mrwiggles
1 post
Mar 17, 2014
12:34 PM
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Hello all. I am new to this forum and new to the harmonica.
I have been a blues fan for as long as I can remember. I grew up in blues jam house parties and ended up playing guitar and bass but always wanted to learn harp but never did. I quit music over 20 years ago as I dove into my career. After having kids, pushing myself too hard with work and becoming very ill, I decided work wasn't as important as I had always made it out to be and have committed myself to more self enjoyment. I wanted back into music but with the cost of guitars and all the needed equipment being more than I would like to bear, I decided what better time to learn the one instrument I always longed for.
After extensive research(much from this site)I decided upon a Hohner Special 20 in the key of C. I was very happy with my selection and began down the road of figuring out how to play the thing. After a few weeks I made what felt to me like good progress and fell in love with all that is the Blues Harp. The reed vibrations alone are therapeutic.
So after becoming addicted, the sickness began. I wanted more. There are so many options. I went and purchased a Crossover in key of A and oh how I love that thing. That was 2 weeks ago and now I got the itch again.
Before I go further, lets discuss my playing style. I can put together some melodies and make it sound like I know what I'm doing to the uninitiated but I am still very much a beginner. I can bend a little but not very controlled. I prefer playing single note with chords for accent. I prefer acoustic though I plan to someday at least try the amplified sound. I am a very big fan of Phil Wiggins but I listen to anything harp related.
Now on to the real meat and potatoes. Below I have listed the harps I am interested in. I know they are all really great instruments but I am wondering if any of you may have ideas on which to get next as well as what key to try next. I also understand that everyone is different but I am just looking for opinions in a single thread so I am not searching all over to compare them. I know it has probably been discussed to death so if this is inappropriate, I will ask the mod to delete and bow out with my apologies. I just figured you guys would love to talk harp as much as I do so here is another opportunity.
All these are in the same relative price range at Rockin Ron's as you all are surely aware.
Suzuki Manji
Hammond Promaster
Suzuki Promaster
Seydel Session Steel
Hohner MB Deluxe
I will be getting a Suzuki FireBreath for my birthday in May as I had seen pricing over $100 and couldn't get myself to casually buy one at that price. Giving a title of birthday gift made it easier to swallow. Now after seeing Rockin Ron's price it is much easier but the wife has already stated she would get it for me so I will wait.
I will buy all of these eventually but I just can't decide what to get next. I am very bad at making decisions. My wife won't go shoe shopping with me because I can't commit and make a choice and will try on 5 pairs, 5 different times for over an hour and walk out with nothing.
I apologize for the long winded post. Any advice or recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Please also let me know if I am looking at crap or harps that may not suit the style I tried to describe.
Thanks,
David
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the_happy_honker
175 posts
Mar 17, 2014
1:01 PM
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If you are already getting a Suzuki Firebreath, you might want to hold off on getting a Suzuki Promaster or Hammond, as these are quite similar to the Firebreath in tone and feel.
The same goes for the Marine Band Deluxe - it is quite similar in tone to the Crossover, so if you want to get something that will feed your craving for novelty, I would suggest the Seydel Session Steel or the Suzuki Manji.
I think you will be happy with either one of the above, but because you may need someone to say "this is the one true harp - buy it," I'll say buy the Session Steel - it is the one that is tonally most unlike the others that you have, and you may like the slightly wider hole spacing.
Last Edited by the_happy_honker on Mar 17, 2014 1:16 PM
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rogonzab
503 posts
Mar 17, 2014
1:18 PM
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My advice: try other keys.
I think is better to spend money in 2 diferent harps keys than in 1 expensive harp.
Right now, you are learning, so you wont be able to do much whit the harp, so there is no need to spend to much money.
Buy another s20, or a GM, or a Harmpaste/bluesmaster, or even a Blues Harp. Try as many models you can, so you can decide wich one is more confortable to you. When you decide that X model is for you, then start replacing those old harps whit that model.
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sonny3
136 posts
Mar 17, 2014
4:38 PM
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If you like blues harp then you need to try a marine band 1896.I don't think you'll find a better harp than crossovers, so you may want to buy another. Bb harps are really nice to play.I have one Firebreath and one manji, they are good harps but they don't sing like marine bands.The reeds on Suzukis seem really stiff to me.I like 1896s over deluxes for some reason.Let us know what you choose and how it plays.good luck!
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Old newbie
10 posts
Mar 17, 2014
5:13 PM
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I don't really know enough to give an opinion, but since when has that stopped anyone on the internet?
