groyster1
412 posts
Aug 29, 2010
10:30 AM
|
over the past few months I have purchased 1 mb crossover and 3 suzuki manjis-in performance the comparison is too close to call-in value the manjis sell for 20$ less and seem to be readily available in all keys-not so with the crossover-they are consistently under back order and can only wonder if hohner is keeping production down making demand higher leading to higher cost-Im quite sure if hohner sees this post they will become quite torqued!
|
TahoeMike00
91 posts
Aug 29, 2010
2:38 PM
|
It might do Hohner some good to peruse forums such as this to get in touch [and listen to] the people that actually use their products.
{{refraining from climbing on a soap box}}
----------
The more I learn about harmonica, the more I learn how much more there is to learn.
Last Edited by on Aug 29, 2010 2:39 PM
|
groyster1
413 posts
Aug 29, 2010
4:31 PM
|
@TahoeMike00
I canceled an order from hohner about a Bb harp I had on back order for 4 months I think their attitude sucks as long as they are getting their sales
|
Joe_L
583 posts
Aug 29, 2010
5:18 PM
|
I guess you've never ordered a Bushman Delta Frost. Stories like that are not uncommon.
|
Brendan Power
85 posts
Aug 30, 2010
12:21 AM
|
@Joe_L: Just buy a Suzuki Harpmaster instead. Identical
|
N.O.D.
139 posts
Aug 30, 2010
7:21 AM
|
Yo Bro's Adam endorses Hohner Harps,a large part of MBH forum plays Hohner Harps,we have Pro's that do custom work on Hohner harps,
what better place to start a petition to let Hohner
know of your disatifacation toward there Loyal customers, and to stop being a secret sociaty let us know whats going down:(
we can go a step further tell them what we want in a harp all i want is 2 harps Bring them into the 21st century the MB give it a solid composite resin comb with screw down reed plates:)
Same with the Special-20 a solid composite resine comb like the Manji and open back cover plates
all i have to do is gapping and my Harp is Perfect:)
PS i have had no problems with Hohner harps in the 100 odd years i been playing them so i can't start a petition complaining about there services,
i can only suggest my wish list of what i would like
in my perfect OOTB Harps:)
so if enough people from a forum Run by a Proud endorser of there product complain about Hohner Harps,
i guess it would be a fair bet they should take notice, especialy if we just happen to let them get wind of the link to the thread Happening in MBH land:)
----------
Stop Bitchin
stand up be counted:)
|
hvyj
569 posts
Aug 30, 2010
8:17 AM
|
It seems to me that Hohner follows a PT Barnum business philosophy. I mean, their most popular model is leaky, put together with nails and has a comb that swells, yet people continue to buy Marine Bands and rave about what great instruments they are. Go figure.
Since Hohner has been able to market an instrument like that with such enduring success, they have every reason to believe that PT Barnum was right when he said there's a sucker born every minute. So, from Hohner's point of view, there's probably no reason to make a consistent expenditure of effort and money on such things as quality control and customer service.
Last Edited by on Aug 30, 2010 8:29 AM
|
groyster1
414 posts
Aug 30, 2010
8:45 AM
|
@hvyj
very logical summation-I really think hohner has more competition than they would like to have
|
HarpNinja
594 posts
Aug 30, 2010
9:41 AM
|
Marine Bands are easy to customize and look slick as all get out when done well. I am nearing completion on a set that includes all 12 standard keys as well as Low D and Low E. I have Low Eb and Low F# in Sp 20's.
My plans are to not order anymore MB's in the future (I have several more "backups" to finish) and to start ordering something that requires less body work.
So far, my favorite has been the Manji. I don't have the money to buy a bunch right now, but I will for sure buy them as I *need* to replace harps.
It took me a solid hour to take a part a MB, convert to screws, sand down the reedplates/comb to line up perfectly (used to not put much effort into this, but man does it look snappy), and to put everything back together. That doesn't even include reedwork. Granted the sanding with different grits takes a long time, but still!
The Manji was totally playable in 20min. No body work...then I went back and tuned to the Crossover tuning and needed to tweak a few reeds. Still - less time than setting up a MB body.
----------
Mike
|
hvyj
571 posts
Aug 30, 2010
10:58 AM
|
You know, I don't care if MBs customize well. I'm not interested in do-it-yourself projects. I have other demands on my time. When I spend time with my harmonicas I want to PLAY them, not do what the manufacturer should have done in the first place in order to make them playable.
If I want a harp customized, I'll buy one from Buddha. I've accepted the fact that all harps may need to be gapped, and I'm willing to do that, but i get no satisfaction from tinkering around with tools and sandpaper. It annoys me and tries my patience. I've got better and more interesting things to do with my time--including practicing scales and arpeggios.
My Suzuki Hammonds play fine out of the box. Are they as good as my Buddha harps? No. But they are playable and play well enough to use for performance. And they certainly play better than any OOB Hohner I've ever tried. And the 2 or 3 times I've ever needed to call Suzuki customer service i would rate the quality of service as being 12 on a 1 to 10 scale. Suzuki customer service is exceptionally good. Any time I've had to call Hohner they try to convince me that any problem must be the result of poor playing technique.
Last Edited by on Aug 30, 2010 10:59 AM
|
HarpNinja
598 posts
Aug 30, 2010
11:08 AM
|
I tried the Hammond at SPAH. I preferred the Manji, but it was a good OOTB harp. I think the name throws people - like it has a weird tuning or echo harp effect.
I get what you're saying. I only tinker with harps when my kids are napping and I can't be loud, lol. Sometimes if we're sitting outside I'll work cosmetically on one too. Otherwise, if it is in hand, I am playing it. During the week I don't get enough time to even amp up and noodle. It is 10-15 here and there with focused acoustic practice
----------
Mike
|
Joch230
308 posts
Aug 30, 2010
11:43 AM
|
Mike, I can totally relate to the kids thing. I have 3 and the youngest is now 16. But when I was your age, I had a band and all my buddies were musicians. Then my oldest boy ends up being a 3 sport star...state wrestling, football and travel baseball. Between going to all the games and traveling, I had to put the music on hold for 15 or so years. Just getting back into it now. No regrets though....enjoy them while you can. My little sport star is now 21.
John
|
groyster1
416 posts
Aug 30, 2010
6:54 PM
|
hey liju dont care about your_______ shoes
|
AV8R
51 posts
Aug 31, 2010
3:32 PM
|
I ordered my first Manji yesterday from Rockin Ron's. Also a Harpmaster and a set of MS Blues harp replacement reeds ($24 for the MS reeds, this will probably be the first and last time I buy a set of MS reeds, too expensive).
I will buy more Marine Bands in the future, but I feel like I'm playin' blackjack in Las Vegas whenever I buy one. Wish they would go to screws for the Marine Band so I could at least open it up and put it back together quickly.
|
Joe_L
597 posts
Sep 04, 2010
6:17 PM
|
@Brendan - Thanks man! I appreciate that info.
|
markdc70
34 posts
Sep 04, 2010
6:33 PM
|
@Brendan - I was under the impression that the Harpmaster has brass reeds and the delta frost uses phosphor bronze reeds???
|
Brendan Power
89 posts
Sep 05, 2010
1:54 AM
|
The Harpmaster originally had brass reeds but it has switched to phosphor bronze now.
|
