9000
102 posts
Feb 19, 2012
6:58 PM
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Now that it's been out for awhile I'd like to hear from some of the Manji players about what they're finding in terms of the current OTB production quality.
Thanks in advance,
Jay
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Music speaks where words fail.
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Joe_L
1741 posts
Feb 19, 2012
7:45 PM
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As my harps die, I am replacing them with Manjis. I really like them.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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toddlgreene
3551 posts
Feb 19, 2012
8:08 PM
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I've got two, and have gigged them heavily-I like 'em too. They've got a cool raspiness to them.
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Todd L. Greene
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Epworthslim
56 posts
Feb 19, 2012
8:12 PM
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they are great except the thin coverplates are easy to crush
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Slim's-Custom-Harmonica-Cases-Website
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robbert
48 posts
Feb 19, 2012
8:39 PM
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Started with MBs in the 70s. Quit playing till 2000 and found LOs and Sp20s to be good. Even Big Rivers were ok.
Now I go for higher end and custom, when I can afford it. The Manji seems to be excellent quality. Some very good players swear by them. Although I have Manjis and Session Steels, Crossovers are in the same price range, and I seem to prefer them.
All of these harps are quality instruments, however. I have no loyalty to any particular company, I'm just looking for loud, durable, responsive, comfortable harmonicas.
You could get a sample of each of these brands and compare.
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bharper
149 posts
Feb 19, 2012
9:20 PM
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I like the Manjis very much, but still prefer Crossover and MBD.
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jbone
792 posts
Feb 19, 2012
9:21 PM
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i'm about to get 2 reed plate sets. it took a very long time for me to flat a couple of reeds out on my C and D manjis. i worked them very heavily for quite a while in an electric band setting where the guitar was usually over the top loud, so the tendency was to crank my amp all the way up and just wail.
i will keep the manji as my primary harp in my case. i have other brands in several keys and they are more or less my backup harps.
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Fingers
150 posts
Feb 20, 2012
4:16 AM
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I have 3 Manji's! all with Hetrick combs,
very nice harps but maybe a bit to bright for my taste,
they cant touch the 1847 for play-ability! imo.
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SuperBee
73 posts
Feb 20, 2012
5:16 AM
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i have 1 manji and i cant decide whether i like it or not. i keep using it as my number 1 C harp, but its quite different to play than my hohners. its loud, solid, i think its a bit harder to control the bends, not quite as malleable as a hohner. feels stiffer, like it takes a little more breath to get it started but then it can go too far really easily. i think i could get used to it if i had a case of them. with just the 1 its the odd man out. well built and loud. i havent used many suzukis, this is the only one i've persisted with. i like it much better than the bluesmaster or folkmaster, but i know thats not saying much. and they are more pricey than the standard hohners. if you gave me a set i think i'd be happy to use them.
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rbeetsme
653 posts
Feb 20, 2012
6:07 AM
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I lost one. First harmonica I ever lost, so I have to say it didn't last very long.
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2012 6:08 AM
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dougharps
169 posts
Feb 20, 2012
8:13 AM
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I have one Manji in D, and I like it OK. I also like the Seydel 1847 series (key of A).
However, recently my favorite out of the box harp is the Crossover.
Special 20s are still OK with some set up needed.
Captcha... Try again!
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Doug S.
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hvyj
2185 posts
Feb 20, 2012
8:17 AM
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I heard the cover design was recently changed to stiffen the covers--anyone have on with the new cover design?
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Frosty
64 posts
Feb 20, 2012
8:26 AM
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SuperBee wrote out just like I feel about Manji. It is a good harp but I have also some difficulties with 2 and 3 hole bends. But if there were no Hohners I think I could use Manji as my main harp.
I like MB Deluxe and Thunderbird and use also Special 20. I have to try Crossover some day.
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Frosty
Homepage
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easyreeder
167 posts
Feb 20, 2012
9:12 AM
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I have Low F, Ab, C, D, and F. The only one that I really don't like is the D, but I don't like any other D harp I have either (so maybe I just hate D harps).
To me the Manji's are what I would call "breezy" or "reedy". There's a tiny bit of built-in rasp.
