Since getting back into harp playing six months ago, after a gap of six years or so, I have found I have started amassing harps at an alarming rate. I thought I would find one model and stick to that but I have to admit it hasn't quite worked out that way. I think I have settled on a model but there is always something new to try. Does your harp box have one model or is a complete mixture?
Here is my list: Suzuki Bluesmaster x 2 Suzuki Harpmaster x 4 Suzuki Promaster x 3 Suzuki Manji x 1 Suzuki Overdrive x 1 Hohner Marine Band x 2 Hohner Special 20 x 1 Hohner Golden Melody x 1 Seydel Big Six x 1
I have to say the differences are pretty subtle and in all probability audiences would really tell much of a difference. I am probably going to stick with Manji's for my main instrument and Harpmasters as back ups. Although I am very impressed with the Big Six! So may well try a 1847.... I think I may be developing a habit!
Selling the Promasters not sure about metal combs...
Cool thread. You're not alone in trying different makes..
Although I have decided that I'm going to stick with MBdeluxes and special 20's as back ups (finaly made up my mind, yee!), I haven't had much money lately. But I will only buy those for a while now, and hopefully swiftly get a set together. I now have gigable (worked on by me) G,Ab,A,Bb,C,D and F harps..
Golden melody 1 Manji 1 Seydel Solist pro 1 Hohner Special 20 5 Marine Band Deluxe 2 Hohner Chromatic 270
I also have, but never use no more: Hohner Bluesharp 1 Lee Oskar 1 Hohner Proharp 1 Hohner Marine Band 1 Suzuki promaster 1
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2012 5:17 AM
Suzuki Manji x4 - my favorite. Hohner special 20 x2 Hohner Marine Band 1 Hohner Big River x2 Suzuki Bluesmaster 1 Suzuki Harpmaster x4 Hohner Crossharp x2 Hohner Golden Melody 1
Wish I could get a few more Manjis but I got them when they used to cost 44 bucks and well they dont anymore.....
I also own multiple brands/models. Hohner Blues Harps, Marine Band Deluxe, Special 20s, Crossovers. Suzuki Manji and just bought a couple of Suzuki Hammonds. Also a Seydel Session Steel and Big 6. Like the Crossovers best, but I am rough on harps and worry about blowing them out. Am trying to learn to be gentle but it takes time.
G harp - Suzuki Promaster. A harp - Manji. Bb harp - Suzuki Harpmaster. C harp - Seydel Session Steel. D harp Seydel 1847. E harp - Marine Band. F harp - Manji. Low F harp - Special 20. Hohner Echo 64 Tremolo C/G. Hohner Echo 64 Tremolo D/A.
Plus ....
Shure 520 bullet (white CM) armed with a Vintage Volume Control from Greg H. Lone Wolf Harp Delay. Harp Commander pre-amp. ABY box. Various cords. SM-58 mic. Leatherman multi-tool. Pen.
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2012 7:08 AM
I always had a mixed bag, still have but just recently scored 4 crossovers to use as the main kit. Also a low F thunderbird. I do like them, especially the high end. I mean, it's the upper octave where I notice the biggest difference in playability and sound. I carry 13 harps in my kit, plus a chromatic. Now I carry 4 crossovers 1 tbird 3 Sp20 2 bluesharps 1 solist pro 1 manji 1 mbd
And in the drawer theres a folkmaster, bluesmaster, 3 marine bands, a pre-ms bluesharp, a solist pro, an ms bluesharp And a bunch of broken harps, mainly bluesharps and special 20s, might even be a ms sp20 in there. ----------
Hmmm lets see if I can remember the numbers since the cases are at home and I am work
Harpmaster x 8 Lee Oskar x4 Bluesmaster x2 Marine band x5 Special 20 x4 Bluesharp x1
my two year old has Golden Melody x1 Chicago bluesharp x1 unlabeled something or other x1
then I have a full set of Medanos for experimenting on maintenance wise. and a set of 4 of the cheap black plastic cover hohners. :) :) :) ---------- The Musical Blades My Electronic Music World
Harps Low f#-reg f seydel session steel. With noble covers LLF-Lf seydel blues favorite High g high aflat and high a blues favorite G-f# golden melody
An sm57 for micing A stock American d4t (pretty solid little on the hot side) A stock shure 440sl (loudest mic ever) A shure 520 controlled reluctance shell with a blacklabel cr
A Suzuki scx-56 chromatic.
