selkentblues
16 posts
Aug 28, 2011
2:45 PM
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I'm on the virge of buying a Suzuki Promaster after being really impressed by the Harpmaster and Bluesmaster Ive recently bought.
My question is to those who have experience of all 3 models...
Is the Promaster worth the extra ten or so bucks?
I love these Suzuki harps and just want to build a set of them, but if the Promaster is virtually the same in sound and volume, then I will just get more Harpmasters and Bluesmasters.
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Fingers
78 posts
Aug 28, 2011
2:50 PM
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I have a pro-master in D! nice loud crisp sounding harp! but i missed the traditional wood sound and feel..i then discovered the Seydel soloist pro and 1847!! i will never look back.
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harmonicanick
1287 posts
Aug 28, 2011
3:04 PM
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Please look at previous threads:)
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tookatooka
2442 posts
Aug 28, 2011
3:05 PM
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No. I found I prefer the BlueMasters. I found I couldn't get on with the metal taste from the reedplate and ally comb and also the extra weight was a burden. It's a nice looking harp and well made but I kept going back to the BluesMaster. Soundwise Not a great deal of difference IMO.
Put a metal paperclip in the fipple of your feadog whistle to cut the volume a bit.
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hvyj
1721 posts
Aug 28, 2011
3:05 PM
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The Suzuki Hammond is the best OOB harp I've ever played. Same design as the Promaster, but better tone and more consistent response. Phenomenal harmonica.
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Todd Parrott
664 posts
Aug 28, 2011
7:49 PM
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Go with the Hammond.
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Aussiesucker
887 posts
Aug 28, 2011
9:30 PM
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The Promaster is no better than the Bluesmaster or Harpmaster IMHO. It's really only a nice bit of bling for more formal use. Actually I prefer the Harpmaster.
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groyster1
1329 posts
Aug 28, 2011
10:33 PM
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I will echo hvyj and todd and the hammond is the best oob harp I have played also-I own a promaster but the hammond outplays it
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selkentblues
17 posts
Aug 29, 2011
2:02 AM
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Thanks guys.
Really appreciate that.
I will stick with the Harp and Bluesmasters then, and maybe look out for a Hammond.
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the_happy_honker
76 posts
Aug 29, 2011
2:24 AM
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For me, Bluesmasters just don't sound right. The full length covers are supposed to mellow the sound, but I felt they just choke the life out of the harp.
I haven't tried a Promaster, but on hvyj's recommendation, I bought a Hammond and was quite impressed. The build quality is first rate, as is playing comfort. The exposed reedplates are smooth and the coverplates are slick. Soundwise, the Hammond does everything the Bluesmaster doesn't: it has a mellower sound without sacrificing volume or liveliness.
I suggest buying a Hammond and seeing if you like it. It may end up not being the sound you are after (only you can decide that), but it is unquestionably a very good harp and will last you a long time.
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Diggsblues
969 posts
Aug 29, 2011
5:07 AM
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So the Hammond is better the Manji?
I don't have any Suzuki harps so
I'm at a loss here. Was thinking of
trying out a Manji.
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Emile "Diggs" D'Amico a Legend In His Own Mind
How you doin'
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Nickapalooza86
2 posts
Aug 29, 2011
5:46 AM
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I have harpmasters, Bluesmasters and just got my first Manji in Bb I like the Manji best with the harpmaster in a close second. I don't know if it is just the bluesmaster i got but it just isn't up to par with others.
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hvyj
1722 posts
Aug 29, 2011
6:39 AM
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@Diggs: It depends on what you like. Manjis are Suzuki's attempt to compete with Hohner's Marine Band models. They have vented covers and compromise tuning and do sound sort of like a MB. Personally, i don't like MBs, so I don't like Manjis.
Hammonds are ET and are nothing like MBs. I don't like MBs so I think Hammonds are much better than Manjis--but it's sort of an apples and oranges comparison. They are not similar harps. But objectively speaking Hammonds have darker tone, more even response and better volume than Manjis. Manjis have longer reeds, so they may be better for OBs--I don't OB so I don't know for sure.
Manjis have that distinctive open tone you get with vented covers. Hammonds have full length UNvented covers and have a darker and more focused tone which I happen to prefer. Manjis sound more "harmonicaish" like MBs do.
Look at it this way: In the Hohner line, if you like MBs better than GMs you will probably like Manjis. But if you prefer GMs over MBs you will probably like Hammonds better.
Personally, i don't like anything about MBs, so for me it's not a close call. I love my Hammonds!
I've never tried the lower end Suzukis, but I do have Hammonds, Firebreaths, Promasters, a Fabulous and a Manji. I don't like the Manji at all. But ANY OOB Suzuki I've tried has such far superior compression and response than ANY OOB Hohner that it's not even a close comparison.
Last Edited by on Aug 29, 2011 6:59 AM
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