a $20 harp and a $100 harp. My point has been keeping harps alive for a long time for economic reasons. The only other concern to me is when a reed starts going flat I can heart it and it's time to deal with it. My adventures with retuning have not gone well ever. For me best to replace plates and go forward.
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Music and travel destroy prejudice.
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Music and travel destroy prejudice.
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Thievin' Heathen
1050 posts
Aug 25, 2018
9:23 AM
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I see a lot of working harp players using Lee Oskars and Special 20's. I even met one who was a die hard Golden Melody player. A $50 harp will do the job just fine, especially if you do a bit of work on it.
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Dox
199 posts
Aug 25, 2018
10:31 AM
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Summarizing, what arzajac say is true and indisputable.
In general, an SP20 out of box will be similar to harp with a little higher cost (marine band, gold melody, lee oskar, bluesmaster). Harps like Tombo Aero, Hohner Crossover, Suzuki Olive/Manji/Promaster, can have better materials but in term of sound and playability y'll not find a lot of differences (somone will not agree with this sentence but this is my experience with over 300 harps...). Again, maybe someone can't agree but we have the real jump to another class of instruments, moving on custom instruments with reedplates and reeds works. So, if you can try an Andrew Zajac, or Blue Moon, or Ben Bouman Beta Harmonicas (some examples) y'll understand what I say.
The only reason to get, for example, a Session Steel instead of one SP20 is the feeling with cover shape and the overall harp "dimension" but in term of sound/playability I don't think y'll find real differences.
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robbert
479 posts
Aug 25, 2018
12:59 PM
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The difference between Xovers and SP20s, other than the obvious, Xovers are more airtight ootb. In most cases, they require less customizing work to ob/od decently, for example.
SP20s play as well, but require a bit more hand work to get them there. That’s been my experience.
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dchurch
179 posts
Aug 25, 2018
2:16 PM
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With 3 years and the variety of harps you’ve played I would assume you have a solid opinion of what design features you like. If you have a MB and really like its design, you will appreciate a step up to a MB Deluxe or Crossover.
But to be specific to your Special 20 to Crossover upgrade question you may be disappointed. The Special 20 is a fine harp; some world class players love them. Because you like the SP20 design and are accomplished at setting the gaps, a better upgrade for you may be to stick with the SP20 and slowly add custom combs to your collection. I believe you will be better off long term if you do that while expanding your personal skills of gapping, embossing… and reed replacement.
Worth it? You mentioned Lee Oskar. That’s a great harmonica value, especially if you prefer reed plate replacement to single reed replacement. Lee also offers a variety of harps and plates in special tuning which the SP20 does not.
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It's about time I got around to this.
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SuperBee
5565 posts
Aug 25, 2018
4:08 PM
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Up there somewhere, someone said Sp20 reeds are different to Crossover/Marine Band deluxe.
That isn’t true.
The reeds in Sp20, Marine Band, golden melody, deluxe, Crossover and rocket are all the same.
The Reedplates in Sp20 and rocket are the same.
Reedplates in deluxe and Crossover are the same. And the only difference with those and marine band 1896 is the drilling for fasteners.
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Dox
201 posts
Aug 25, 2018
4:47 PM
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SuperBee, you are right, as I said...Here the problem is to understand if an harp in 50$ range (of a different brand also, like suzuki...) is really different to an sp20. For me all these harps are in "the same class" and is unusefull to experiment in this range (unless for a physical feeling factor...). So the suggestion is: yes you can get a really really really lot better harp than an sp20 with DIY gap, but unfortunatly for our family man you need to get a custom in a range of 150$-200$...that is a really high cost if you consider 6-7 most important tunings plus eventually backups....
Last Edited by Dox on Aug 25, 2018 4:50 PM
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SuperBee
5566 posts
Aug 25, 2018
6:41 PM
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Yep, I guess everyone finds their own solution, whatever that might be.
