rockmonkeyguitars
27 posts
Mar 16, 2014
9:03 AM
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I've seen a lot of harmonica buyers guides recommending things like like the hohner blues band as a good beginner harmonica. It's my personal opinion that the price of a harmonica is no reflection on how good it is for a beginner. I believe that buying something like a blues band is the worst possible thing a beginning harmonica player can do because they only sound good if you know what you are doing. So I would classify these low cost "beginners" harmonicas as only good for experienced players. I believe that a beginner should use a harmonica that is easy to get good tone from with minimal effort. I recommend harmonicas like the special 20, Manji and golden melody. When I think of harmonicas for the more advanced player I suggest things like the blues harp, and marine band because although they are more difficult to play they have the capability of giving better tone. What are your opinions on this? Do you think cheep harmonicas are good for beginners?
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Gnarly
959 posts
Mar 16, 2014
9:11 AM
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The problem with a beginner buying a harmonica is that they are unlikely to continue (statistically).
So they usually buy a cheap one, which insures that they will stop attempting to make music with the instrument.
OTOH, if they buy a more expensive model, there is an investment in spirit, since otherwise the money goes for naught.
As a teacher, I always tell a student to spend as much money as they can afford on an instrument--if they want to continue.
As a player, I recognize that budget matters, and we all have to be practical.
Personally, I don't think a harmonica has to be hard to play to sound good--but I don't like cheap harps!
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sonny3
135 posts
Mar 16, 2014
9:20 AM
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Well you've got to have a responsive harp or a beginner will quit playing.I think marine bands are a fine harp for beginners. Or at least the new ones are easy to play.cheap harps are good for nothing.
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restlesscourage
3 posts
Mar 16, 2014
9:47 AM
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I think cheap instruments can be an okay launching point for people. Let me explain. When I decided to pick up the mandolin, I bought one of the cheapest "starter pack" instruments I could find. It was garbage, really; sounded awful, and the fretboard was pretty messed up. But it was good enough to get me to realize that I *liked* the mandolin, and I wanted to play, and so after just a couple of months I bought an upgrade. But I can definitely see where, for some people (and particularly for people without musical experience or who might not be as knowledgeable about the fact that there are better options out there), a cheap, poor quality instrument could put them off of learning to play something. In the end, I did wish I'd gone ahead and paid more at the outset for the mandolin, because I was out the money from the first one as well as the second, which is why, now that I've decided to pick up harmonica, I've gone with one of the models in the $40 range rather than the $5-15 range. If it doesn't stick, I'm out more money, but if it does, I've made a more financially sound decision over all.
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isaacullah
2673 posts
Mar 16, 2014
10:24 AM
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For every instrument, there is a "sweet spot" in the price per quality ratio that not only provides a good "beginner" instrument, but one of good enough quality that it won't get outgrown. For guitars, it seems that that price point is circa $200 (from mynown recent personal experience of buying my first guitar). For harmonica, its currently about $35 (but was about $25 when I started about 6 years ago).
Once this price point is surpassed, then we start playing the game of diminishing returns. You have to really have the skills to take advantage of the increasingly minimal improvements in quality that you get with each additional price bracket.
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Mirco
140 posts
Mar 16, 2014
10:27 AM
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Good point, isaacullah.
I think the best harmonica for a beginner would be the Hohner Little Lady, because it only has four holes.
This was a joke.
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nacoran
7614 posts
Mar 16, 2014
12:54 PM
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I've never heard anyone recommend a Blues Band (Blues Harps, but not Blues Bands) as a first harmonica, unless it's for a 6 year old. They aren't bad harps to start practicing tinkering on. You can learn to open up the back of a Blues Band and transfer that skill, and I'd recommend if you are going to try embossing, try it on a Blues Band first, but you should be on to better harps in a few days.
I have, on occasion, recommended that if you are on a really tight budget, to get one decent harp and then buy a box of harps like Piedmonts that gives you a couple other keys. You'll learn to appreciate the difference in quality quickly, and learn a bit about how different keys respond and when it's all over you'll have a seven harp carrying case (and an awful taste in your mouth. Piedmont's taste awful at first).
That's a budget decision though. If you can only afford $65 you can get a decent harp and a pack of Piedmonts with a carrying case. Maybe you could get two decent harps for that price, maybe? If you can only afford $35, absolutely, get a good harp instead of a pack of Piedmonts.
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arzajac
1311 posts
Mar 16, 2014
2:28 PM
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" it seems that that price point is circa $200 (from mynown recent personal experience of buying my first guitar). For harmonica, its currently about $35 (but was about $25 when I started about 6 years ago)."
LOL! I'd spend $100 on a guitar. I'd probably spend $100 on a first harp, too, if I had to do it again...
The harmonica is no different than any other instrument. If you want to have the most success and enjoyment, buy the best instrument you can afford.
For some it may be a $35 harp. For others it may be $15. It can be $100 or more for others... It depends on your budget.
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Rick Davis
3096 posts
Mar 16, 2014
3:01 PM
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Another blue society here in Colorado (not the Mile High Blues Society) is big on Blues in the Schools and giving a cheap plastic harmonica to all the children who participate.
I had the chance to try one of those harp. It was the worst harp I've ever seen, nearly impossible to play. No doubt, it does more harm than good. But it made the folks who run that blues society real proud.. "Hey, look at how generous we are!"
To answer the question about a good starter harmonics: Hohner Big River.
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Sherwin
132 posts
Mar 16, 2014
3:17 PM
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The best lower cost harp I have yet to run across is the Suzuki Harpmaster.
Great value, and a real decent playing harp. It is made in japan.