I'm in the process or recording some parts for friend's CD, and one requires a D harp. On Saturday we had to re-cut that tune because of technical problems and when I started playing, he commented that it didn't sound the same as the previous cut. I was playing through a mic'd Kalamazoo with a 502D so we fiddled a bit with the tone and recording mic placement before I realized I'd picked up a Bluesharp MS by mistake. Back to the Manji to get the sound he remembered.
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jiceblues
74 posts
Feb 20, 2012
10:07 AM
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To easyreeder : i've got some problems with all D harps.
My best D harp : a SP20 with a corian comb from HETRICK.
Sorry , i don't own any manji...
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Brendan Power
196 posts
Feb 20, 2012
4:25 PM
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Newer Manji harps do have stiffer, stronger coverplates, and a compromise tuning for richer chords than the original equal-tuned models.
Suzuki keeps tweaking all their harps over time to improve small aspects, but the changes are generally introduced gradually without big announcements.
Last Edited by on Feb 20, 2012 11:25 PM
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STME58
79 posts
Feb 20, 2012
10:00 PM
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I have a Manji in D and I like it. It is noticable louder than other harps. I can't seem to keep it working though. I keep blowing out 5 draw and 7 blow. I would probably have more Manji's if I did nto have to keep buying reed plates for this one.
Form what I see in this thread perhaps D is the problem, not Manji.
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Kingley
1815 posts
Feb 20, 2012
10:17 PM
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I'd love to try a Manji and also a Seydel 1847 Classic, as I've heard great things about both of them. But at the prices they are it won't be happening anytime soon. Here's the current cost of the Manji, 1847 and the Crossover in the UK.
Suzuki Manji - £56.99
Seydel 1847 Classic - £61.95
Hohner Crossover - £44.99
For the time being at least I'll keep playing my Crossovers or buying Marine Band 1896 harps and self customising them.
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isaacullah
1812 posts
Feb 20, 2012
10:28 PM
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Yeah, the Manji ain't a cheap harp. Current street price is $61.50 (Rockin' Ron's). Even though Hohner handmades are going up in price next month, the Manji is still way more expensive. The Harpmaster seems to still be at $33.50, however, so that's probably what I will be buying in future, should the need/want/burning desire occur for a new harp purchase!
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isaacullah
1813 posts
Feb 20, 2012
10:33 PM
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Actually, not to hijack the thread, but since we've got a chance of Brendan poking back in on this thread, is there any chance of Suzuki coming out with ultra-low tunings a-la the Hohner Thunderbird? Or even just regular low-tuned harpmasters (down to Low-D)?
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== I S A A C ==
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FMWoodeye
234 posts
Feb 20, 2012
10:46 PM
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I gave two of them away. I prefer the Crossover.
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mojojojo
90 posts
Feb 21, 2012
3:55 AM
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I don't know if I got a bad one, but the Manji C i bought is really stiff on the lower octave, almost unusable.
Now I try to have two "types" of harp on hand. I use Marine Band or Crossover for traditional "raspy" blues (fast or slow), and Seydels or Hammonds for cleaner faster playing (or plastic combs).
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RyanMortos
1275 posts
Feb 21, 2012
5:54 AM
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The Manji is my favorite suzuki harmonica. I might even like it more then the seydel 1847. I like the compromise OOTB tuning as well. I'm not sure why but I still prefer the feel of hohners like the special 20 or golden melody, perhaps even marine band deluxe/crossover if I ever try one. I know there's like a 1/3 chance the hohner will need a reed aligned or burr dealt with but that's no biggie. I usually end up taking them apart for gapping & maybe embossing anyway.
To summarize, I give the Manji a thumbs up & would consider making them my harp of choice.
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~Ryan
Advanced Intermediate: based on Adam's What Level Are You? guide.
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Steven Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
See My Profile for contact info, etc.
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HarpNinja
2186 posts
Feb 21, 2012
7:52 AM
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From another harp price thread:
I just went to Rockin' Ron's site (February 21, 2012) and quickly grabbed the current prices for some of the more popular "professional" level harmonicas. All the companies save LO have cheaper options on Ron's site.