For me it was to invest in some tools and acquisition of skills, repair and set up my own harps, repairs and adjustment for others. I don’t have to worry about broken harps, they are cheap to repair if you can do your own work. I can acquire broken harps cheaply and restore and sell, with warranty.
This meant I could afford custom harps too, which I usually acquire more as a learning tool than because I need them to play; my approach doesn’t require very specialised work and my own work is more than adequate for my personal needs as a player, but I do need to understand the benchmarks.
I own 11 custom harps now, and I play them. I don’t really know why you wouldn’t play them. I play mine all the time.
Because I have seen samples of custom work on my workbench (as in harps sent me for repair) and have acquired samples of work from selected customisers, I feel I have a fair insight into what goes on with custom harps. For a large percentage of players the work done to the level such as Andrew Z calls ‘semi-custom’ is plenty, but curiosity is an expensive trait and hard to satisfy once you let it get some power in your thoughts.
Also, you may acquire a custom harp and be disappointed. I recall getting one and thinking ‘what’s so great about that?’. It wasn’t until I improved my playing in certain ways that I was able to appreciate some of the qualities offered by the harp.
Another thought on customs. I was in Deak’s shop and introduced myself by way of dropping the name of a mutual acquaintance for whom I’d done some repairs. Deak says ‘oh are you xxxx (name)?’
I wasn’t the person he was thinking of, but that person has been doing custom harps and sold some to our mutual acquaintance. Deak was critical of the work, not in terms of playability but tuning. Great tuning of a harp does make a difference but as Joe Spiers once wrote on this forum, many players don’t realise the harp is out of tune until there’s a broken reed.
Now, opinions differ about tuning. Some would say that an ET harp is out of tune even when it’s perfectly tuned. Others would say the reverse is true, anything not ET is not in tune. It’s relative to purpose, which usually means the setting in which the harp is played. And then there is the factor of breath force and condensation affecting pitch, and it can all seem to be fairly relative and approximate. Of course, being not quite in tune is a large part of the distinctive sound of a harp for some. But I do really believe a well-tuned harp is worth striving for.
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CarlA
967 posts
Aug 25, 2018
7:30 PM
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..........it’s 35-40$ for a great playing harp. Skip a dinner a month and you can buy 2 quality harps. Let’s get real, your not buying a gold bullion bar for FS.
You can’t make chicken soup out of chicken shi*
Smh
Last Edited by CarlA on Aug 25, 2018 7:31 PM
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hvyj
3620 posts
Aug 26, 2018
7:07 AM
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The most common problem with OOB harps is the comb, which is usually not flat. So, replacing the comb often improves the harp considerably.
How much to spend? Well, how much does a decent guitar or sax cost?
Last Edited by hvyj on Aug 26, 2018 7:07 AM
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The Iceman
3655 posts
Aug 26, 2018
7:20 AM
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Let's say - I'm REALLY into driving. I love driving around town, on the expressway, up and down hills, around sharp curves, in the country, etc.
How do I do this?
I buy a car, of course.
Which car do I buy, since they all seem to be able to do all of the above?
I don't have much money, so I buy a KIA compact. It does the job. It gets me where I want to go.
Then, one day I take a Mercedes out for a test drive.
It also does the job. It gets me where I want to go.
However, there seems to be a qualitative difference in just how that Mercedes gets me where I want to go.
Is it worth the extra money?
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The Iceman
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Sundancer
249 posts
Aug 26, 2018
12:12 PM
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Cars to harps is an interesting analogy. But not necessarily a valid one IMO becuase of the status folks believe to be attached to their expensive cars. I think about this every time I see a Mercedes or Audi parked in front of our local laundromat.
Perhaps a more valid analogy is bicycles. You can get a damn good one for $1500 that will serve you for many years. But spending 3X (like you would for a custom harp) will get you a lighter machine with better wheels & gears that’ll make ya feel like you’re riding in the TdF. And since the bike doesn’t sit outside your house or apt. there isn’t really any extra status attached to it. Just like no one knows if your playing a custom or not.
For my money, good bikes and custom harps are both worth the extra cost becuase they make the activity so much more enjoyable.
