harponica
61 posts
Sep 13, 2012
8:22 PM
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http://shop.harmonica411.com/Huang-Silvertone-HUANG-SILVERTONE.htm In 1985 ,Ben Ganzell from Miami,fla. who tuned pianos for a living and played harp part time turned me onto the Silvertone Deluxes.He used to sell 12 harp packs for $80 bucks"Cash and Carry",he would tell me.Here's my point ,a man who tuned pianos for a living would know something about the quality of a reed to hold a tuning.This man tuned the pianos of the best piano players to visit the Miami area back then for concerts.He was the man to call,he did it all by ear.He wouldn't of promoted the Silvertone if it was pure junk.Now after many years I'm back on em and hav'n a blast.Give em a try @ $10.50 a stick.http://shop.harmonica411.com/Huang-Silvertone-HUANG-SILVERTONE.htm
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HawkeyeKane
1179 posts
Sep 14, 2012
8:28 AM
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I will second this synopsis of the STD (eek! not a good acronym I guess.) I've been Playing several of these lately due to their economical pricing, and I have to say, I've become enamored with their durability. They last a good long while! They're still somewhat leaky, but that's workable with a little tweaking and tightening. I also have a slight discomfort with the size and shaping of the coverplates. They're pretty thick, and the overhangs on the backs can actually be pretty sharp to catch your finger on. But all in all, I really do like them as an inexpensive alternative to the ever-rising-in-price Hohner harps.
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Hawkeye Kane
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HarpNinja
2668 posts
Sep 14, 2012
8:52 AM
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"ever-rising-in-price Hohner harps"
Just to clarify, they are not the only manufacturers raising prices...especially the last few years. Just sayin'.
***I am too lazy to search for it, but I believe I've posted a price comparison of all the major harps on the market on this forum. As I recall, Hohner Handmade harps were regularly cheaper than their competition.
I am also fairly certain that they all make some really cheap harps as well, like the Folkmaster, Piedemont, etc.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Mods
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
Last Edited by on Sep 14, 2012 8:56 AM
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HawkeyeKane
1182 posts
Sep 14, 2012
8:56 AM
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Fair point. I'm a Hohner guy for the most part, which is why I said Hohner. But from what I can tell, their prices have spiked higher than Seydel's have, at least in the models I've bought from each respectively.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Frank
1141 posts
Sep 14, 2012
8:53 AM
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I have a "D" Huang Silver Tone Deluxe that I put Hering 1923 Cover plates on it and I must say it is a fine harp, I like it alot! Other cover plates may fit as well?
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HawkeyeKane
1184 posts
Sep 14, 2012
9:04 AM
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I'd have to measure them, but yes, I've taken SP20 coverplates and put them on such cheapies as Jambones, LoDuca's, and Piedmonts, and Jambone coverplates vice-versa. I will say, FWIW, that metal coverplates on Piedmonts do make an improvement in their lackluster sound.
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Hawkeye Kane
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HarpNinja
2669 posts
Sep 14, 2012
9:15 AM
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Fine...here is the actual data. ;)
http://mikefugazzi.com/files/Harmonica_Price_List.xlsx
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Mike
Harmonica Price List by Manufacturer
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
Last Edited by on Sep 14, 2012 9:16 AM
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harponica
64 posts
Sep 14, 2012
9:18 AM
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Hey try and keep the favorable comments down,I don't want Harpmart raising the price of the Silvertone on me.If I recall,I did try the Star Performer model and favored the Silvertone over it,though its been a while so I really can't comment on its playability.These are Cash And Carry harps,when they blow out,sign em hand em out to the audience,good deal.I'm sure Ben Ganzell is up in heaven tuning the Invisible Sky Fairy's piano by now.Ben favored the Silvertone Deluxe and at $10.50 a stick,what are you waiting for?
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HawkeyeKane
1185 posts
Sep 14, 2012
9:25 AM
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Mike, I'm not trying to argue with you man. Was just drawing from my own experience between the two.
@harponica
Yeah, I'm with you on the STD over the SP. SP is far leakier.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Sep 14, 2012 9:29 AM
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Tuckster
1147 posts
Sep 14, 2012
9:22 AM
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Hmmm. Sounds tempting. Are they tuned E.T.?
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HawkeyeKane
1187 posts
Sep 14, 2012
10:06 AM
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Yeah, Norton did play both Silvertones and Star Performers. But I've read in more than one place that the harps provided to him by Huang were constructed a little more thoroughly than what was made available to the general public.
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Hawkeye Kane
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Todd Parrott
1036 posts
Sep 14, 2012
10:53 AM
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@HawkeyeKane - Yes, this is what Chamber told me once during a phone conversation around '98 or '99. Said that he provided guys like Norton and Madcat with better harps because those guys were his friends.
Last Edited by on Sep 14, 2012 10:53 AM
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HarpNinja
2672 posts
Sep 14, 2012
11:28 AM
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@HawkeyeKane,
No worries...I just thought a table like that might be helpful to others.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Mods
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas - When it needs to come from the soul...
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crawdaddy
1 post
Sep 14, 2012
10:46 PM
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Mark ford used to use the Huangs...I did everything I could to emulate his sound...even bought a Lab series amp...etc..but alas...never even came close...to his unique sound...one night I asked him why he played the cheaper harps and he said if it went out of tune...he just tossed it over his shoulder...( which I then noticed he did)..this is a long time ago...before the prices went up...( don't remember Norton using them)
Grant Walters (my first post on MBH)
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1847
208 posts
Sep 14, 2012
11:22 PM
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good point crawdaddy
norton used hohners like everyone else
it was much later when he started using the huang harps
most likely they were not used exclusively
we are all creatures of habit
i still have a place for my marine band harmonicas
always will
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easyreeder
343 posts
Sep 15, 2012
9:41 AM
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Pianos have reeds?
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GEEZER1
167 posts
Sep 15, 2012
11:05 AM
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I sent some harps back to Huang to fix a few years back, at that time they did repair them. They came back fixed ok. I do remember they quoted me a price for harmonicas that they set up for professional players, they were about eight bucks higher than their out of the box harps. Maybe Norton and others were using those harps. later they informed me that due to the low price if they blew out you should toss them and buy another.
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Sarge
249 posts
Sep 15, 2012
12:20 PM
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The old Huangs were good harps. I have quite a few of the older ones. I have slivertone that I have kept in my fishing bucket for many years and still plays great. I haven't tried any of the newer ones.
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Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
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