CarlosJ
1 post
Jul 21, 2011
2:56 AM
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Howdy...
I'm new here, but not new to blues harp. I've been playing for about 37 years now - not professionally.
Anyway...looking for some insight, thoughts & recommendations...
Once upon a time my favorite harps were Hohner: Meisterklasse, Special 20, Golden Melody, and Pro Harps. I liked them for their responsiveness and the fact they took less wind to play than wood-reed harps.
Slowly over the years (mid-80s for the Meisterklasse & later for the others) I noticed the harps seemed to lose their responsiveness and take more wind to play. So....I switched to Lee Oskar, which were (and still are) much better - like the old Golden Melody or Meisterklasse used to be for me.
Is it just me or did Hohner change something in their manufacturing process at some point?
What are your choices for responsive diatonics?
Thanks,
Carlos
San Antonio
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jim
930 posts
Jul 21, 2011
3:15 AM
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Click on my picture and follow the "CUSTOMISING VIDEOS" link...
that's the answer to all of your questions.
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Free Harp Learning Center
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MrVerylongusername
1762 posts
Jul 21, 2011
3:40 AM
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Yeah that was the crisis period for Hohner.
This article tells a more complete story, http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Matth-Hohner-AG-Company-History.html, but basically the 80s saw a decline in the company's profits, major workforce cuts, loss of control by the Hohner family in a buy out and a second change of ownership in the early 90s. The cut in manpower (quality control) and lack of investment in machine tooling during that period accounts for a drop in quality that many people have noted. It should also be said that part of Hohner's road to recovery was streamlining its product line and the introduction of the modular system. Whilst it may have helped to save the company, I mourn the passing of the old handmade Proharps. The MS proharps (and MS Meisterklasse etc...) are pale imitations of the pre-90s versions.
I learned to play in the mid to late 80s, just as Lee Oskars were introduced. Other than those old Proharps, Hohner had very little that interested me so I stuck with those Oskars. They play well and last years not months. Does it for me!
I do also play Golden Melodies now (but not for gigs) - I like them - but having never played one of the older models I can't make a fair comparison.
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HarpNinja
1519 posts
Jul 21, 2011
7:05 AM
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Pretty much any new harp with the $30+ price tag online will be a good harp ASSUMING it is new-new. For Hohners, they are the ones in blister packs.
I've actually found LO's to be my least favorite of the major brands out there.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
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nacoran
4342 posts
Jul 21, 2011
8:17 AM
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Right now the big manufacturers are Hohner, Suzuki, Tombo (you'll only find their Lee Oskars in the US), Hering and Seydel. It's probably worth trying a flagship model from each company to compare. Suzuki and Seydel have really tight tolerances. Suzuki spot welds their reeds instead of riveting, and Seydel has models with stainless steel reeds that they claim never go out of tune.
I don't hear much good about the Meisterklasse since it became an MS series harp. I do like long covers. Several other brands have long cover models (you can even get long cover Seydel 1847's if you special order.)
Lee Oskars take a ton of abuse but don't overblow particularly well. I find they respond quickly and with very little force.
List to Try:
Suzuki Manji
Seydel 1847
Lee Oskar (unless maybe you can get a Tombo Ultimo)
Hohner Special 20, Marine Band Crossover (fully sealed!), Golden Melody
Mike, I've noticed none of the customizers seem to customize Lee Oskars. I like them. They take a ton of abuse and still play well. I guess Turbo harp does soup them up a bit. I wonder if more Tombo models were available people might find something they like.
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Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)
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LSC
46 posts
Jul 21, 2011
3:16 PM
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Seydel 1847 are the best out of the box harp I've played. They last for years in my experience. Their mid-range models are also excellent.
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LSC
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MrVerylongusername
1775 posts
Jul 21, 2011
3:23 PM
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I'm sure I once read that Filisko started out using Lee Oskar reedplates. Since he doesn't anymore that probably means nothing - just thought I'd throw it in (can anyone confirm that?)
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arzajac
581 posts
Jul 21, 2011
3:54 PM
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How are the Seydel Blues session harps?
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Todd Parrott
572 posts
Jul 21, 2011
4:25 PM
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Yes, he did use Oskar plates on some of his customs at one time.
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garry
75 posts
Jul 21, 2011
5:43 PM
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i use mostly suzuki bluesmasters, with some special 20's and a couple of seydels. i recently acquire a seydel session steel, which is a blues session with stainless steel reeds. wonderful harps, all of them.