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florida-trader
1341 posts
Aug 26, 2018
12:49 PM
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Historically speaking, the pattern with owning harmonicas was:
1. Buy a cheap harp (back in the old days, they were all cheap)
2. Blow it out
3. Buy a new one to replace it.
4. Repeat steps 1 -3
Harp prices have gone up across the board. Add to that the extra expense of a custom comb and/or reed work, either done by someone else for a price or via your own perosnal time spent working on the reed plates, and you can easily have $150 - $200 tied up in a harp. So, a full set of harps can cost $1,500 - $2,000. That's a lot of money.
BUT.................
When you invest that much money in a harp or harps, you will more than likely take better care of it than the harps you know have a short life span. If a reed blows out, you don't need to replace the entire harp. You can have it repaired at a very reasonable price - far less than buying a new OOTB harp. So, in spite of the bigger hit on your wallet up front, one could argue that in the long run, it will save you money compared to buying cheaper harps and throwing them away.
Investing in good custom harps, or learning to build them yourself, means that you will always have good harps to play. Don't save them for special occassions. Play them every chance you get.
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Tom Halchak
Blue Moon Harmonicas
Last Edited by florida-trader on Aug 26, 2018 1:40 PM
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CarlA
968 posts
Aug 26, 2018
1:02 PM
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@ Sundancer
Straining the gnats and swallowing the camels my friend
Lol
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Sundancer
250 posts
Aug 26, 2018
1:36 PM
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Carla - . As you’re apparently on a biblical kick, try this one:
proverbs 17:27-28
Make America Musical Again
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CarlA
969 posts
Aug 26, 2018
2:46 PM
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@sundancer
I think calling someone a “fool” goes against the forum creed. Need I remind you bro ;)
Try this for size Matthew 5:22
You can’t win. But thanks for playing
Your bike analogy sucked BTW
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SuperBee
5567 posts
Aug 26, 2018
3:46 PM
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This is pretty funny; guys citing scripture to swat at each other in a discussion of harmonicas. Is nothing sacred?
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CarlA
970 posts
Aug 26, 2018
4:01 PM
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@superbee
Nope!
Only thing sacred is whether you should drive while playing the harmonica ;)
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hooktool
181 posts
Aug 26, 2018
7:44 PM
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WWJP? (what would Jesus play?)
John
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Sundancer
252 posts
Aug 26, 2018
7:46 PM
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Cross harp?
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SuperBee
5568 posts
Aug 26, 2018
8:27 PM
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Oh no! I think you’ve nailed it, Sundancer.
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jbone
2680 posts
Aug 26, 2018
8:29 PM
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Having harps repaired looks good at first glance. Factor in postage and of course compensation to have repairs done and it gets a bit more pricey. For me the time without a given harp may be a factor too although I do have spares in most keys that would do in a pinch.
Next year we're planning to go back on the road full time so getting something sent to me would be a trick too. We may be certain places for a few months or we may be mobile, hard to tell yet.
Always waiting for the Lotto win......
So for now for me spare reed plates are it.
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Music and travel destroy prejudice.
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SuperBee
5569 posts
Aug 26, 2018
9:26 PM
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My most regular customer sent me well over 50 repairs when they were working a lot. Marine band deluxe was the usual harp, and they run to around $70 in our money. I charged $15 per, plus postage. I’d get 5 or 6 in the bag for around $13 post.
So, say a job of 5: I’d charge $75 plus 26, so $101 all up, against $350.
Into the bargain the client receives clean, tuned and adjusted harps which play better than new.
Based on the lower estimate of 50 (probably more like 70 in fact) , my customer saved perhaps $2500. Let’s halve that, because they would blow both the 4 and 5 draw reeds but not at the same time. If they’d bought new harps they’d only have blown the 5 draw. So let’s say they only saved $1250 through electing to have me repair their harps.
