SilasJackson
20 posts
Jan 08, 2009
12:05 AM
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It's probably been talked about here somewhere, but what would you guys suggest for an inexpensive low key harp just to play around with. I really dig the "foghorn" like qualities of the sound. I really don't have a brand preference, so long as it's reasonably decent--just for experimenting you know? Plus, what would be the most useful key to get?
Thanks,
SJ
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Andrew
57 posts
Jan 08, 2009
12:18 AM
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Some brands don't do the low ones. I recommend a low-D Marine Band. That's their standard lowest, I think. You'll find SBW II plays it often, but I'm too lazy to post the YouTube links to prove it.
Seydel do the "Blues Session Super Low" which goes down to Low-Low-F! (I'm thinking of getting one of those)
http://www.harmonicas-direct.com/index2.html
Check this out:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0YHCiC7IIg8
Last Edited by on Jan 08, 2009 12:34 AM
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harmonicanick
101 posts
Jan 08, 2009
12:51 AM
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Try low Eb, great sound and can be played loud!, I use one for open mic's on my own and play 2 in, 2 out boogie on 1,2, & 3&4 or whatever..
I have a Seydel super low F, ok on your own, but you cannot blow or draw hard, so the sound is soft.
Last Edited by on Jan 08, 2009 1:06 AM
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MrVerylongusername
95 posts
Jan 08, 2009
1:56 AM
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I don't think Sonny Boy used a low D - I don't think that key was available then. AFAIK, on some tunes he used a 14 hole marine band / Vamper (the European equivalent), which has a low octave, but only comes in G or C.
I have a Seydel LLF and LG - but as Nick says they have a completely different attack from regular harps, more like bowed instruments. The bottom 3 holes are incredibly hard to bend, and on the LLF you need to let the blow 1 reed settle before playing the draw 1, otherwise, even with the valves in place, you end up with both reeds sounding - it's just a matter of inertia. I've also found that the weight of the solder on the reeds can actually cause the gaps to close up if you leave them lying flat. Seydel recommend you store them holes down.
Ben Bouman is absolutely amazing on these low key harps - somehow he can play them like standard diatonics!
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birdman
55 posts
Jan 08, 2009
2:04 AM
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i like, the marine band low Eb , sounds great
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Oisin
72 posts
Jan 08, 2009
2:18 AM
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For low notes you can't beat the 365, 14 hole Marine band. Think "Bye Bye Bird". Sounds even better played through an amp...at very loud levels it could kill a man.
You can do a 2 draw bend vibrato on them that sounds like a cello...beautiful sound.
Oisin
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Leanground
35 posts
Jan 08, 2009
5:24 AM
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Inexpensive...Big River, they sound good and won't break the bank
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oldwailer
427 posts
Jan 08, 2009
6:07 AM
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There is a 364 Marine Band 12-holer that works well for the SBII Bye Bye tune. I have a recording of it that is in low C--but I know there are others in low D.
I have the low C and I like it so much I have a spare in my bag. Just use whatever excuse you can find to get to the 1 blow and let it sing with lots of vibrato--it's such a cool note. . .
Check this clip out--Sugar Blue doing SBII on a 365--some really cool sounds. . .
http://www.blinkx.com/video/sugar-blue-sonny-boy-williamson-iii/8xL3vTvHydsG6Al-QbJZaA
Last Edited by on Jan 08, 2009 11:06 AM
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SilasJackson
22 posts
Jan 08, 2009
9:47 PM
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Thanks for the info guys. That French girl, Christelle has a couple of vids on youtube playing some low key harps. She's a lot easier to look at than most of the guys. LOL. Kinda' cute in that Morticia Adams, Elvira, Elfish, Waifish kind of way. I mean that in the most admiring way. I think she plays just fine! Some think she uses too many (much) effects on her stuff, but I think it's OK. I think I might try out a Big River. Don't have one of those yet.
Thanks,
SJ
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oldwailer
431 posts
Jan 09, 2009
5:40 AM
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I think I might try a Big River too--I hadn't realized there were low keys available before this thread--I just checked the price and it is the same as the regular keys--about 20 dollars US.
All the other low key harps I know of cost more than regular, and I need a low D and maybe a low Ab.
I have a couple of BR's and I find them to be durable and acceptable, as long as you do a little work on them to de-leak them.
They are a little thick in the mouth though--I hope the low keys aren't even thicker--does anybody know about this? Leanground??
Last Edited by on Jan 09, 2009 5:41 AM
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Leanground
36 posts
Jan 09, 2009
6:05 AM
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oldwailer, I just compaired the Big River low d,and Sp20, against the MB low d and the MB 1draw reed didn't hit the cover as badly.
BR still isn't too bad but Marine Band wins in my book
I was lucky to get 4 "Echo Vampers" (12 hole c harps) from an ebayer in England, new old stock from a closed music shop they are so damn cool
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Andrew
62 posts
Jan 09, 2009
7:00 AM
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This 14-hole MB interests me, but I'm sure SBW plays in the key of A, so I don't believe he's doing it on a G or a C harp.
As to the lack of attack (i.e. sound delay) on a low harp, I'm aware that church organ foot-pedals have the same problem, and one of the skills of a good organist is to play the foot-pedals in anticipation of the hands, so that the sounds come out synchronised!
On the other hand, my preference is for narrow gapping, so I'd probably look at closing them down before assuming the instrument is just sluggish.
Last Edited by on Jan 09, 2009 7:00 AM
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Buddha
8 posts
Jan 09, 2009
8:03 AM
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you can make any harp a low key harp by adding super glue to the end of a reed and retuning the harp.
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MrVerylongusername
102 posts
Jan 09, 2009
9:13 AM
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@Andrew
It's not low key harps in general that lack attack - it's the Seydel superlow ones. They have a huge blob of solder (maybe a couple of millimetres high on the low end reeds - it's not a gapping issue really - you have gently coax the reed simply because it is so heavy and once it's going, inertia keeps the reed moving long after you stop blowing. The tolerances on these harps are already tight. You absolutely cannot close gap these beasts, they just choke immediately.
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