I own a pile of random harps that see less use or cruise in tge car these are the ones in the case.
Pedal board Pedal juice and a back up in the case Bbe opto stomp Harp octave Harp break Micro pog Bbe mind bender Carbon copy Sonic stomp
Kinder antifeedback will be on the board when it arrives I borrow someone else's when I know the room needs it. I loan pedals to other people all tge time.
I carry a harp tone plus when not using my amp and just a delay usually.
Plus cables and whatnot.
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2012 8:45 AM
I think I have over 100 harps scattered around the house, but this is what I have in my case:
An F Golden Melody with stainless steel reedplates (just the plates, not the reeds). I bought this from Jason Ricci who'd been given it by Howard Levy. Jason had mounted vented Bb covers on it but I had some stock F covers in my parts box so I replaced the modded covers.
A low F and a low Eb Marine Band mounted on Crossover combs by Richard Sleigh. Richard also reshaped the covers to prevent reed rattle.
An old-stye, non-MS Meisterklasse in D.
A C Crossover, customized by Nelson Keaton and signed by Carlos Del Junco.
A Richard Sleigh custom Marine Band that I bought off Jason.
Two Crossovers (G and Ab) mounted on Corian combs by Richard.
Eleven Golden Melodies in various keys.
An old wood comb Hohner 64 I bought from a saxophone player.
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2012 8:13 AM
Suzuki Manji A, Bb, C, D, F Suzuki Bluesmaster G x 2, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F Hohner Cross Harp C Hohner Blues Harp A Hohner Deuce & Quater A Syedel Session Steel Ab, F# Seydel Solist Pro Db, F Suzuki Bass Harmonica Suzuki SCX56 chrom Hohner 270 chrom
Seydel Blues Favorite LLF* Lee Oskar G*,Bb*,C*,D*,FmN* Sp20 A (one wonky reed),B*,Db* Blues Harp Ab*,A*,Eb* Marine Band LF (broke the tap to put the cover on the new comb),E* Golden Melody F#* Piedmont F*,D (plus the rest of 2 sets (cheap cases!) but those are the only two I ever use, the F because I don't have a good regular F and the D because it is a freakishly good Piedmont) Blessing Tremolo C (my first harp) Huang Musette Tremolo C,C# Hohner Chrometta G 3 BluesBands C (one of which is actually a keeper- I got it second hand. I can tell it's older because the cover plate is wearing out and it's got a veneer.) Pocket Pal C Melisa & Doug Tremolo (easily the worst harmonica I've ever run across. I bought it because I'd never seen the inside of a tremolo before.) Hohner Puck C,G Piedmont G with some insanely cheap, thin cover that dents every time you put it in your pocket. Plays surprisingly well.
2 Vintage Magnus Harmonicas 1 Vintage Magnus Jr. 1 Vintage Royal Harmonica 4 harps I bought on eBay and haven't gotten around to fixing up (3 MBs and a Huang Silver Star?) The ruined innards of a Lee Oskar G that came apart after getting left in a pocket in the washer/dryer
I own about 17 harps, most are Marine Band 1896 harps. A few are self customised and I also have three or four Crossovers. For the most part though my harps are stock Marine Band 1896 harmonicas. When I'm gigging or going to a jam I just take 7 harps with me, in the keys of G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F.
My harp case contains MXR Carbon Copy, Harp Attack 2 or 3 patch cords, 2 mic cords 2 mics Batteries and flashlight Power adapters and 6" extention cord (Kept in back of amplifier with spare tubes and fuse.) 6 Special 20s 6 Suzuki Harpmasters 6 suzuki Bluesmasters 6 Manji Assoted Hohner flat harps (4) 1 Lee Oscar Am harp lemon drops
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2012 11:33 AM
Played over the years Hohner (will never buy again unless no other choice), Lee Oskar, Herring, and Seydel.
Currently use Seydel exclusively, almost all are 1847s, the best OTB harmonica available IMO. I have them set up by Greg Scott at 16:23 Custom Harmonicas. He does a really good basic set up for an excellent price. Rather like getting a new guitar set up properly. Sometimes he tells me there was little or nothing to be done, such is the quality of Seydel.