I started 3 months ago with a sp20 in c. Last month I picked up a crossover in c and another 20 in A. Loved the crossover so much more than the 20's. Really wishing I hadn't bought the second 20, before working with the crossover.
This weekend I bought a promaster in G. Liked it so much I immediately went back in and bought another in D.
My favorite right now is the promaster by far, but I might just be an addict enjoying this current high.
Last Edited by Old newbie on Mar 17, 2014 5:13 PM
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Piro39
61 posts
Mar 17, 2014
6:10 PM
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You can't go wrong with the new SP20's, Golden Melodies or any of the three Marine Band models in that price range. I have a bunch of different model Suzukis and I find the reeds on the FireBreath to be very stiff especially for a harp in that price range.I don't get what is so special about this FireBreath. Some Hammonds and Promasters are pretty good and some others also have stiff reeds. I can't figure out why some have stiff reeds and others don't. I do know how to work on my own harps and always make them play better. I even have some Hohner MS system harps that I've customized and they play much better then the FireBreath.
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walterharp
1348 posts
Mar 17, 2014
6:35 PM
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you gotta help me... i can't do it by myself..
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DoubleJ
51 posts
Mar 17, 2014
6:42 PM
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We all get that itch regularly. You have made very good choices. If you are going to spend more you should consider the Seydel a Session Steel.
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JInx
757 posts
Mar 17, 2014
7:42 PM
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Why not try a new hohner rocket?
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
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groyster1
2569 posts
Mar 17, 2014
10:45 PM
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nobody seems to talk about the marine band artist setup...I have 2 biscuits and a juke joint,tuned to 7JI and 19JI,respectively
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Gipsy
50 posts
Mar 18, 2014
12:29 AM
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Whichever harp you buy, why not get one that's properly set up? By doing so you can be pretty sure you're getting the best you can out of the new harp you buy. I'm not talking about a fully customised harp, but one on which the gaps are set up properly and hence help avoid the difficulty you may experience if you buy a poorly set up harp. There are several peeps who produce these optimised harps.
It's the sort of fiddling that a few years down the road you'll probably be doing for yourself, when you decide how you like your own harps to play.
There's loads of excellent advice on this forum, and I'm sure that whichever harp you buy will help you,on your journey. FWIW I fiddled around with all sorts of harps until I discovered Golden Melodies and I'm sticking with them for now. The other harp I really enjoyed was the Seydel Session Steel. When properly set up both harps are a pleasure to play.
Last Edited by Gipsy on Mar 18, 2014 12:31 AM
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SuperBee
1769 posts
Mar 18, 2014
12:56 AM
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I see a few votes for the session steel. Just curious what you think of the cover shape.
I'm wondering whether players feel strongly about covers.
I am a bit put-off by those squared-off covers on the Suzuki promaster and the Seydel session, but they're out there so maybe it's not the issue it seems like.
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sonny3
137 posts
Mar 18, 2014
1:39 AM
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I can't seem to like full length covers for some reason.I like MB style.
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jiceblues
303 posts
Mar 18, 2014
2:48 AM
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Seems like you play blues , and you don't have a lot of money .You won't be disapointed with a SP20 , a Crossover , or a Classic MB .A lot of pro players use mostly these harps; they are very good and the tuning is more suited to blues than the japanese ones .
Order another key like A & D , and ask Chromaticblues or MP to tweak & tune the harps .These two guys do very good work and they are affordable .With a good tweaked harp , you will upgrade your playing faster and enjoy more .No need to buy 150$ harps unless you can afford a Joe Spiers .In my opinion , the two easiest harps to play are the SP20& the Cross .Some people prefer the GM .Remember : a good tweaking makes a different and much better harp .
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mrwiggles
2 posts
Mar 18, 2014
7:51 AM
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I appreciate the replies. Lost of great opinions in here.
Please note that I love my SP20's and am purchasing a set of them. I do like the Crossover more though so I wanted to try other Harps in that range. I am putting a beating on my SP20 right now as I use it for practice. I like to take the Crossover into the bathroom and run what I learn through it.
I have also been playing with gapping on the SP20. I actually feel like I have improved it. I feel like every hole is easy to hit on draw and I just need to work on the 3 blow right now. I mostly skip over to the 2 draw instead as I can always use more practice there as it gets away every once in a while. Haven't messed with arcing or embossing.
Interesting comments on the Firebreath. I have read so many great things that I thought it was a must try. Maybe a custom would be a more appropriate gift.
