SuperBee
1473 posts
Oct 11, 2013
12:48 AM
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Just interested in the general experience of the Suzuki Promaster and the valved type.
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Grey Owl
365 posts
Oct 11, 2013
3:59 AM
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I generally like the promaster 350 & the 350v. The have a bright sound and pretty loud projection though not as brash as the Manji. The sound is derived from the satin anodized aluminum alloy comb and the full length stainless steel cover plates and Phosphor Bronze reed plates.
They are very good looking harps indeed and are stored in snazzy rounded hard plastic cases.
I bought 2 of the valved type, the first in C which is a great harp and one I had to return which was faulty.
To be honest I didn't get on well with the valves in general. I had to baby the notes so much to get the valved blow bends (don't know if that was my fault or the harp but I did persevere) that I ended up removing most of them. I retained the valves on 1,2 & 3 because they work a bit easier on the lower holes and hole 2 blow bend gives me a comfortable alternative to the overblow on 1(which are a bitch to play). Also the hole 1 valved blowbend gives you a lower note than you can get on a standard diatonic which is cool.ie 1 blow on a C harp =c, 1 valved blowbend = b
I have one promaster in Bb which is also good but I had to tinker with it a little (hole 3 bends a bit stiff).
The harps feel great in the hand, nice and solid and are comfortable to play. The only slight downside for me and as you are a TB player this may be important, is that I get that slight voltage discharge from the alu. comb if I lay my tongue on the comb. This in spite of the anodising which I guess is supposed to eliminate that.
I certainly think it's worth trying one.
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Last Edited by Grey Owl on Oct 11, 2013 4:54 AM
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mlefree
132 posts
Oct 11, 2013
5:35 AM
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I really like my Promasters. I have a whole set that I have half-valved under PT's tutelage.
I think the Gazelle method valves make it significantly easier to make those valved bends. I believe it is both the material and the way PT trims the ends of the valves short of the end of the reed slots.
The Promasters are equal-tuned, making them more compatible in acoustic circles. However, like Mr. Owl, the metallic taste and galvanic discharge are uncomfortable when I tongue-block, which I have been doing almost exclusively lately.
If you're a pucker player, again I agree with Mr. Owl -- try one, you might really like it. Once regarded an expensive harp, they aren't so much these days, comparatively speaking.
Michelle
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Pistolcat
538 posts
Oct 11, 2013
12:56 PM
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I have only tried a non-valved promaster in Bb which I didn't like at all. I didn't like the coverplate profile. I didn't like the comb, which was leakey. I didn't like the tuning which I believed was off (I have traded it away so I can't say If that's really true). And it was choked at blow 2, I believe it was, out of the box. A dud, one could say.
I recently bought a seydel session steel which reminded me of my recollection of the promaster. Similar coverplate profile. Better tasting comb, though. The session steel feels leakey to me but maybe that's just that I need to use more force to have it play as I want it to. It's very out of tune, too. And I'm bad at tuning :(. Got it really cheap though :)
I guess that I'm saying: if you like seydel a session steel then maybe you'll like promasters...
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gene
1130 posts
Oct 11, 2013
3:41 PM
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I tried a few different harps, and when I tried Promaster, I continued buying them to complete a set of them. At one point, I started buying the valved ones. I later pulled all the valves out. I like the concept/playability of them, but they rattle.
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Grey Owl
373 posts
Oct 11, 2013
11:48 PM
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I don't think the valves are that great on the pm and they can suffer from the occasional sticking. As Michelle has mentioned the PT valves are much better. If your'e not comfortable with Overblows or don't like the sound of them then valved harps are definitely worth trying.
Now that you've mentioned the Session Steel PC,, you could check out Ben Boumans website. I have bought several SS from him and they are great harps. I go for his mid range customs the xtra's and they are not much more expensive than standard SS. Website : http://www.customharmonicashop.com/
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Last Edited by Grey Owl on Oct 11, 2013 11:55 PM
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gmacleod15
214 posts
Oct 12, 2013
5:31 AM
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I concur with Grey Owls first reply. I am considering getting a different comb due to the electric charge.
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SuperBee
1476 posts
Oct 12, 2013
3:29 PM
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Very interesting, everyone.
Pistolcat, I understand what you say about the the cover profile. They are almost square. As a long term marine band player I find that rather disconcerting.
Grey owl and Michelle, I appreciate you're comments. Like Gene I found the noise generated by the valves disconcerting.
I'm not sure how much of the 'issues' I have with mine are due to the valves. Do you find harps equipped with valves generally require a lighter touch?
My 5 pro masters all require a better setup I feel, but the valved aspect has me in unknown territory. I feel I need to remove the valves to set the harps up to play the way I'm used to, but I'd like to explore the valved harp approach too. I don't want to set up the harps for my relatively robust style if in fact what is required to be able to play with a valved harp is for me to adjust my approach.
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easyreeder
418 posts
Oct 13, 2013
12:04 AM
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I have one 350v in A. It sounds wonderful, and plays very well, but it does require a more gentle approach. On the lowest blow notes I can hear the valves snapping shut, but I don't know if that just something you have to live with or my own bad technique. The valves on the upper register are virtually silent (to me).
I don't care for the metal comb, there's a very metallic taste. The body is significantly smaller than my other harps, and I have large hands so it's somewhat hard to hold on to and keeping it deeply seated in my mouth is tricky when cupping. It's great for fiddle tunes though.
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lumpy wafflesquirt
745 posts
Oct 13, 2013
7:43 AM
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I have a 350V in C which I really like although the valves do stick occasionally.
I have no problems with the metal comb, I'd buy more if I needed to replace harps and coiud afford them.
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Aussiesucker
1340 posts
Oct 13, 2013
1:11 PM
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I have a couple of Promasters in A & Bb. They are not valved however I have purchased other harps with valves ie Octave & Chromatics & no matter what I do my style gums up the valves. If I could play with valves I would probably only play Chromatic.
I was disappointed with the Promasters as both were very leaky because the cover plates didn't fit properly. On both harps & on both top and bottom covers there were gaps at the ends ie above & below holes 1,2 & 9,10. I filed the covers down to a neat fit & they now play ok.
But, I would not buy another Promaster as they are IMO not as good as Bluesmaster or Harpmaster both of which share the same plates & reeds as the Promaster. IMO the Promaster only offers a bit more bling.
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