scrybe314
94 posts
Jan 20, 2012
12:46 PM
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I blew out my five-draw on my SP20 in D last night, and I think it's time I branch away from Hohner and my beloved Huang harps. Based on what I've read here, Suzuki is a killer harp maker, and I'm looking to place an order for a new D and a G. Only problem is I've never actually played one, so what do y'all think? Firebreaths are a little out of my price range right now, but how do some of the lower-cost harps handle? Thanks!
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"I'm a stray dog runnin' through this town..."
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tookatooka
2650 posts
Jan 20, 2012
12:58 PM
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If Suzuki made a harp the same size and tuning as a SP20, I wouldn't want anything else. It's only about 3mm bigger but it counts a lot.
I have BluesMasters, HarpMasters and a ProMaster and the quality is superb, it's just the ET tuning that sounds a bit coarse when playing chords to my mind.
When I get a bit of spare dosh I want to try Manji plates in a Harpmaster body. Should be good.
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Last Edited by on Jan 20, 2012 1:00 PM
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Tommy the Hat
569 posts
Jan 20, 2012
1:18 PM
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I play mostly SP20's and found the Harpmaster superb.
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Tommy
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hvyj
2067 posts
Jan 20, 2012
1:20 PM
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Well, when you compare prices, you've got to take durability into account. Suzuki Hammonds will last at least five times longer than Special 20s under hard use and they don't cost anywhere near five times as much. So, the way i look at it, as much as i play, Suzuki Hammonds are considerably cheaper (in the long run) than Sp 20s.
FWIW, I absolutely LOVE my Hammonds. But I like ET harps.
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HawkeyeKane
658 posts
Jan 20, 2012
1:40 PM
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@scrybe314
Which Huang models do you play?
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Hawkeye Kane
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grahamonica
25 posts
Jan 20, 2012
1:51 PM
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I have bluesmasters,promasters,and manjis and I really like them all.For the money I would say that you cant go wrong with the bluesmaster which shares the same reedplates as the promaster.
Replacement reedplates are very reasonable as well....much cheaper than the sp20,s, although having welded reeds makes the suzuki more difficult to replace individually.Brendan Power has an excellent video on you tube showing how to replace single reeds on a suzuki.
Still love my sp20,s though !
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garry
163 posts
Jan 20, 2012
2:52 PM
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the bluesmasters are very nice harps. they play well, sound great, and feel really good in hand. most of my harps are bluesmasters, though i have a few scattered sp20's and seydel session steels as well. the latter is an experiment in cost/durability tradeoffs.
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Libertad
20 posts
Jan 20, 2012
3:05 PM
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Apart from the different shaped covers, what are the differences between the Bluesmaster and Harpmaster? Are the reed plates the same material?
For acoustic playing I can understand the advantages of the more open back cover plate design of the Bluesmaster/Promaster, for a louder more open sound. But for electric miced playing would the closed cover plates of the Harpmaster have advantages, in that direct breath/wind noise may be reduced?
I know about the subtle differences in sound. Thanks.
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shadoe42
114 posts
Jan 20, 2012
3:22 PM
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Oddly enough I find the Harpmasters to be louder than the Bluesmaster.
According to the site the Bluesmaster is built on the Folkmaster and the Harpmaster has laser tuned reeds.
Now playwise I prefer the Harpmaster just for the feel. Its hard to explain. And I do find the Harpmaster to actually be louder.
Just by looking at them the Bluesmaster comb seems to be a hair thicker then the harpmaster.
In tone the bluesmaster is a touch deeper to my ears. Not much and probably not enough to make a real difference.
I use my bluesmasters as my backups and the Harpmasters are my main harps in almost all keys.
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STME58
66 posts
Jan 20, 2012
9:55 PM
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I have not yet played an SP20 but I have a Bluesmaster, Harpmaster, Promaster, Promaster Hammond and a Manji. I like them all, each seems to be suited for a different style of playing.
I have gone though at least one reed plate on all of them excpt the Promater Hammond. I play the Hammond a lot less. I have not really noticed a difference in durability between the Marine Band, Crossover, Seydell Session Steel, and the Suzuki's. I expect my technique is hard on harps. They seem to last longer now than they did a year ago though.
I just put Promaster reed plates in my Bluesmaster and Harpmaster and I like the way they play with them. I will see how long they last.
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scrybe314
95 posts
Jan 21, 2012
2:14 AM
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Wow, thanks so much, everyone. Because of this thread Rockin' Ron is going to get a good chunk of my change tomorrow. Bluesmasters, here I come.
@HawkeyeKane: I've been playing Star Performers and Silvertones for years now. I prefer the Star Performers as they seem more consistent OOTB
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"I'm a stray dog runnin' through this town..."
The Stonecutters
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GEEZER1
137 posts
Jan 21, 2012
12:06 PM
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I like Bluesmasters and Harpmasters and Bushmans which is a suzuki harp operating undercover, I like Promaster reeds too, which will fit all the suzuki's mentioned Haung harps are not bad if you get a good one.