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Cristal Lecter
76 posts
Jul 21, 2011
6:00 PM
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CarlosJ
It's surprising that after 37 years of playing you're still asking this question...
Anyway, I'll try to answer you:
- What you have to bear in mind is the quality of your future harp. Avoid ANY harmonicas that present a risk of air leaks (most of the time the more screws on the reed plates, the better).
- You don't say it you play with over bends or not. I assume you don't so it'll make the choice easier. Having said that if you want to explore this part of the modern way of playing the diatonic, you'll have to set up your harmonica a little bit in order to get those notes....I genuinely thing that you can get overbends from ANY harmonica out of the box, but since every one has a different morphology you'll have to adapt your harmonicas accordingly.
- here comes the possible choice: the Crossover is a good harmonica and since Hohner has a wide network of resellers around the globe that would be easier for you. BUT these days with the online shops you can get anything so the choice of other brands is possible. In that case I would recommend the SUZUKI MANJI M20, its conception made it the best diatonic harmonica around at that price (of course the Fabulous is outstanding but $300)
The Bluesmaster by SUZUKI is as well very surprising, for $20 you have a splendid harmonica, fast reed response and a wonderful and powerful sound
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Never try to be as good as someone else, succeed to be the best player you can be!
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CarlosJ
2 posts
Jul 24, 2011
2:33 AM
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Thanks for the great information everyone. I've been slacking in the frequency of my playing over the last few years...I'm glad I checked in here before dropping a pile of $ on another set of harps.
Thanks again!
Carlos
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wheezer
192 posts
Jul 24, 2011
4:12 AM
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@ MrVerylongusername. Interesting to note that I am not alone in being a fan of the pre MS Pro Harp. I have managed to aquire a few of these and they are my favorite harp to play. I don't understand why they seem to have a warmer tone than the Special 20 because as far as I can tell the only difference is the coverplate finish and the reeds(not the reed plates) are the same as MB's. Most of the second hand ones I have bought have needed work to re-finish the coverplates where the black finish (which I think is a powder coat) has started to lift. These I simply flat down and paint after opening the backs.
I own harps by most major manufactures (except Seydel)
inc. custom MB's and yet nothing seems to quite hit the spot like those old Pro Harps.
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hvyj
1598 posts
Jul 24, 2011
6:20 AM
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@wheezer: I used to play pre-MS Pro Harps. Other harp players used to tease me about paying more for them, saying they were the same thing as the less expensive Special 20. But I definitely agree that the old Pro Harps had a warmer and darker tone than Special 20s.
The black covers were Greblon coated.
I was so disappointed when this model was discontinued and replaced with the MS Pro Harp. But, in retrospect, this was a blessing in disguise because it was disgust with the MS Pro Harp that eventually caused me to discover Suzuki Hammonds which I think are the best OOB harp I've ever played.
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wheezer
193 posts
Jul 24, 2011
9:29 AM
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So now there are three of us hvyj, but I've got to ask what the heck is Greblon?
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hvyj
1600 posts
Jul 24, 2011
10:13 AM
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As I understand it, Greblon is a coating most commonly used on kitchen utensils.
Btw, there are more than a few players who think I'm nuts for believing there is a tonal difference between pre-MS Pro Harps and Sp 20s, but it is something that has always been very apparent to me. Not a night and day difference, but definitely audible, IMHO.
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Rick Shanks
59 posts
Jul 24, 2011
1:24 PM
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@ hvyj- I agree about the Pro Harps. In the mid eighties I had a bunch of those which I'm sure had, not only a tonal difference but were more responsive than the Sp 20's and GM's I had back then. Still have some rusty remnants... Apart from recently arrived Mike Fugazzi custom GM's ( Fantastic !) I have stayed a happy Lee Oskar guy since 1988 or so. I use all four of his tuning variations and have dozens of them. Am only now messing with overblows, hence the custom GM's. Am finding those notes far more readily Mike sure knows how to set them up. Great work !
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KiwiRick
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CarlosJ
3 posts
Jul 28, 2011
2:29 AM
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Well, I sent off for a Suzuki Manji M-20 and got it in the mail yesterday. I'm quite pleased with it, particularly the action, which the other harps I'd been playing seemed to be lacking.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Carlos
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