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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Do you stick with one type of harp?
Do you stick with one type of harp?
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Pauly21
8 posts
Jul 19, 2012
9:07 AM
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I'm loving the shape and comfort of my Golden Melody, but also the tone of my crossover. Trouble is I'm having difficulty back and forth between the two. They feel distinctly different and that's
causing some mistakes and sloppy playing.
Do you guys stick to just one type of harp?
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norrin_radd
18 posts
Jul 19, 2012
9:24 AM
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I've only been learning the harp seriously for 2yrs, so I'm not an expert, but I have a similar issue. I have played several different Hohners, Seydels and even have a Suziki Bluesmaster. I like both Seydels and the Suzki, but I've pretty much decided I'm going to phase everything but the Seydels out of my little Piedmont case, and just keep the good ones of the "others" in my harp graveyard drawer as backups. I think it makes sense to keep the hole spacing consistant and I like full length coverplates. my 2 cents anyway.
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2012 9:32 AM
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atty1chgo
407 posts
Jul 19, 2012
9:48 AM
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The hole spacing on the Lee Oskars are so different than many other brand of harps that it just isn't worth the bother even considering an LO harp. Life is too short. I'll stick with Suzuki and Hohner products.
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2012 9:48 AM
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FMWoodeye
425 posts
Jul 19, 2012
10:23 AM
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I have finally settled on the Special 20 for practice and the Crossover for performance. I have no issues switching back and forth between these two harps. I am confident I good switch mid-song without a hitch.
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Miles Dewar
1353 posts
Jul 19, 2012
11:21 AM
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Exclusively Hohner Marine Band 1896.
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didjcripey
338 posts
Jul 19, 2012
11:28 AM
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I switch between at least five different types of harp and find it is no problem at all. I sometimes practice on stiff crappy harps so that I enjoy the difference on my Manjis and Lee Oskars. Focus on the music, not the instrument.
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Lucky Lester
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2012 11:29 AM
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1247 posts
Jul 19, 2012
11:50 AM
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THere's a B-radical C that's always in my pocket. Here's what's in my gig bag, all customized by me unless otherwise noted.
1) Prewar Seydel Bandmaster, G, custom American Chestnut comb.
1 1/2)Prewar Seydel Bandmaster, High G.
2) B-radical A, gold coverplates (HH prototype cover).
3) A key of G harmonica, Paddy Richter tuned, Seydel Solist Pro reedplates with a custom American Chestnut comb, Bandmaster coverplates from Communist East Germany.
4) A Bb Golden Melody, customized by Jason Ricci, with Earl the Pearl Rosewood comb.
5) An F Bends Juke.
6) D Seydel Solist, that I made for my late grandfather several years ago.
7) E Solist Pro with a Randy Sandoval Corian Comb.
8)Low D Seydel 1847 with a thick American Chestnut Comb.
9) A C XB-40, Paddy Richter tuned.
10)A G harmonica, Paddy Richter tuned, with Seydel Session reedplates, thick American chestnut comb and County and Western coverplates.
11) An Ab tremolo I made from a Hering 12-hole chromatic.
12) G Seydel Hochlandsklange.
13) E Elk River Bluesified Concerto.
14) A D Seydel Solist diatonic with a Vienna-style American Chestnut and mahogany comb.
15)A D 270 Chromatic with a Hering mouthpiece and a compound external slide spring.
16) A Hugo Rauner chromatic C, made in U.S.S.R.-occupied Germany with leather valves.
17) A C Echo octave
18) A Richter note placement double sided Mountain Harp tremolo
19)A Db harmonica with a Seydel Session comb, Session steel reedplates and East German Bandmaster coverplates.
20) An F# Marine Band.
21) An Eb Golden Melody customized by Randy Sandoval with an unknown wood comb.
22) An E Seydel Solist, Paddy Richter tuned.
23) An A Seydel Solist, Paddy Richter tuned.
24) a Bb Special 20, Paddy tuned.
25) A B Seydel Solist.
26) An all-plastic Magnus harmonica, C (just for show, stock)
27) Prewar Hohner Polyphonia No. 4 (I think that's the number, it's the one that became the Vinetta).
28) Not in my gigging war case, because its down in need of repair, my Hohner 48 chord, which was originally owned by Borrah Minnevitch Harmonica Rascal Ray Tankersley.
29) A Db Special 20, country tuned. It's the harmonica Joe Leone used in the "After the Loving" video on Youtube. It features a 5 draw reed that Joe made from a .38 special shell casing.
So, I think the answer is no. I don't stick with just one harp.
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David
____________________
At the time of his birth, it was widely accepted that no one man could play that much music so well or raise that much hell. He proved them all wrong.