Seydel Session 29.95
Suzuki Blues 33.50
Suzuki Harp 33.50
Hohner Sp20 34.50
Hohner MB 34.50
Lee Oskar 37.99
Hohner GM 38
Seydel Pro 39.95
Suzuki Pro 53
Suzuki Manji 61.50
Suzuki Hammond 62
Hohner XO 65
Suzuki Olive 65
Seydel Fav 69.95
Seydel 1847 89.95
FWIW...several years ago, when I started buying customs, you could get the equivalent of a Marine Band Deluxe for $75-85 (Marine Band 1896 converted to screws with a sealed comb and some embossing). Paying $65ish for a Crossover that is basically the same thing is very reasonable considering that was $75-85 like seven years ago.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Mods
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
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GMaj7
22 posts
Feb 24, 2012
1:23 AM
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I happen to have two (2) NIB Manjis (G) & (F) if anyone is interested. I can throw a 0-80 stainless screw or stand-off post in for a few bucks if you want the cover plate braced. Shoot me an email if you are looking.....Very nice harps...
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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HarpKeyAl
3 posts
Feb 24, 2012
4:51 AM
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I also like the Suzuki Manjis, unfortunately they are not as well tuned as Hohners Crossover. But with some fine-tuning, the Manji is a great harmonica. However, I like Hohner Crossover and Marine Band Classic more.
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SuzukiDaron
21 posts
Feb 24, 2012
7:18 AM
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@ Isaacullah:
At this time, Suzuki has no offical plans to introduce harps in keys lower than the Low F currently being offered.
While that may change in the future, it seems that the demand for the lower keys isn't quite high enough to offset the cost of producing more keys, importing them, and stocking them.
But as Brendan stated, that could change.
From what I've gathered meeting with all you fine folks over the years, there is SOME demand for the lower keys out there, just maybe not enough to get over the hump right now. But, as you know, that could change.
Sorry for giving such a wishy-washy response.
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-Daron Stinton
SUZUKI MUSIC USA
Got a question about a Suzuki Harp?
Call (800) 854-1594, or e-mail harmonicas@suzukicorp.com
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Destin
5 posts
Feb 24, 2012
7:56 PM
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I had a lesson with Jason Ricci about a year ago, and he recomended me to get a manji. He even mentioned something about helping design the reed plates, anyway I bought one, great harp good for ob, I just love the tone of a mb though.
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jbone
802 posts
Feb 24, 2012
9:23 PM
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i wonder if the current reed plates are tuned differently as well as the current manji's themselves? a more chord or octave friendly tuning would be a plus to me since i do a lot in 3rd position these days and the smoother sound is desirable.
i have 2 sets of plates on the way so i guess i will know soon.
incidentally, i have not had an issue with a crushed cover plate in a very long time. this is thanks to always remembering, this is an instrument and not a toy. considering what these harps- the good ones- cost these days i feel i ought to respect them. it was one thing when i could get a fresh harp for 6 or 12 bucks- i know that dates me- but i'd much rather make these current harps last a long time.
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Ian
63 posts
Aug 13, 2015
4:49 PM
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Sorry to revive an ancient thread... Thought it best rather than start a new one.
Its my birthday soonish and I'm contemplating filling the gaps and replacing /upgrading some harps with manjis. I currently have a C and an A, both are good and I love the tone so I figured why not stick with them!
Basically.... Anyone been buying manjis recently? They coming out well finished and Tuned etc?
I ask this as the first C manji I had did have some reed issues which were agreed by the shop to be manufacturing faults.
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shakeylee
356 posts
Aug 13, 2015
5:41 PM
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manjis last me longer than any other harp.they are my main acoustic harp.
the only problem i ever had with a manji was that i got one that was ET. a C, i believe. i just flattened the thirds slightly.
modern manjis are supposed to be compromise. i would like to try one with just plates soon.
a manji with an aftermarket comb is a force to be reckoned with!but,the stock comb is not bad :)
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www.shakeylee.com
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Ian
64 posts
Aug 14, 2015
12:56 AM
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Sweet... Thanks shakey
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