motta8830
3 posts
May 03, 2008
8:25 PM
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I was just wondering how everyone felt about all the different tunings on the lee oskar harmonicas.
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Warbleman
15 posts
May 03, 2008
8:45 PM
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I have a D, C, and E and the D is the best harp I've ever played, the C is good but for some reason a let down from the D, and E is pretty good but still not up to the D. I think I just got unlucky on the latter two or really lucky on the D. Overall I would definantly recommend Lee Oskars. They bend easily, are loud, and durable.
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ChipperHarp
21 posts
May 04, 2008
11:50 AM
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Lee Oskars are a good harp though I do have a couple issues. If you get going as in really wailing, LOs tend to stick. The other thing is that a Marine Band and Special 20 tend to sound better, particularly with chords due to the different tuning with them and Oskars. But the LO is definitely a more durable harp and seems to last longer than the Hohners.
I also have couple minor keyed harps which are great. But it does seem that when ever a minor tune comes up at a jam or whatnot, it is in a key I don't have so I end up playing 3rd position anyway.
Best,
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ChipperHarp
http://www.myspace.com/chipperharp
Last Edited by on May 04, 2008 11:51 AM
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harpmonkey
25 posts
May 05, 2008
5:39 PM
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I have 4 of the Lee Oskar's minor harmonic harps, and I like to noodle with them freestyle.
But I still prefer MB 1896 as my standard harp.
I tried a few of the cheaper MB for practice, but found trying to save a buck, robs me of any ground I could make.
You can always make another dollar, but you can't get back wasted time playing a poor harp. (there's a good blues song in there somewhere...)
I just bought and recieved a low C Syedel Solist Por 12, cuz I just love that SBWII low harp vamping he does.
Got a good deal on it, so I had to get it, and I want to see there quality. So far, I am impressed. It is much like a MB in it's construction, ease of blowing and it sounds sweet.
I will be getting a few more Seydel's to try, and I am thinking of the stainless to see how it goes.
Got good harps, now I just have to learn to do them justice...
Last Edited by on May 05, 2008 5:40 PM
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snakes
4 posts
May 06, 2008
1:56 PM
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Well if you want the 2 cents from a beginner I have owned a couple of Lee Oskar's. I initially thought they would be my harp of choice as I prefer a plastic comb and liked that you could rebuild them. Then I noticed that there were some keys (such as A) that I had dificulty in bending compared to the others. When I checked I noticed that the key of A was significantly thicker than say a key of C and this seemed to be my problem while learning to bend. After some reading I have since tried a couple of Suzuki Bluesmasters (which are about the price of a reed replacement kit from Lee) and love them. They are easy to bend, very thin in profile (which I like), and seem to almost be a finer polished metal as they just glide easier when I play them. Not a very mature harp player speaking here, but until I try something better I will stick with the Suzukis (although the Lee's are a nice harp). I have tried Special 20, Marine Band, Hohner Blues harp, Lee Oskar, and Suzuki.
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reubenjames
2 posts
May 06, 2008
2:50 PM
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I have a whole set of Lee Oskars. I started playing shows with them and they are good but I fine that they do have a tendency to stick. Also on overblows I find the Hohner Special 20 works better.
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BocomoJoe
5 posts
May 13, 2008
10:15 AM
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I have a nearly complete set of LO, including the flat keys. I started with Hohner's and prefer the LO harps for both tone and bending. But you do need to learn how to open them up and adjust the reeds. That's something any real harp player needs to do on a regular basis. If you watch Adam's videos, he says he opens his harps, tunes and adjusts them before gigging.
When I was 18-19 I played piano for my college's men's choir. 70 men, 1 piano. We took a tour on the east coast every year. One gig I was complaining about a junky old upright piano I had to use, out of tune, busted and sticky keys (too bad I didn't have my tuning kit with me). My music director (he had also been my piano teacher) just looked me in the eye and gently said "It's a poor musician that blames his instrument." I never complained about an instrument again, ever. Willy Nelson plays a beat up old junky guitar with a hole worn in the top. If you can't make your instrument talk, that's not the instrument's fault. Learn how to adjust your instrument and how to play it. Use the instrument that gives you the sound you want and feels right to you.