Sincerely....Michael
P.S. I'm a Hohner guy.
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HarpCentral
1 post
Mar 16, 2014
3:36 PM
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I walked into the local music store to sign up for guitar lessons. The owner took one look at my arthritic fingers and suggested that I take harmonica lessons and the teacher was available.
He came out and told me to buy a Blues Blaster"C" for $5. As previously stated, a poor choice for beginners. As we became friends, I told him my practice drove the wife, kids and particularly the dog, absolutely nuts.
He then had me buy a Hohner 364 because it was lower and might not bother the dog as much. That my friends is another poor harp when trying to learn.
I discovered the SP20 by myself. That would be my recommendation to any student. If they can't come up with that price, there is little hope for taking lessons and self taught players need all the help they can get!
Dave
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HarpCentral
2 posts
Mar 16, 2014
3:41 PM
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OOPS> BLUES BAND, my bad, thinking of a mic I need to list on eBay!
Dave
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SuperBee
1764 posts
Mar 17, 2014
3:40 AM
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Sp20 or Tombo Lee Oskar.
not that i play Sp20 all that much...its not my harp of choice but i think its the best bet. relatively vice-free, a decent chance of being well-playable without adjustment, easily disassembled for cleaning and tweaking, easily obtained in most music stores, and its priced OK. IME, its the cheapest harp i have confidence in. and you can get it in 'Country' tuning...
same is true for the Lee Oskar. they also have a reputation for being a bit tougher.
personally i like marine band 1896 and deluxe and crossover, but deluxe and crossover are pricey and 1896 is a pill to disassemble and clean...
i could happily recommend 1896 too though, i just think Sp20 is a little friendlier
the seydel brass harps seem good too, but i dont really think highly of the covers, and you can't buy them in stores here.
suzuki harps have always disappointed me. i expect its more about me than the harps, but i couldn't recommend them on my experience.
although...for a 'cheapie' i think the folkmaster is probably the best on the market. id buy folkmasters over those cheap hohners anyday. unless they have gone downhill...i just realised its been over 10 years since i bought one
the Huang Silvertone Deluxe was pretty cool when i was beginning, but i think they aren't really the harp they once were either...
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jiceblues
301 posts
Mar 17, 2014
3:53 AM
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the SP20 is the best harp for the money .Good for beginners and advanced players .If you can't afford 1 SP20...just sing...lol...
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rockmonkeyguitars
30 posts
Mar 17, 2014
6:01 AM
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It's good to see that I'm not the only one thinking that "toy harmonicas" are nothing but a disservice to everybody.
I do agree with the statement that you should buy the best harp you can afford but also think it's important to note that the best harp isn't necessarily the most expensive one. Where I live the marine band is more expensive than a special 20 or big river harp but it's usually harder to play right out of the box and the wood comb can be hard for a beginner so I view the big river as a better option just because it's easier to play. On the other hand, if you have the money for a custom harp with an air tight comb then I believe that you should spend your money on it and give yourself the best possible start. Only worry about 1 harmonica when you are a beginner. If you like it and you want to buy more then perhaps look at more affordable options but only after you have developed a love for the instrument and you still shouldn't buy plastic toys.
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Goldbrick
350 posts
Mar 17, 2014
6:51 AM
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Best cheap harp I have played is the Suzuki Folk Master
I like the tone and hold up well.
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jiceblues
302 posts
Mar 17, 2014
6:59 AM
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SP20 combs are fine .If the reedplates are flat and the reeds well adjusted , your harp is airtight .
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STME58
679 posts
Mar 17, 2014
8:55 AM
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I think harmonica is somewhat unique in the instrument world in that a harps like the Lee Oscar, Special 20 or Harpmaster are not only good economical choices for beginners, but are the same harps used by many professionals. These harps cost about what a half hour of instruction costs.
What other instrument could you seriously recommend that a typical student buy the same instrument used by many professionals?
I agree with @Goldbrick about the Folkmaster. I have a couple of them, and while not my preferred instrument, they are not too bad. I don't think they would inhibit learning like the cheaper more toy-like harps available could. I also expect many of the folks on this forum could get a better sound out of a Folkmaster than I can get out of a Seydel 1847.
Last Edited by STME58 on Mar 17, 2014 8:58 AM
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WinslowYerxa
517 posts
Mar 17, 2014
9:08 AM
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Beginners are fairly likely to blow out reeds. Also, they're not likely to be able to get any more sound or response from an expensive harp than from a mid-priced harp.
Cheap harps are junk for the most part; I agree with what's been said against encouraging beginners to buy them.
I think that the mid-price point of around $35 offers plenty of good choices.
Also, I recommend plastic combs to beginners, as many will experience the "waterfall" stage of excessive saliva production that can cause wood combs to swell.
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Winslow
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Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Mar 18, 2014 11:10 AM
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mlefree
146 posts
Mar 18, 2014
10:47 AM
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Based on my own experience and Winslow's wisdom, Lee Oskars are difficult to beat for the uninitiated player (and others). They are near bullet-proof and priced well. I have a couple that I have had and played for a decade or more.
I personally have a few issued with them, mostly I dislike their equal tuning. But I highly recommend them to my students.
Michelle
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email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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Slimharp
249 posts
Mar 19, 2014
7:41 AM
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Big River, Lee Oscar, MB, or Sp 20. I teach and one of the first things I do if the student comes in with a piece of crap harp is strongly suggest a better harp. If the student is serious I suggest a much better harp after a couple months of lessons. I like to start teaching bends around lesson 8. If they have a junk harp it is almost impossible to achieve this.
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