Thievin' Heathen
759 posts
May 31, 2016
6:40 PM
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"the reeds look like a side grinder has been used on them. THis has to make weak spots."
I think it might be garden tools, but I most recently saw it on a Special 20 I was tweaking.
No one has yet to comment on the age of this thread. I think if Hohner was going to update the GM, it would have happened by now.
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Garlic Breath
50 posts
Jun 01, 2016
8:16 PM
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I'd bet that many older Golden Melody lovers like myself started out with a Marine Band back in the 60's or 70's, then progressed to Special Twenties cause they were loud and wouldn't swell, then tried a Golden Melody since its rounded shape looked easy to cup, and fell in love with the sweet sound it produced. As my playing has evolved over the years, the chords have become more of an embellishment to the melody, rather than the other way around. The grass always looks greener on the other side, and when I listen to Phil Wiggins on a Marine Band and others who play well on other types of harps, I wish I could play like all of them. It's like the guitar world, where one guy is admired for the characteristic sound of his 59 Les Paul, and another guy is remembered for the sound of his twangy Strat or
Tele. The truth is I LOVE THEM ALL! Many old blues players couldn't even read, let alone read music. Technical prowess vs. soul... I LOVE THEM BOTH! The goal is to hit your sweet spot between technical knowledge and relaxed natural artistic creativity. As to the engineering of my favorite model, yes it has a long way to go. Unlike guitars, where old models were more "hand made", with more abundant fine woods, and players were seen as admired stars, the old tin sandwich was always seen as more of a toy, and Hohner apparently hasn't seen its instrument in the same light as Fender or Gibson. At this point, the most you can do is send your "toy" to a customizer like Tom Halchak, and have him work his magic to transform it into what it could and SHOULD be. The comb is too brittle and not flat enough, the covers need opening and bracing, the reed plates could be thicker etc. etc. Tom could give the best dissertation on what can be done to improve the playability and structural integrity of this sweet sounding instrument. I wish serious players could simply pay a little bit more for a quality instrument rather than a toy, but for a company that wants to be like all the other companies competing in the low information world, profitability is king.
Last Edited by Garlic Breath on Jun 01, 2016 8:23 PM
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Sundancer
4 posts
Jun 18, 2016
5:55 PM
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Joe Spiers built me a stage 2 GM in F with a Dorian comb. It is the mutt's nuts. Love it.
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Haz7maX
1 post
Jul 19, 2016
7:28 PM
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Why did they invent GOLDEN MELODY Harmonicas ?? My first one broke..so i bought my second one and it broke..my third one didn't break yet because i will never buy it !!
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Haz7maX..
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bigd
624 posts
Jul 19, 2016
11:08 PM
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Happiness is a customized Golden Melody.....my case is abundant with Joe Spiers and Harvey Berman horns!
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STME58
1781 posts
Jul 19, 2016
11:08 PM
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I have a few Golden Melodies. I like the way they feel in your hand, the ones I have bend easily and even overblow a bit as set up out of the box. I don't find them to fail any faster than other harps. Reed plates are available. I did find out the hard way that the reeds are a different size than other Hohners. I was able to file one to narrow it and make it fit but it was pretty tedious.
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harmonicanick
2499 posts
Jul 20, 2016
12:54 AM
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Golden Melody for ever!!!!!!!!! Always been my fave
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JustFuya
928 posts
Jul 20, 2016
12:53 PM
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I bought one in the 90s on a buddy's recommendation for quality reasons. I liked them so much I used nothing but for 15 or so years. Then I tried a CO a few years ago and realized I still liked that MB form. At the same time I learned people were actually taking them apart, making adjustments and even customizing them.
Incidentally & embarassingly, I never noticed the tuning difference of the GM at the time.
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Whitelight
7 posts
Jul 21, 2016
1:34 PM
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I have several Golden Melodies as well. Great sound, very comfortable to play and a great look.
I wish Hohner, would come out with a Golden Melody Deluxe, just for something different, and a new one to buy...
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