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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Favorite Harps - was OT US closed
Favorite Harps - was OT US closed
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dougharps
455 posts
Oct 04, 2013
2:47 PM
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Deak's harps are great, and my favorites!
Out of the box I like MBDs and Crossovers, then Seydels with steel reeds and Manjis equally. Special 20s and Delta Frosts are decent, too, and more of a bargain.
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Doug S.
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Rick Davis
2497 posts
Oct 04, 2013
11:23 AM
Doug, my harp preferences are the same as yours.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Frank
2899 posts
Oct 04, 2013
11:42 AM
Doug, can you elaborate on why Lee Oskars don't satisfy any more?
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Sure!
I started diatonics in 1971 and played MBs and Blues Harps (pre-MS). I had a lot of problems with swollen combs and nails that wouldn't stay in after repairs. I sometimes drilled and bolted problem harps at the end of the plates to hold them together.
When Special 20s hit the scene, I left the wood comb harps behind. Then I started playing more in the 90s at jams and eventually in a rock cover band. My SP20s were dying fast. I heard about LOs and switched. LOs were durable workhorse harps that served me well. They lasted longer, and when you finally flattened a reed, you could buy relatively inexpensive replacement reed plates. I just considered this an expense of playing out. Then internet information became more available. I improved my technique and stopped killing harps nearly as fast.
When I learned about just, compromise, and equal intonation and heard the difference tones in chords I decided I would try some SP20s again for the compromise intonation, having heard that they had improved in quality.
I later heard about overblows and was coached by Michael Peloquin who got me started. Chris Michalek finally helped me get it at a 2008 SPAH Filisko workshop. I still am a loud and moderately hard player, but I developed better control after I learned overblow on the 6 hole. Since then I have tried most of the new harps, and my preferences are as above. LOs just seem too airy, and overblow squeals are hard to control.
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Doug S.
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dougharps
456 posts
Oct 04, 2013
2:51 PM
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I lost the above twice by leaving the page accidentally. I finally used notepad!
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Doug S.
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Frank
2908 posts
Oct 04, 2013
4:44 PM
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Thanks Doug...I for some reason, probably because I started out on SP 20's never cared for LO's...
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jbone
1382 posts
Oct 04, 2013
8:07 PM
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I'd take a sp20 over a LO any day. In fact I got a deal a few years ago- 5 LO's in a nice case for a buck fitty. Have no idea where the harps are today but I do like the case! It has Manji's, a Pure, a Hammond, Some '23 Herings, a MB or two. Sp20. Delta Frost. Even a couple of Big Rivers.
'71 is about the time I got my first harp, a legacy from my long dead father. I had no idea what to do with it and I took a lot of years- and blown out harps- to begin to "get it". I still blow a reed here and there but instead of a couple of gigs my harps usually last months at least. Replaceable plates are one of the best ideas ever.
I have had several chromatic harps as well. Killed a 270 in D some years ago. Really learned on the Chrometta Hohner. Decent enough for the money. Hering used to make some nice chro's in the 5148 and 7148, but getting plates and combs from Brazil was like waiting for the apples to ripen on the tree. I do still have a baritono in C from Hering that has served me very well. I've pretty much moved into Suzuki land now. I have a SCX in G that is wonderful! I got a deal on a Bushman Free Jazz- read Suzuki chromatic here- which is better by far than a 270. My opinion.
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dougharps
458 posts
Oct 04, 2013
8:37 PM
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I started on chromatic as an 11 year old kid, but in college I switched to diatonic due to wrecking chromatics playing rock blowing too hard, trying to be heard over guitars. I learned diatonic from the Tony Glover book and by ear on my own.
I kept playing some chromatic along with diatonic, and started using multiple keys of chromatic so I could hang with some low level jazz guys. I used Herings and replacement combos from FR Farrell. I still have 7 keys of Hering 5148s, a Hering 6164, and a couple 270s. My standard kit is 14 diatonics and 8 keys of chromatic.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Oct 04, 2013 8:38 PM
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