|
beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players >
First real harp's influence on subsequent harps?
First real harp's influence on subsequent harps?
Page:
1
Havoc
60 posts
May 01, 2017
9:34 PM
|
How many out there ended up returning to your first real harp model as your preference even after trying others?
My first harp was a golden Melody, i buggered it up experimenting with gapping. After that I picked up two Seydel sessions. Since then I've tried Suzuki promaster and hohner Marine band deluxe. Mostly different keys, so that is a variable as well. But the interface on the sessions is my favorite. The recessed reed plates, the plastic comb and the ergonomics of the cover plates make it very comfortable to play. Also enabling me to get a better wah.
----------
If you don't cut it while it's hot......
----------
If you don't cut it while it's hot......
|
SuperBee
4666 posts
May 02, 2017
12:08 AM
|
my first harp was a marine band, but so long ago i dunno if it had much impact. when i started playing 'for real', i had a junk harp that came with the book.
i think my first real harp after that was a Special 20, but it was an MS Sp20, in C. i didn't like it. at the same time i bought 2 Huang Silvertone Deluxe harps, an A and a D. i liked those a lot. one broke and i couldn't fix it.
i replaced it with a Hohner MS Blues harp. i also bought a Suzuki Folkmaster in G. i remember i liked the sound of the G but it wasnt nice to hold and it was quiet.
i bought more blues harps because i broke a few. i remember feeling it was always a lottery whether i'd be able to play them. i think i bought a MS Pro Harp, and another Folkmaster. I bought a Suzuki Bluesmaster which i still have. i was very disappointed in that one.
The Blues Harps seemed the best i could find for quite a while, shopping at local music stores. one day i saw some marine bands and i bought one. it was ok but the comb swelled. i cut it down with my pocket knife, and after that i didnt like it much. i bought a very expensive marine band deluxe and it was good but seemed almost too easy to play. it didnt handle hard playing very well. so i tried to take it easy. i still have that one too, although i had to replace the comb a few years ago
a couple years after that purchase i discovered MBH and the world kind of unfolded. i learned that harps could be adjusted. what a moment that was. suddenly almost all my harps were playable, apart from the bluesmaster and the folkmasters and the Special 20 and the broken ones.
i tried some seydel solist pro harps but the grabbed my whiskers too much.
i learned that sp20s were no longer MS, but i had decided i liked wooden combs so i didnt go there yet.
i saved up and bought 4 crossovers and a thunderbird. this was it. this was gonna be my brand.
and then i broke one of the crossovers. oh woe.
i got MP to repair it, along with all my other broken Hohner harps. i even had him put a new comb on my old marine band with the swelled and pared-back comb. i still have that one and its a great harp.
i bought marine bands on special and found they were all good.
i tried Lee Oskar and couldnt understand the fuss (they are very popular here, once the choice of the top players, more expensive, by $1, than the hohners) i tried a Manji and wished i could have my money back
i broke another crossover and decided that i'd better learn to mend my own harps
i converted some of my marine bands to 'deluxe' construction on zajac combs, i acquired broken special 20s to practice repairs on. i started to do repairs for others.
i acquired a supply of seydel reed plates and began to practice repairing seydel harps. i bought some seydel harps so i'd understand them better. i didn't really understand why people liked them so much. i hated each session steel that came my way.
i bought 5 Gold valved Promasters. they were the worst suzukis i ever tried. even now, with hundreds of repaired and adjusted harps-worth of experience, i cant get those to play acceptably
i discovered i dont like metal combs, i dont like raw wood combs, i dont mind plastic combs.
i found everytime i had a harp with a full length cover i found reasons to play something else. still not sure about Golden melody. i have only one and its an E which i very rarely want to play.
i found out i dont like to ditch a harp just because a reed breaks. i cant deal with the concept of replacement reed plates even, they seem so wasteful.
i'm quite happy to play Sp20 harps and marine bands. 1847s are ok. Lee Oskars are ok i guess.
i have no interest in suzuki harps, every one ive tried has been hard to get on with and the don't sell spare reeds.
i don't even really distinguish between my harps now. all the harps i play are either marine band types (crossover, deluxe, 1896) or special 20 which i consider the same as marine band.
i have an 1847, but its LowF and i dont have much use for that. i recently built one in D and trying to play it more because i'm getting lots of call to repair seydel harps these days, so i want to really understand them. i have another, a session steel in A with 1847 covers. much better than a session with long covers. i still don't really like playing them but giving them a run. they're just kind of overweight marine bands. at least they can be cheaply and easily mended.
so i actually have returned to my first harp, the marine band, as my first preference.
maybe its all psychological. maybe to me, the marine band is the definition of a harp, and all others are like imitations
|
dchurch
121 posts
May 06, 2017
12:51 AM
|
I started with a Marine Band about 50 years ago but sadly didn’t stick with it. I switch to trumpet… My first harp as a born again harp player was a Special 20. Next was the Golden Melody, just because I liked the shape. I ended up with a set and later re-tuned them.
I was quickly drawn into trying different harps (and tunings). I started collecting a wide variety of harps, mostly based on what I read at this forum. I have about a dozen different makes/models of the diatonic, some are customized. Lately I’ve been playing mostly: Manji, Seydel Favorite, Sessions Steel, Golden Melody, Marine Band, and Lucky 13.
I work on my own harps and honestly like all of them, for different reasons. I even like my sketchy “Alcatraz” souvenir harp, because my daughter bought it for me and I spent time inside of it.
No, I have not returned to the Special 20 in particular but I do abuse one at the beach a lot. I feel a little bad about that because it’s a fine harp.
I like returning to any harp in my collection especially after I crack it open and get it playing really great. “Ya, I love this harp” then a month later I’ll put it away and pick up a different one.
*I like the Seydel Favorite metal comb after I clear coat the tine ends.
----------
It's about time I got around to this.
|
Gerry
83 posts
May 06, 2017
8:37 AM
|
I started 30 years ago with MB, Sp20 Blues Harp, then the original Proharp, which I adored.
After 15 or so years in the wilderness, I took up harp again after discovering Paddy Richter.
I got a Session Steel and loved it.
I've since tried GMs and a Lee Oskar.
Interestingly, a couple of months ago, someone gave me a "brand new" unplayed original Proharp.
I couldn't believe it, but when I played it I was completely underwhelmed.
I work on my own harps, and my experiences this year have convinced me that 90% of the harp is in the reedplates. Not all harps are created equal. There's good and bad to be found in every make, model, key and tuning. I just got 4 Session steels which all have slightly different tones.Yet the two that differ the most are the same key(A). Warmer and rounded vs cold and clearer.I've changed combs and coverplates with no difference.
If I could only have one harp?
I've an MS Proharp that is my favourite sound. My battered original Session Steel has a sentimental value.I've a Gold GM that is ridiculously easy to play.
I think, the MS Proharp.
But the strange thing, and something I'm slightly embarassed about is...
I've never played a Marine Band (1896) I liked, or I could get to sound good. I've tried convincing myself it's wood combs or side vents, but it may just be my uselessness.:)
|
MindTheGap
2245 posts
May 06, 2017
11:01 AM
|
I know there are subtle differences between models but, over a certain quality threshold, aren't they all roughly the same? I mean, compared to the differences pianos or guitars.
My first real harp was a SP20, and I did the rounds of others, and now I'll play whatever comes to hand, in the right key.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on May 07, 2017 4:03 AM
|
Post a Message
|