The 1847 is available with either wood or plastic comb. I suggest you try one of each. They are both good, just very subtly different. I happen to prefer the wood. A little warmer and I just like wood as a material.
I've got a couple of different mics, pedals, amps etc which change depending on the nature of the gig.
---------- LSC
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2012 12:03 PM
This is from my roster/casualty list spreadsheet. Out of 15 harps 5 are on the injured list. My shortest time between repairs seems to be the Seydel Lo D. I have several sets of reed plates with one failed reed each.
Low C Apollo Tremelo Low D Sydel Session Steel(7 blow flat) G Lee Oscar A Hohner Pro Harp (5 draw flat),Suzuki Bluesmaster (Promaster Reedplates),Marine Band SBS Bb Suzuki Pro Master( 4 draw flat) B Suzuki HarpMaster (Promaster Reedplates) C Hohner Marine Band, Hohner Golden Melody(5 draw flat),Apollo Tremelo D Suzuki Manji (5 draw flat) Eb Bushman Delta Frost E Honer Crossover (4 blow broken ) F Suzuki Hammond
Last Edited by on Mar 27, 2012 1:03 PM
Lets see.. first of all, I have a Hohner Professional 2016 chromatic
several Sp 20s, Big Rivers, LOs, Crossovers, a couple of B-radicals, a Manji, a Session Steel...all major keys w/backups, a few low harps (BR&Sp20), one LO minor tuned.
Total number in current gig kit around 26, I think.
Mostly use C, G, D, A, LoE, B, LoF#,Ab, Eb, Bb, LoF. If I have something in Db, I usually use the chromatic. The chromatic is used mostly in C, Dm, Am, G7, and of course Db, and I can fake my way through some other flat keys depending on the song. I'm very careful NOT to play in the sharp keys much...too easy to sound a wrong note.
As I occasionally replace harps, I've been leaning toward Crossovers.
I've been playing in four groups that don't feature blues much, and I play mostly in 1st, 2ond, and 3rd position... I think I play in another position, but I'm not sure what it is. I'm trying to learn how to incorporate obs, but only at home, at the moment.
The case I use is from Cadillac Pete - an aluminum briefcase with his harp rack that can mount on a mike stand. I leave the rack in the case, though, and just set the case on a small folding bench. The rack works great as it keeps 12 harps nicely separated and ready to grab.
I have a large supply of harps needing repair. Sometimes I refurbish them myself, but mostly I'm planning to send several of them out to a couple of customizers here on the forum, when my budget allows.
Currently, I prefer the Hohner Crossover. Looking forward to try the Seydel 1847 one day.
In my case:
Hohner Marine Band Crossover Hohner Marine Band Thunderbird Suzuki Manji Suzuki Promaster MR-350 Hohner Blues Harp MS (don't buy Bluesharps anymore, still use some until they get replaced) Hohner super chromonica 270 Seydel Blues Favorite
Wow i didn't realise i had so many harps! L/Os Bb C D E F (all gapped and re tuned slightly) Am(N) Em(N) Cm Am(dorian)(set up for 3rd position.) F D E cut down plates to 7 Holes mounted on cut down wooden combs and fitted with Big six cover plates.
HOHNER A (pro harp) G (1896) SUZUKI Bluesmasters in A and D Hammond in F(very nice harp) Manji in C (just got it..needs some reed gapping) SEYDEL Big six in C (love it might get some of its big brothers in time) Two mikes.Astaic biscuit C/M and an Akai DM 13 Mike Cable with Gregs V/C (best tool i've ever bought) Lone Wolf Harp Break Small screwdriver ,spare batteries and a penlight. A bottle opener.
I have rated them 5 stars the best. But for everyday use the Bluesmasters or Harpmasters are rugged workhorses. My star ratings are as I find the actual harp. OOTB harps vary with inconsistencies but for OOTB harps my personal findings/my luck has been with Bluesmasters, Harpmasters & Lee Oskar.
