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beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players > Suzuki Folk Master
Suzuki Folk Master
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HotMetal
18 posts
May 12, 2016
12:43 PM
Anyone have experience with this brand of harp?
Killa_Hertz
1334 posts
May 12, 2016
12:56 PM
No. Sorry. The only Suzukis I have are the Manji and Promaster. Manji is great, but I dont care for the promaster.

It seems to be Suzukis copy of the Marine Band. In my experience suzuki reeds are a little tougher to play, but nice once you get used to them.

But for someone of your level, im not sure if you will like it.

I know thats not what you asked. But I had to put my 2 cents in regardless.


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rogonzab
952 posts
May 12, 2016
2:35 PM
I think that the Folkmaster are the best cheap harps. They are cheap harps, keep that in mind, but they are OK to play if you gap the reeds.
I owned a F once, and that was very good (I mean, very good considering that I paid 1/3 the price of a MB/Sp20 type)
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Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
SuperBee
3712 posts
May 12, 2016
3:56 PM
It's been a while and possible that things may have changed since I last bought a folk master. But I had a few 'back in the day'.
From my experience I agree with Rogonzab.
I'd play these ahead of any of the cheap hohners (eg piedmont, blues band, hot metal, silver star)
Also over the johnsons, jambones, blues king types.
But they are still cheap harps.
Unlike other suzukis, they have brass reeds.
Covers are flattish and easily bent. Lots of little screws in the reed plates.
Mainly due to the low cover profile I think they seem to play rather quietly.
I'm not a fan of Suzuki harps in general, but I feel these are the best in their niche...the only Suzuki harp I'd choose over hohner at the same price point.
Also...be aware my info is 15 years out of date and only based on experience of 3 harps...so I really don't know what I'm talking about.
ME.HarpDoc
147 posts
May 12, 2016
5:09 PM
I've got one in A and E. Tried them out for a beginer's class i was teaching but decided to go with Seydel Session Standard, which was easier on the lips. The Folkmaster is sandwich construction, like the MB, and the reed plates can be sharp on the lips and the corners. However, the sound in the ones I have is not bad. As stated above, probably the best cheap harp. I bought the E later because I occasionally jam with folks who'll pull out a rare tune in the key of B but it's so rare I didn't want to spend much on an E harp (2nd position) so I bought another Folkmaster.

HM you had another post on difficulty bending a cheap harp. I don't think the FM is particularly easy to bend when you're learning but not bad. I found the easiest harps to learn bending were the Suzuki Bluesmaster and Harpmaster (basically same reed plates with different cover plates)

Last Edited by ME.HarpDoc on May 12, 2016 5:14 PM
Ian
335 posts
May 13, 2016
2:44 AM
In my opinion, the suzuki harps the are really worth the cover price are the bluesmaster, harpmaster and the manji.
The bluesmaster is really nice harp to play, very comfortable and easy to bend.
If the price is a bit too much maybe look at the hohner big river? I have one and it's good for the price. Nice tone, airtight and responsive after a bit of gapping.
That being said, if you don't want to worry about gapping yet I'd say the bluesmaster may be your best bet. I have had 3 and each one was very well set up.
jason campbell
86 posts
May 13, 2016
5:23 AM
The folkmaster is a cheap harp, and my biggest complaint is that it feels that way. It feels cheap in your hands as well as on the lips. I use mine only as "car harps", in case of emergencies, never play them in public. For a cheap harp I think Big River are better.
HotMetal
19 posts
May 13, 2016
6:56 AM
Thanks for the info everyone!
ME.HarpDoc
149 posts
May 13, 2016
12:52 PM
My Folkmasters sit in my car also. I've had two Big Rivers. Like the tone and they're loud, easy to bend. FWIW however, they're the only harps where I've busted reeds 3x ( one 5d, one 4d, one 2d, all early in my learning. Probably working too hard). Good harp though in the under $30 range.
SuperBee
3716 posts
May 13, 2016
3:37 PM
Is the big river cheaper than blues harp,pro harp? Here they cost the same, which is same as a marine band, sp20, i.e. $59

Sorry, fact check! Correction.
In this country,
They are $41

harpmaster is $36
Sp20, marine band is $52 as are the pro harp, sp 20, blues harp

Folkmaster is $22, about half the price of big river.

Not really the same league. But the folkmaster is not in the same club as those other cheap harps either...its in between the $10 junk and the $40 range where you can feel justifiably annoyed that they still dont play properly

Last Edited by SuperBee on May 13, 2016 3:55 PM
Glass Harp Full
134 posts
May 13, 2016
4:27 PM
I have one Folkmaster and would not recommend them. The cover plates have sharp edges that hurt your hands and lips. They are also quite small and quiet.

If you want a Suzuki go for a Bluesmaster or Harpmaster. Both very good harps for the reasons others have described above.

If you want something in a cheaper price range, the Hohner Blues Bender is actually pretty good in my experience. It has a nice sound, is fairly loud and has larger holes which makes it easier to get single notes. They don't last very long though.

You can read a review at the Harp Surgery website. They go for $25-30 in Australia depending where you buy them.

Last Edited by Glass Harp Full on May 13, 2016 4:53 PM


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