What harmonica should I buy, and where? You wouldn't believe how many people ask me this question.
If you're in the market for a harmonica or two and don't have a good local music store nearby, I'd encourage you to order from one of the following suppliers. As I note on the FAQs page, I've been using the plain old Hohner 1896/20 Marine Band harmonica for more than 30 years and still think it's the best sounding and most reasonably priced stock instrument on the market. I played 13 of the 14 tracks on my recent album, Kick and Stomp, on stock Marine Bands. You do NOT need to spend $100-200 on a customized harp in order to get a terrific sound! (To be fair, not everbody agrees with me on this last point; an increasing number of players are venturing into the world of custom harps, and if you're interested in exploring that growth-industry, I offer one specific endorsement towards the bottom of this page. I would urge beginners, however, to delay that exploration until they've been playing for at least a year.)
Here's a quick link (USA and Canada) if you'd like to start with the exact same harp that I started with, and still use today:
During a recent visit to Hohner's national headquarters, I got the chance to try several new models, and one of them amazed me: the Marine Band Crossover. It has the same distinctive Marine Band sound, but it's a little easier to play, a little quicker, and the overblows come easier. After more than three decades as a hard-core Marine Band player, I can honestly say: THIS IS A GREAT HARP! It's a perfect next step for players of ANY level who can't justify the cost of a custom harp ($120-300) but want a taste of the top-shelf stuff. Click on the icon for a quick link:
Much as I like Marine Bands, I would encourage you to try several different makes and models and see which feels and sounds best to you. Lots of professional harp players use the Hohner Special 20 and Golden Melody, for example. (Click the icons and you'll be taken to the Musician's Friend product page, where you can learn more--and order, if you wish):
If you're going to invest in more than a handful of harmonicas, then at some point you'll want to take the plunge into a carrying case. For many years, my carrying case was a Jansport daypack. Once I decided to professionalize, I bought a heavy-duty camera bag, the sort that professional photographers use. That worked well for many years. Recently, though, I decided to join the club and upgrade. Here's what I use now. It's made by Hohner, it has two trays' worth of space for your precious cargo, and it makes a statement when you enter the room. I love it. (Hit the icon below):
Most serious blues harmonica players arm themselves not just with 10-hole diatonic harps, but with a somewhat bigger CHROMATIC HARMONICA--the grand piano of the harmonica family. Players from the Chicago and West Coast traditions such as Little Walter, William Clarke, Rod Piazza, and Dennis Gruenling make notably powerful use of the chromatic harp. Stevie Wonder uses one on "Fingertips." If you're going to take the plunge, then I'd encourage you to REALLY take the plunge and buy the model I use: the Hohner Super 64 Chromonica. Here's a video in which I'm playing this model:
If you'd like to explore the full range of available harmonicas, you'll find links to four reputable suppliers just below--in the US, three overseas. Click on the icons and you'll be taken to the websites:
In the USA and CANADA:
In EUROPE and the UK:
After accumulating a handful of harps, most harp players mark them in some way to highlight the key: A, C, D, and so forth. Although Magic Marker is popular, a much more convenient option is the little stick-on "Harp Markers" created by Greg Ludlum:
CUSTOM HARPS:
If you're in the market for a custom harp, there are many fine models to choose from. When I finally broke down and decided to spend some bucks for my first custom harp after 34 years of out-of-the-box harps, what did I go for? A Joe Spiers model customized (Stage I) Hohner Marine Band. I spent my own money on it. I love it. (And no: I don't make a cent for offering this testimonial.) That should tell you all you need to know. It's a fantastic harp. I used it on my recent album, Kick And Stomp, to play "The Entertainer": a first-position workout that demanded seamless overblow arpeggios:
http://spiersharmonicas.com/
If you're in the market for a slightly cheaper custom harp, then I'd urge you to check out Knucklehead Harps. I haven't actually played one of Mark Munoz's cleaned-up and tweaked pre-owned Marine Bands, but I like his approach so much that I'm putting his link here. Take a look at his website. He gives you a very informative sketch of the steps that he takes to bring a harmonica back from the dead. I love his approach:
http://knucklehead-harps.yolasite.com/
And if you're in the market for something really cool to hold all those harps, you might want to contact leatherworker J. J. Sisson at 503-807-9242. He makes bandoliers and they are something special:
His Facebook page is also a good bet: http://www.facebook.com/upupjj