I got quite a few jobs mending customs too. Mended a couple Harrison’s BRadicals. Generally people are keen to have expensive and favourite harps mended. And then sometimes I get harps which cost a lot and don’t play well. This may be why I don’t rate certain expensive harps, as I tend to see a higher than average sample of the bad ones.
It’s much cheaper to mend your own of course. New reed for a special 20 costs under $2, and a rivet costs almost nothing
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BnT
181 posts
Aug 26, 2018
11:41 PM
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Affordability IS important and you can do well at non-custom prices. If you play professionally and constantly, custom harps may fit your life and wallet. If you (not fans) are financing your harps, there are options.
I play Manji's (after 40 years of Hohner and a few years of Seydel & Bends). They're great. I have Gnarley (who posts on MBH) retune them to "just compromise" tuning. They're responsive, easy to play, last well, and don't cost an arm and a leg. Even when he built me a Manji custom Ebm (for playing Brubeck's "Take Five") it cost less than $100.
I have a friend who buys Crossharps (so he already pays more for his basic harp than I do for my retuned Manji) then he pays another $100 to customize each. So his are also easy to play and responsive too, but cost an extra $100 each. They don't sound better than mine.
Much depends on personal ability and preference. Joe Filisko customizes for Rick Estrin. That same harp will not get ME close to sounding as good as Rick. I know a guy who buys Richard Sleigh harps. They play well, but don't make him a great player.
So there's a lot you can do with the right $50 harp. OOB? do a little gapping? spend $25 for work? or a custom comb? I put a Brendan Power Extreme comb in an old Koch slide harmonica and it brought it to life; corian combs that made harps colourful, not better; and I tried a couple of Andrew Zajac's Manji combs - don't think they were flatter or "better" than stock combs and they stick out in front of the covers so they are uncomfortable in the mouth.
Getting the playability and tone? It's about YOU and the 3 P's - personal preferences, pocketbook, and practice. You can get and create great harps without breaking the bank.
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BnT
Last Edited by BnT on Aug 28, 2018 2:44 PM
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Martin J. Hayes
2 posts
Aug 28, 2018
8:51 AM
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When you see how the different harps respond to the different bends, octaves and overblown techniques you will see why it is important or worth it. You might even learn to do harp maintenance. Everyone is different and plays different.
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ridge
743 posts
Aug 28, 2018
10:23 AM
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If you're budget conscious, I would stick with what you're doing. The SP20 is still pretty much my go to harmonica and the quality has improved over time.
Keep your eyes open for deals where you can pick up 5-6 common key harps (G, A, C, D, E, F) in a carrying case. Forum members will occasionally share bargains they've run across. Pretty sure I got something close to what I'm describing a few years ago from Musician's Friend for $120-$130 so it wound up being either about $20-$25 per harp. I can't recall if I got 5 or 6 harps in the deal.
For me, the Crossover isn't that enjoyable for the price and I wasn't thrilled about the Marine Band Deluxe back in its early days.
On the flip side, it's true that a better responding harmonica is more enjoyable to play. I personally don't believe that price of harmonica is directly related to quality of harmonica after a certain dollar threshold. Exhibit A would be my $100+ Meisterklasse which looks absolutely awesome, but is really just a dressed up MS Series harp with aluminum comb and cool cover plates. The reed plates are supposed to be thicker, but I honestly couldn't feel a playable difference. It most certainly did not play any better than a run of the mill MS Blue Harp or MS Pro Harp. So I'd draw the line at about $70. Anything beyond that may just end up being window dressing
One last parting thought. Whatever you do, buy your harmonicas from a source that moves a lot of product so you have a better chance of getting fresher harmonicas. When I first started playing around 1997-98, I bought Golden Melody harmonicas from a music store that were OLD stock from back when Hohner nailed them together. They are abysmal: reeds riveted off center, plates warped, slot tolerances were huge.
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Ridge's YouTube
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groyster1
3240 posts
Aug 28, 2018
12:40 PM
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I personally love my custom harps which are mostly marine bands with a few sp20s......they are much easier to play due to much less breath force needed.....that being said......they dont play themselves.....you must have the skill to play them
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