R.I.P. H. Cecil Payne
Elk River Institute for Advanced Harmonica Studies
Elk River Harmonicas on Facebook
"I ain't gonna sing no 'Home on the Range.' No. sir. Not if it means I rot in here another month. I'm gonna sing what I'm a gonna be! A free man in the morning!"
Andy Griffith (as Lonesome Rhodes, "A Face in the Crowd).
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2012 11:59 AM
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Willspear
183 posts
Jul 19, 2012
3:51 PM
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I play seydel 1847s session steels and favorites
I like golden melodies play them but I don't go back and forth between seydel and hohner as regular practice.
I have to relearn how to hit octaves for a minute when changing brands. The golden melodys are harder to do octave but marginally better for fast play. Really nice for triplets.
I exclusively play Suzuki chromatics. Comfortable and fair price.
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robbert
105 posts
Jul 19, 2012
4:01 PM
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It's amazing how this topic crops up repeatedly in one form or another, and I never tire of it. I guess we must be harmonica players, huh?
Before I decided to invest in better quality harps, I used mostly Sp. 20s, Big Rivers, Lee Oskars, and a few MBs. Most of these harps served me well for several years, and I would replace as needed. I went through a lot of C harps, as that was the main key I used in practice.
A few years ago, I decided I was ready to try better quality, and hopefully more responsive, instruments. I also learned (thanks to this forum)to gap my harps to my playing style, which makes a big difference in playability.
Now, I still have a number of(re-gapped) Sp.20s, B.R.s, and L.O.s in my gig case, but my current otb favorite is the Crossover, for many reasons. Durable, loud, airtight, and responsive...I seem to prefer it over the Manji, or Session Steel(both of which are pretty darn good harps.
I also have two B-radicals, which are very good, but no longer in production, and one Spiers custom Sp. 20, which is the best harp I have. I use it to work on my ob/od technique. This harp has all those obs/ods, but doesn't choke with regular chugging, etc. Marvelous harp.
I'd like to try a Seydel 1847 one day, and I also would like to get a set of Thunderbirds...those and more Spiers customs are on my wish list, and more Crossovers...
I have two Professional 2016s(one is a backup)chromatic harmonicas in C. This is a great harp.
I carry all Maj keys and some are low, like E, Eb, F#.
I have a couple of minor keyed harps, but generally don't need them.
I carry around 30 harps...I guess I could stand to clean out the duplicates and extras as I haven't had a harp give out in performance in a long time.
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SuperBee
421 posts
Jul 19, 2012
4:10 PM
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I used to have 5 different types in my gig case and it didn't bother me. Much. But I wondered if it would be better to have just one type so I settled on the marine band. Just for the shape, size, hole spacing. I thought maybe it would be better to have that instant familiarity which would maybe allow me to focus on the music immediatly rather than making these little adaptations. And maybe it is better, but it's not dramatic. I only have marine band types in my kit now. I still think there is more difference between keys than harp types but it probably is a little better to have the one shape. It may just be a rationalisation to buy more harps though ;) I don't think it's a big deal.
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
1250 posts
Jul 19, 2012
4:50 PM
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When I was a kid, maybe 10, it was the old handmade Blues Harp, not this MS crap. I used to take them to school and church. I remember at church, while the preacher was preaching, I would have all my harps out looking at them. Then I would show them to people around me. I'd hand them a D or something to look at. Then I'd pull out an F. This went on and on until I ran out of keys, every couple of weeks I'd have a new Blues Harp to show off. I got $5 for mowing one ladies yard and this other lady paid me $6 because she had a really big lot. Blurs Harps were around $20, I think. Not only did I love harps, I had to work my ass off to buy those harmonicas and it took me forever to get a set of 7 keys because I kept blowing them out and had to replace them.
The folks on the church bus had me playing constantly, but the folks inside must have been so sick of seeing those harps during the services.
I do remember this 90 yr old lady on the church bus asking me to play "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." I told her I never heard of it, but I'd learn it. There was no YouTube in those days, but somebody hummed the tune to me and I learned it that way... Kinda funny cause it's one of my best songs now.
The thing that kept me on those Blues harps was I liked the tone better, I did not like side vent tone in those days. It's funny, cause I think about the harmonica nerd I was at 5 years old, then 10 years old, then 15 years old, then 25 (didn't play at all for the next five years) 30 years old and now at 36. It's like those were five different people.
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David
____________________
At the time of his birth, it was widely accepted that no one man could play that much music so well or raise that much hell. He proved them all wrong.
R.I.P. H. Cecil Payne
Elk River Institute for Advanced Harmonica Studies
Elk River Harmonicas on Facebook
"I ain't gonna sing no 'Home on the Range.' No. sir. Not if it means I rot in here another month. I'm gonna sing what I'm a gonna be! A free man in the morning!"
Andy Griffith (as Lonesome Rhodes, "A Face in the Crowd).