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capnj
2 posts
Jan 21, 2012
11:14 PM
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Yes lads it just seems like the luck of the draw on ootb harps,and of course your playing style.I'm biker bar in your face blower,trying to capture some finesse,but unless i'm playing country,bluegrass,rockin blues is costing me.
I like the promasters they can be bright,which aint all bad,plates are reasonable,blow them out fast.Harpmasters sound decent,had an A harp go way out of tune minimal playing time.The rest of the line looks professional,maybe your cup of tea.
Trying seydell stainless,and rockin ron told me they are supposed to last longer in theory.A very honest assumption,although my A session steel is going bad after not much longer playing time than hohners or suzukis.This I attribute to my bad habit of trying to get nasty,which ain't going to change cause I can afford it.
There is a common thread going on with which harp posts,we all have our own ways about us,ears hear a little bit different than the next.
Good luck choosing your axe,and I totally agree with the sensible players that lighten up.Funny about harps,got a Bb hohner blues Ms that won't die,and a neighbor gave me a Sp20 F he found,happens to been run over by a car,I love the sound of the freebie.A crazy mixed up world,check out Mitch Kasmars version,
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MEK
51 posts
Jan 22, 2012
8:01 AM
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The Promaster and Bluesmaster have different reed plates. There is no groove for the cover on the bluesmaster. I have a full set of promasters and if I were doing it again I'd get Bluesmasters instead. They sound the same but I prefer the lighter weight comb to the cold aluminum. My harpmaster however is the easiest bending harp I have. I'm comparing that to SP20, Manji, Golden melody, Promaster and Bluesmaster.
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jbone
746 posts
Jan 22, 2012
9:44 AM
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i like the Manji a lot, esp now that reed plates are available. yes i've managed to flat a couple of reeds biut ti took months of frequent play to do it. i like tyhe bluesmaster but not the covers, so i put bushman covers on one. it's pretty good. i have one Pure model which is so sweet sounding but definitely not a gig-with-the-band harp. more an amplified duo harp or studio harp. it's too sweet to abuse.
i had a promaster but it was in B and i gave it away. would not mind trying more when $$ permits.
right now in my case i have delta frost, manji, sp20, a lee oskar or 2, a hering 1923 vintage or 3, even a big river hohner which i think is a decent enough harp.
for me it's a constant adventure.
my style is changing still even after a lot of years, and of course it's situational, ie if we play on the street i have to remember that i will not reach ears a block away what with traffic and all, and with a loudass band i will kill a reed if i don't let the amp or p.a. do the real work. just enough volume to attract a listener, or get over the top of a loud crowd at a bar, is all i need.
i do like suzukis a lot. the reason i have so many various harps in my case it that i resurrected some of them in the past year with cleaning and filing reeds to get them back in tune. i have a few dozen harps sitting in various places waiting for some attention. it's a lot cheaper to keep what you have going than to buy new all the time, which i did for years.
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atty1chgo
221 posts
Jan 23, 2012
8:41 AM
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I blew a 5 draw reed out in my beloved Suzuki Manji D harp after several years of pounding. I bought an SP20 in the interim, and blew a reed in about a month. No more. I replaced the reedplate in the Manji and it was cheaper than buying a new SP20. Suzuki makes a very durable harmonica. I still have assorted SP20's in the junkyard which will get my attention one of these days, and I still have Hohner Marine Bands which hold up well, but for my money I am sold on Suzuki Manji.
Last Edited by on Jan 23, 2012 8:42 AM
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scrybe314
100 posts
Jan 23, 2012
7:31 PM
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My new Bluesmasters just came in today. One: Rockin' Ron is a wizard who somehow manages to make distance his plaything; these harmonicas got here in two days, and one of them was Sunday. Two: Right out of the box, they played like I wanted them to. The D could use the tiniest bit of gapping for a hair's breadth more response, but other than that, they're perfect. Cheaper than SP20s, feel better in the mouth and hands...welp, I'm sold.
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"I'm a stray dog runnin' through this town..."
The Stonecutters
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Aussiesucker
990 posts
Jan 23, 2012
9:35 PM
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I love the Suzuki harps but they lack in that they don't offer any harps in alternate tunings or low tunings.
To my ear the Promaster offers no advantages over the Bluesmaster or Harpmaster which are good work horses to flog to death. They seemingly go on forever. The Promaster IMHO is a nice bit of bling! The Manji is a class above and is a great harp.
And don't ignore the little Chinese made Folkmaster. Not in the same class but low cost, tight, not loud & sweet sounding. Good value. I like the lower keys and an Ab is always in my pocket. Can't kill it and it gets nothing but abuse.
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SuperBee
60 posts
Jan 23, 2012
10:49 PM
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wish i could get to like them. i'm really trying to, but it isnt coming easy
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groyster1
1712 posts
Jan 24, 2012
8:35 AM
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@aussie
I bought one of those folkmasters for a very low price and agree its a tough little harp=it stays with me at all times-chinese harps are not necessarily inferior
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