Last Edited by on May 13, 2008 10:33 AM
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David Thomas
1 post
May 17, 2008
7:49 PM
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I have just started to play around with different tunings in the Lee Oskars ie both Melody Maker & Harmonic Minors. I love them. Have some Lee Oskars in standard diatonics & they are a great harp but for me my favourites have to be the Bluesmasters for sheer comfort and ease of playing. I have been playing harp for nearly 50 years on and off (mostly off) and only came back to playing 2 years ago. I play for my own enjoyment & to annoy friends. For me blues playing is somewhat challenging whereas I can easily play most melodies by ear. I was speaking with a locally well known blues harp player who sounded really great with the group he played with but he told me that he really envied me as he was unable to play melodies on the harp! I was wondering if this is common or rare amongst blues players?
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oldwailer
38 posts
May 17, 2008
10:52 PM
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I have had a few LO's--my two favs are the D minor and the Low F. I do seem to have one problem with LO's--that is that they engrave the hole numbers into the harp so deep they irritate me. Not irritate my lips so much--just piss me off. of course there is no better harp than the LO minor to get down and riff on "Summertime" or "Wayfarin' Stranger." Overall, I'd like to have a whole bushel of Bushman's and another bushel of MB's--then just sit back and play the hell out of them just to see which ones lasted the best. . .unfortunately, it's about all I can afford to just maintain my meager collection--and I always seem to need at least a couple more--those low Seydels sure look fun. . .
Last Edited by on May 17, 2008 10:56 PM
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atty1chgo
79 posts
Jun 22, 2011
5:21 PM
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I bought my first Lee Oskar in early May, just before Hill Country Harmonica II, a 10 hole standard diatonic in the key of D. OK, so I played it for a few weeks steadily. But it is so out of tune right now (more than one reed) that I just don't understand how people could have them for years without problems. Turned me off on the product.
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Dog Face
120 posts
Jun 22, 2011
5:44 PM
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I have a LO in D. It was a gift. I hated it for quite a while until I made myself get used to it. I have other harps of different makes but this one for some reason took me forever to get used to. Once I forced myself to play it often I got frustrated enough to tweek it a little and now it works pretty well for me. I can over blow on it but I find it easier on my Seydels.
As others have stated, they stick a little if you push em. When I brought that up a while back, one of the more experienced guys in here simply said, "you're playing too hard." Sage advice. I find that if I stay light on it, it does everything I need it to do.
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Brad
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groyster1
1146 posts
Jun 22, 2011
5:56 PM
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I own 5 LOs they are very durable but prefer the sound of special 20s its all about the tuning
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dukeofwail
3 posts
Jun 22, 2011
6:04 PM
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THICKER
Lee Oskar A (and G) harp has thicker lower cover to clear the wide-swinging low reeds. Else reeds bang into covers.
STICKING
Learn to gap reeds to suit your playing. It's easy and worthwhile. Hard blowing: bigger gap. Softer player: small gap. You pay for customizing, or learn to customize.
TUNING
Lee is a single-note player, and performs and records with horns. Equal Tempered ET tuning is right for him. I keep Melody Makers in ET. I tune Majors to Just Intonation (JI)for smooth chords. And follow Pat Missin recommendations for Natural Minors.
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Stay Well
Play Well
Robert Hale
robert@dukeofwail.com
http://www.youtube.com/DUKEofWAIL
Gilbert AZ (Phoenix)
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nacoran
4218 posts
Jun 23, 2011
11:01 AM
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I have LO's in G, Bb, C and a F natural minor. I really like them. I'm not an overblower and I tend to play a lot of melody, so the equal tuning sounds nice and clean. The thicker profile on the low tunings doesn't bother me. It keeps the reeds from rattling. They take abuse better than SP20's. It would be nice if they offered them in just tuning as an option. I suppose I could just retune one, but it's extra work for a harp I might not use, since I play so much melody. The only problem I have with them is the little square holes catch my mustache hairs if I don't keep it trimmed neat.
I haven't tried the other tunings. I'm more interested in getting more low tuned harps first.
Holy old thread batman! Did a spammer pop this thread up or did someone go archive searching?
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Nate
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