I really want the MB 1896 sound but thought that the Deluxe would be the same basic sound with the added improvements of the Crossover. Is this not accurate? The 1896 also seems like a hassle with the nails comb. The Deluxe was what I was leaning towards getting next but then the Seydel piqued my interest. Then I started looking at the Suzuki and questioning whether the Deluxe would be too similar to the Crossover.
I am also interested in trying the full cover harps which is another reason I started looking at the Seydel. I am leaning towards the Deluxe and Seydel but thought I would see if any of the Suzuki might be worth a try.
As far as the rocket, I wouldn't mind trying one. I just don't know that it is worth the extra money over the SP20. Do the changes put it on par with the Crossover? I feel like the SP20 is very easy to play and sounds good but the Crossover sounds great. I suppose a good player can make anything sound great though.
I don't have issue with spending $50-$60 dollars on harmonicas to try them. They will get used. It is still much cheaper than my R/C Helicopters or my track days. Those things are expensive. I have crashed a $1200 R/C Heli after 10 minutes flying when I realized I forgot to check the Tx batteries. Stupid, expensive mistake. Or burning up a new set of R-comps in an afternoon at the track. Believe me, my wife is ecstatic about me buying harmonicas. I am spending all my time on them and not so much time breaking my helicopters and burning off tires.
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Slimharp
247 posts
Mar 18, 2014
8:59 AM
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You are pretty much screwed if you are already playing a Crossover. You have started at the top. All the other harps mentioned are good harps however the Crossover is probably one of the most responsive out of the box harps out there. I would say entertain your curiosity but what you will find in most cases is about the same difference between the SP 20 and the Crossover. There will be loudness and slight tone differences and for sure differences in responsiveness. The MBD is basically close to the Crossover with a different tone. Manji's are in the same range of playability, not quite as responsive, depending on what key you are using. It's all personal taste. I'll bet after all is said and done you will go back to the Crossover and a good tight Sp 20. Just my opinion.
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Ben Bouman
28 posts
Mar 18, 2014
1:32 PM
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I sell the Session Steel in my webshop. When you buy the "Basic" beta-harp the harp is customized ( mild embossing/gapping/reed curving etc) + I offer unlimited warranty and service... :-))
Ben Bouman
www.customharmonicashop.com
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Gipsy
51 posts
Mar 18, 2014
2:00 PM
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I can vouch for Ben's harps. I've got a selection of session steels and 1847 silvers. They are great harps with an excellent set up by Ben.
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1847
1602 posts
Mar 18, 2014
3:42 PM
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if you buy session steel, you never need to by new harps
just the reed plates. then you do not have
old harmonicas lying around every where
and i mean every where! you could have 10 or 12 harps
and that is it. i wish this was possible when i first started. i hate all the clutter. i would get them
with the 1847 cover plates they are very nice!
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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mrwiggles
3 posts
Apr 10, 2014
12:42 PM
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Well I ended up buying a MBD in Bb. I really wanted to try it and I am very glad I did. I have had it a month now and I hardly play my Crossover and have pretty much quit playing the special 20.
I played with gapping on the Special 20 until I was comfortable doing it on the Crossover and MBD and haven't touched it since. I just really dig the sound on the MBD. It was what I was looking for.
I Still want to try a Seydel but I am going for the 1847. I have to try it as it seems like a great harp. Can anyone comment on how the 1847 sound is compared to the MBD?
I am debating trying a Manji but I am going to pass on the Firebreath for now. I would rather get a custom MBD. I don't even know if I want to try out any Suzuki's right now. I need to complete a set of MBD and try an 1847 and hopefully I will be satisfied. Doubt it but I shall see.
Again, Thanks for the inputs and talking harp with me. Much appreciated.
Oh yeah, on a separate note. Sonny Terry was a boss but you all know that.
Carry on.
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Rubes
846 posts
Apr 11, 2014
11:15 PM
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1847 is a 'darker' sound, MBD is a 'brighter' sound..........
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Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Dads in Space at Reverbnation
Benny and Rubes at Reverbnation
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groyster1
2582 posts
Apr 12, 2014
2:38 PM
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there is many many posts like these,asking for advice....but its your$$$$....its really what you think is what counts.....
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LumberjackShark
37 posts
Apr 14, 2014
12:15 PM
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I really like the MBD, and recently, after reading a thread on this site about Suzuki's, bought a Suzuki Promaster. As much as I love the MBD, I'm thinking I love the SPromaster better. I like the weight of the harp a lot, and I like the full covers that are squared off. Don't know why, but I like the feel of it. Also the sound.
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