jbone
1359 posts
Sep 17, 2013
8:05 PM
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Wife- bless her heart!- just got me a Hammond at Musician's Friend. I needed an Eb and she had a coupon for a few bucks off. From what we saw on youtube this appears to be a very nice and nice playing harp.
If you have one- or several- how do you like them> Pluses and minuses?
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bonedog569
893 posts
Sep 17, 2013
9:58 PM
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It is a very nice harp. It playes 'darker' or 'warmer' than the Manji. A little darker than the bluesmaster too. The bluesmaster has the same or similar frame and coverplate shape and is cheaper. Also a nice harp though I don't think it holds up as well. I've been able to get 5&6 OB's ootb with most of the Hammonds I've tried. I've filled out the case with 1847's over the last year - but still keep some Hammonds and Manji's in there and will likely get some more over time.
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Gnarly
707 posts
Sep 17, 2013
10:02 PM
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When I met John Sebastian Jr at SPAH and showed him our product line, the Hammond was the one that interested him.
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Grey Owl
302 posts
Sep 17, 2013
11:57 PM
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A very nice harp. It doesn't have the raw edgy sound of the Manji, it's smooth and easy to play and Ob's are great OOTB. It has a warm tone and is especially good for melodic pieces.
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Grey Owl YouTube
Grey Owl Abstract Photos
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bloozefish
125 posts
Sep 18, 2013
10:33 AM
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I've only had one, in D. As much as I wanted to love it, I just didn't like the tone. Mine didn't particularly sound dark or warm, but a little shrill and harsh to my ears. May have just been a fluke, a problem with my individual harp, but I was underwhelmed by mine.
james
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MP
2917 posts
Sep 18, 2013
11:08 AM
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they certainly look beautiful and sound deeper due to full length covers.
i think they are a good choice for an all around type harp player. You can play blues on any functioning richter diatonic but blues nazis may find the tone doesn't sound old timey enough....or maybe not.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Last Edited by MP on Sep 18, 2013 11:25 AM
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bonedog569
897 posts
Sep 18, 2013
11:11 AM
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rosewood covers? The Hammond covers are black.
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MP
2918 posts
Sep 18, 2013
11:24 AM
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My bad, thanks Bonedog. i was just looking at Hammonds and don't know where i got the rosewood cover thing from. Big Oops!! I don't play Suzukis
so i should be more careful talking about them.
will delete misinformation imediately.
Which model has the rosewood covers?
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Last Edited by MP on Sep 18, 2013 11:25 AM
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Kingley
3141 posts
Sep 18, 2013
11:28 AM
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I think the Suzuki Pure harp has the rosewood covers.
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MP
2919 posts
Sep 18, 2013
11:41 AM
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Thanks Kingley!
One of my students plays Manjis, Hammonds, Firebreaths, Pure Harps, etc. He likes to tinker and swap covers and combs and such. Maybe that's why i thought it was the Hammond that came w/ rosewood covers.
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MP
affordable reed replacement and repairs.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
click user name [MP] for info-
repair videos on YouTube.
you can reach me via Facebook. Mark Prados
Last Edited by MP on Sep 18, 2013 11:44 AM
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Todd Parrott
1153 posts
Sep 18, 2013
1:17 PM
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I still love the Hammond, though my YouTube video about it is now "unlisted" due to my being a Hohner guy. I think they are one of the prettiest looking harps around, plus it's cool to have a harmonica with the Hammond organ logo on it, especially if you're a Hammond organ player as well. Though Suzuki has denied it, I've heard that the combs on the Hammond are machined differently/better, resulting in a flatter comb than that of the Promaster. All I know is that mine have all played great.
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Thievin' Heathen
248 posts
Sep 18, 2013
8:10 PM
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There are still a lot of harps I have not tried, but so far, the Hammond F is the best I've ever bought. Maybe I just got a good one.
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the_happy_honker
165 posts
Sep 19, 2013
3:11 AM
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Some Promasters and Hammonds have problems with air leaks between the comb and reed plate OOTB, but these are usually easy to fix.
Screw holes in the draw plate have a very tiny, raised edge around the hole, usually created by the thread tapping process. Whereas a soft wood comb will deform to accomodate the raised edge, metal combs like the Hammond do not. The raised edge must therefore be sanded down. I use 600 grit paper and carefully sand around each hole. A small burr around the holes in the blow plate can also create a leak, so I sometimes have sanded the blow plate as well.
Manji reed plates also benefit from sanding. The composite comb, despite having a wood filler, is quite hard.
Heed David Payne's advice about not tightening the screws too firmly. Otherwise the reed plate can bow outward slightly, particularly between the screw holes behind holes 2 and 8, and cause a leak.
The draw bends on holes 2 and 3 have a deserved reputation for being airy and difficult. Much of this problem is solved by the above sanding and by not over-tightening the screws. But I have to admit those holes can be fiddley when gapping. Just remember that when bending, both reeds are active, so a difficult draw bend can be just as much a gapping problem with the blow reed.
Overall, Hammonds are excellent harps. The OB's are stable, the cover plates don't crush easily and the lacquer on them is slick and durable. Don't expect it to hold up to the sort of scratching and bashing that bare metal cover plates can take, though - I use the Seydel leather sleeves when carrying Hammonds - less pocket lint and they stay purdy-lookin'.
I've only had occasion to replace one reed plate, when a nine year-old friend of my six-year old son got hold of my Hammond in A and blew the 5, 6, and 7 holes flat.
The reed plates are interchangeable with those from the Firebreath/Pure Harp and Manji harps. The difference between them is largely a matter of taste. The Firebreath reed plate is sort of a Hammond-plus - somewhat thicker, less present sound, less fiddley to adjust (in my experience). The Manji reed plate is long-slot, like the Marine Band.
I prefer the Promaster/Hammond for playing amplified and the Firebreath or the Manji for acoustic. Suzukis are good for experimenting with making hybrids. One of my nicest-sounding harps has a Hammond comb, Manji (Bb) reed plates and Harpmaster cover plates.
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jbone
1361 posts
Sep 19, 2013
3:40 AM
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Well it sounds like I'm getting over all good quality, which I have come to expect from Suzuki. Good to know a thing or two to look for also.
I got a Pure a couple of years ago which is a really nice harp, too nice for my everyday playing. Manji is my go-to harp.
I had a Promaster given to me as a gift some years ago, in B, which I rarely used and gave to someone who could use it. It seemed to be a solid well made harp.
I probably can't afford a set of Hammonds but it's good to know the Manji plates will fit there.
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Grey Owl
306 posts
Sep 19, 2013
3:41 AM
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Interesting and informative post Happy Honker. Thanks
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Grey Owl YouTube
Grey Owl Abstract Photos
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Gnarly
710 posts
Sep 19, 2013
9:13 AM
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The Hammond plates are ProMasters (you would order RP-350 if you wanted reed plates), as is the comb and cover plates. The difference in sound with the Chrome covered ProMasters is in the heavily laquered cover plates and comb.
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jbone
1379 posts
Oct 04, 2013
4:03 AM
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I got this about a week ago. Very n ice feel, good sounding. I had wanted a spare Eb but it may be my primary harp in that key now!
Thanks to all who rang in on this.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
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rbeetsme
1372 posts
Oct 04, 2013
5:11 AM
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Rosewood covers...
Last Edited by rbeetsme on Oct 04, 2013 5:11 AM
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