Just a little of my reflections uo until now. Does it matter what make and model harp anyone plays? A harp is a harp for each and everyone of us, for indivudual reasons. No harm, no foul in any case. Play the good jive on anything and that should be what it's all about.
I currently am experimenting with a number of models and like various things about them all. From Marine Bands, Special 20s, Suzuiki Hammonds, Bluesmasters, Harpmasters, Manji's, Seydel 1847s and Blues Sessions, Lee Oskars, and Delta Frosts.
The bottom line, I think, is to find your harp groove in each key and run with with it, whatever the model. If you end up with a mixed bag of tricks in the end, so be it.
Right now my take is:
Marine Bands: Hard on the lips, less power (uncostomized, and haven't tried a Crossover)
Suzuki's: Like the Hammonds out of the box, around the same size at Marine Bands, but way more comfortable to hold and play; Bluesmasters, need some gapping, but very nice sound; Harpmasters, about the same; Manji's, very responsive, but something about the sound and weak cover plates; Seydels 1847s, all around great feel and tone, feels good in hands, little thick and only slightly less responsive than Manji; Blues Session, tone is great, but you really have to push it; Lee Oskars, a good, all round harp, needs some tweaking, but durable, could have better covers; Delta Frost, surprisingly better than expected, decent tone, normally good out of box, can arguably hold its own against the top dollar harps.
I notice the majority still lean towards Hohner MBs, SP20s, and GMs, but hey, whatever works. I'm going to keep on experimenting and if I end up with that mixed bag of tricks in the end, so be it. Whatever works along this fun ride to harp playing satisfaction, I'm enjoying every bit of it.
Lets just keep on inhaling and exhaling for as long as we can.
Reverblow - There's some very wise words in your post. Indeed the make/model of harmonica doesn't (and shouldn't matter). It's the music that you make with it that counts.
The simple truth is that you can play any music you want on any harmonica that has been gapped correctly. Anyone can learn to gap a harmonica in a very short time. It's a relatively easy thing to learn to do.
Then all you need apart from that is the playing skills.
Let it be noted that I wrote the last dispatch after opening my second bottle of vino, breaking a reed and throwing the harp against the wall, Lol, kidding of course... or...