9 Suzuki Bluesmasters **** 5 Suzuki Harpmasters **** Suzuki Promaster in A & Bb ** Suzuki Manji G custom ***** Suzuki Manji C ** Suzuki Folkmaster Ab **** Suzuki 2 Timer Tremolos in A & C *** Suzuki Chromatix SCX48 **** Seydel 1847 D custom ***** Seydel Session Steels in A & Bb **** Hohner SP20 Bb ***** Hohner Sp20 LoD **** Hohner Sp20 C & A *** Hohner Golden Melody C *** Hohner Blues Harp G & Bb * Hohner MB C LoF LoE *** Hohner MB 364 C *** Hohner Crossover Ab ***** Hohner Crossover G *** Lee Oskar C **** Lee Oskar MM in G & D **** Lee Oskar NM in Am & Em **** Lee Oskar HM in Am & Gm **** Home made out of assorted bits PR in G & D *** + a drawer full of bits.
All customized by me (with a few exceptions as noted), some more than others. Some of these harps have been in the main case for years. No backups.
My main axes:
1)G Prewar Seydel Bandmaster on American Chestnut comb, Paddy Richter tuned for Em playing. (A favorite) 2) G Seydel Solist Pro 3) A B-Radical with gold-plated plates (A favorite) 4) B Seydel Solist - only unsealed comb in the box, but otherwise custom. 5) Bb Golden Melody that Jason Ricci customized and gave to me. (A favorite)Has a rosewood comb from Earl the Pearl. 6) C B-radical. (A favorite. It's actually not in the case, I've carried it in my pocket every day for two years). 7) Db Special 20. (very special to me) This is the one Joe Leone played on the "After the Loving" video. Smokey Joe tuned, has a 5 draw reed Joe made out of a .38 special bullet casing. Still has the little smiley face sticker Joe puts on harps to signify repair. 8) D Weltmeister Blackbird with stainless steel reeds. 9) Low D Seydel Session. 10) Eb Golden Melody with a wood comb harp customized by Randy Sandoval (a favorite) 11) E Seydel Solist Pro on a Corian comb. Comb was made by Randy Sandoval. 12) F Bends Juke. 13) Marine Band F#. (been in case for many years) 14) A Seydel Solist, paddy richter tuned, play it F# minor, 4th position (A favorite) 15) C Seydel Session, paddy richter tuned, play it Am, 4th position.
manji in low F,F,A and D Main case for general use Seydel session steels various colour combs in A,C,D,E,G,Low D,Eb,Low C,Low F# Seydel session antique covers in F# and G Hohner Thunderbird Low E Hohner sp20 MS in F Bends Anima in F# and E Marine band 1896 in Bb,A,C,D Seydel big six in C Turbotwenty in G and Gm
I also have some lee oskars that i no longer play as i find the sound tinny after playing seydels and manjis.
All 18 available keys of 1847's 1 Promaster High G 1 Special 20 High F#
Done carrying 50 harps to gigs anymore. Haven't blown out a harp in a while. If I do I will just get through the night playing assorted positions.
I carry tham all in one Hohner case designed for 12 harps. Hal Iwan hooked me up with a new foam insert to get 20 harps in the same case.
I am just going through the PA for both my duo and "hippy band" gigs. So one small case for the harps and a small bag with Beta SM58 and a mic stand. Packed and ready to rip!
What I leave at home is another story. My guess is few hundred assorted goodies including full Lee Oskar sets, richter, natural and harmonic minors, lot's and lot's of Special 20's, couple dozen custom Marine Bands and a box full of Big Rivers, Golden Medleys, Blues harps and assorted cheapo's. To top it off I have an inventory of around 500 Bluesbands for classes,cheap beginners and freebies to the very young and very old folks that I meet on the trail.
WB ---------- Warren Bee Marketing & Harmonica Raconteur
Last Edited by on Mar 29, 2012 11:03 AM
1847 G otb and excelent 1847 A - Jim's OB setup Manji's in A Bb Low F and E Suzuki Hammond in C, D Firebreath in D Promaster Eb Bluesmasters in F, G, Bb - as backups Huang Star Performers D# and Ab Bushman soul's voice D Dudeharp D Michalek Buddha Black Beauty marine band C B Radical C Lee Oskar A minor and E minor
I will slowely be getting more 1847s
micro pog and Yamaha Magicstomp wired through the box so I plug mic in on side and line out to amp on back.