Last Edited by on Jul 19, 2012 5:00 PM
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SuperBee
425 posts
Jul 19, 2012
5:13 PM
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I'm sure it's my ignorance to the fore, but I don't understand what's wrong with ms bluesharps. I preferred them for a long time. I think I only stopped using them because of repeated exposure to comments that they are no good, so I thought I must be missing out on something better. Haven't played one for a while, but I do like the size, shape and heft.
what exactly is so bad about them?
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1847
84 posts
Jul 19, 2012
6:22 PM
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thats a good question super bee
i have several ms reed plates
that i have been sitting on.
i have a custom hetrick comb
that i also have sitting around
so finally i get with it.
i install the plates
that thing is awesome!
it has a beautiful tuning
i am wondering why it took me so long to assemble it
i play it for an hour.
then the very next day i pick it up
it is out of tune!
i would normally just retune it
but what the heck
i have several more plates
i install new plates and put it away
the next day
i go to check it out and 3 draw is tweeked
i did not even play it.
so i will take the blame, maybe i somehow did something to cause it, after all it did not have the coverplates on
so it could of been my fault.
quite possibly.
i like this harp, custom comb
thicker reed plates.
"they are very sensitive".
you have to be careful
harmonicas are a lot like women
most of the time you need to be gentle"
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nacoran
5988 posts
Jul 19, 2012
7:11 PM
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I have a mixed gig set- LO's, SP20s, a GM, Blues Harps, a couple MBs, and a Seydel. The hole spacing doesn't bother me a bit. It doesn't even really bother me when I play my Hohner puck! Maybe it's because I switch between them so often. Maybe if I played one exclusively for a while it would bug me to switch? Don't know. I've actually thought about slowly phasing out some of the harps and going with alternating keys between Sp20s and LOs, that way depending on what tuning I want I could just switch a half step.
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Nate
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LeonStagg
272 posts
Jul 19, 2012
7:27 PM
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All SP20s with one exception, a Chris Reynolds Marine Band.
Tried all the usual suspects, always came back to the model I began with.
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MakaInOz
65 posts
Jul 19, 2012
8:47 PM
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I'm lazy - I first learnt on a Lee Oskar and find it easier to stick to the same shape. There are enough factors detracting from my harp playing (like lack of practice!) without adding further confusion to the equation with different hole shapes/spacings.
But the mini (holes 4 - 7), Bass and 48 Chord are all Swan.
Cheers
Maka
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jiceblues
86 posts
Jul 20, 2012
3:24 AM
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I tried a few models and always return to SP20 , the most reliable , practical ,economical and easy to play(for me )
In my opinion ,it's the best giggin' harp for blues...
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2chops
89 posts
Jul 20, 2012
9:39 AM
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I like the SP 20s for playing out and home practice. I have some older Star Performers that I keep in my Jeep for travel time. Truth be told, the Huangs are not bad. But then they are over 15 years old. Better vintage. I have a lovely CBH 2016 that I work with from time to time. Plus a couple of Chromonicas too. The SP 20s are my go to harps though.
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You Tube = goshinjk
I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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garry
244 posts
Jul 21, 2012
3:58 PM
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while learning, i tried all kinds of harps, but mostly played special 20's. eventually settled on suzuki bluesmasters for a while. but when i started playing more with a regular band, they seemed to die on me too frequently, so i switched to seydel blues sessions, which i'm now replacing with session steels.
my gig case has a mix of mostly bluesmasters, sessions, and few special 20's. they all feel different, but i don't have any trouble switching between them.
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A440
22 posts
Jul 25, 2012
6:39 AM
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After having tried a range of harps (mostly Hohners and Seydels), I have settled on two standard harps: the Marine Band Deluxe (which I prefer over the Crossover) and the Special 20. The MBDs are my main gig harps. SP20s are for practice, pocket and lesser used keys.
By the way... contrary to the web chatter, I find the latest Blues Harp MS to be a pretty nice harp since they have improved the quality a copy years ago. Pat Missin posted a good review:
http://www.patmissin.com/reviews/mbbhmbd.html
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The Gloth
672 posts
Jul 25, 2012
6:44 AM
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I'm torn between "regular" harps like BluesHarp or SP20 (I swore to myself I'll never buy MB again) and more sophisticated harps like MB Deluxe or Promasters : these are more fun to play, but I have to replace them as fast as the others, and it causes me pain in the wallet...
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shadoe42
203 posts
Jul 25, 2012
7:06 AM
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I switch from Harpmasters to Sp20s. eventually I do want to complete my set of Harpmasters. And there is a slight adjustment in hole spacing between the two.
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The Musical Blades
My Electronic Music World
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Frank
914 posts
Jul 25, 2012
5:31 PM
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Hey Pauly... one t-y-p-e of harp for me. I'll use MB MBD MBC Sp20 and cx12
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