electricwitness
15 posts
Jan 22, 2012
3:31 PM
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I have always played Hohner harps. I have tried the other major brands, but didn't care for them. Over about the last year or so I have been having problems with new harps. I have used primarily the Blues Harps but after having two of them not work straight out of the box, i started buying Special 20's, and even picked up a MB. One of the Blues harps was playable and I lived with it because they are "non returnable", but the other was completely unusable (most of the notes would not bend). Luckily my buddy was working at the store where I get my harps and he just swapped it with a special 20 for me. I have not purchased another Blues Harp since for fear of getting another bad one and not being able to return it.
I noticed the cover on the Special 20 that I picked up had sharp edges on the corners, and the comb was also sharp enough to scratch my lips the first time i played it. I have never had this problem with a Special 20 before. I got a file and fixed the edges and it was fine after that.
The last harp I picked up was a Marine Band. It has lasted one week and now the 5 draw is dead... am I having bad luck? has anyone else noticed a decline in the quality control of Hohner harps? Am I missing something?
I admittedly have not learned any but the most simple maintenance procedures for my harps, and I feel the need to learn more, partially to save money, partially to become more of a harmonica expert.
Any way I am extremely frustrated right now. I use my harps professionally and usually play at least 2-3 times a week. Dead harps are a drag...
Any advice or input will be appreciated. Thank You
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electricwitness.com
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Frank
108 posts
Jan 22, 2012
3:43 PM
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One word my friend - "CROSSOVER" or is that 2?
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billy_shines
46 posts
Jan 22, 2012
3:44 PM
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try gaping the reeds
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groyster1
1709 posts
Jan 22, 2012
3:48 PM
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try marine band deluxe-I have 4 best ootb harps EVER!!!!
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S-harp
6 posts
Jan 22, 2012
3:53 PM
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Well, it it wasn't for bad luck ...
I'll just comment the Blues Harp ...
The quality of the combs finish is varying, to say the least. The comb needs to be flatsanded. Some MS-woodcombs are in such bad shape though that if you flatsand them to "perfekt flatness" you have removed a serious amount of material. Then it could be a good idea to first use some varnish between the sandings to fill upp the worst grooves.
With that done and perhaps some simple reedwork and you have a good harp. I like the Blues Harp. It just needs some attention.
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The tone, the tone ... and the tone.
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Lmbrjak
75 posts
Jan 22, 2012
4:06 PM
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I have bought 3 blues harps,1Golden Melody,1 Big River,and 1 Marine Band in the last year and all have played well with no gapping or adjustments and there has been no blown reeds.
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Sedandelivery
11 posts
Jan 22, 2012
5:25 PM
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I have purchased one blues harp and it was terrible. I will never buy one again. The Special 20's and Marine Bands have been pretty good though. About 70% perfect. I've had a couple stinkers in the bunch. Every time I try to gap them I end up making the problem worse for some reason. That being said, Crossovers are the way to go. I will be buying them from now on.
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groyster1
1711 posts
Jan 22, 2012
5:30 PM
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the hohner MS series has been very negative with this forum I have 4 big rivers one is POS
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Stickman
731 posts
Jan 22, 2012
6:15 PM
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"the hohner MS series has been very negative with this forum I have 4 big rivers one is POS"
Depends on who you ask. There have been many threads where people have given testimony in the positive.
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billy_shines
47 posts
Jan 22, 2012
10:07 PM
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ok i had another stinker harp, stuck reed in the #2 draw.tried gaping didnt work looked at a lamp not a light table, saw the reed a bit not straight (like the harp was dropped). i moved it a little with a tweezers not a reed wrench. was a bit better, but was still sticking. looked at the lamp again no maginfying glass saw corrosion burs. scraped each side of the hole a bit with an exacto blade (no handle). ITS ALIVE! ITS ALIVE!
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Rubes
469 posts
Jan 22, 2012
10:22 PM
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Years ago I owned a 'stubborn' Blues Harp, now my kit has one(Eb), and I can make it SCREAM (older,wiser,.....better chops!) :~}
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One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace
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MrVerylongusername
2163 posts
Jan 23, 2012
1:32 AM
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re: MS harps
IMHO the negativity about MS harps comes from players who've been playing long enough to remember what the MS range killed off. The MS harps are OK harps, the handmades that they replaced were great harps.
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electricwitness
16 posts
Jan 24, 2012
7:38 PM
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everybody thank you for the replies.
I will be trying the Crossover, but will need to order them online, as my local store doesn't carry them.
I am going to go through some of my old harps and try to resurrect some of them using some of the tips here.
Glad to hear I'm not the only one with issues from time to time, but it is not cool to spend fifty bucks on a harp, to have it not work and then not be able to return it. Sometimes feels like Russian Roulette every time I buy a new harp. haha... ok rant over!
P.S. I still love my Hohner harps...
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electricwitness.com
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2012 7:41 PM
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SuperBee
62 posts
Jan 25, 2012
12:44 AM
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i dont remember the last time i bought a harp which didnt need a little adjusting.
its all a bit hit and miss ootb, some play pretty good, some are impossible...but generally they can all use a bit of tailoring. it doesnt really matter if its a little bit or quite a lot...pull em apart, fix em, play em, dont stress
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chromaticblues
1147 posts
Jan 25, 2012
5:28 AM
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Electricwitness please contact me off forum and I can resolve your problems at a cheaper rate than buying crossovers!
Just click on my user name.
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