SpecialSean
17 posts
Mar 25, 2014
8:06 PM
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Hi All,
I know there have been threads about this but I think it was years ago. I heard they made adjustments to the MS Series so I was wondering... what is the difference?
Thanks!
Sean
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1847
1639 posts
Mar 25, 2014
8:27 PM
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one of them is still made in germany
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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SuperBee
1823 posts
Mar 25, 2014
9:48 PM
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The difference between models or between old and new MS?
Ill assume you're asking difference between MB & MS since that's the thread title.
Answer: lots. Size, covers, comb material, assembly method, reeds, slot length.
But in terms of playability, longevity, I don't know. It's quite a while since I bought a new MS harp, apart from a lowD big River, and I can't really compare that to much except a NOS low Eb marine band.
I like both MB and MS, but I use MB because I want to use 1 type as much as possible, for simplicity
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jiceblues
316 posts
Mar 26, 2014
1:38 AM
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Quality of MS Blues Harps is far better than a few years ago .But a SP20 or a Crossover is still more playable .
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arzajac
1322 posts
Mar 26, 2014
4:23 AM
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"one of them is still made in germany"
I thought they were manufactured in China but assembled in Germany. Both MB and MS...
"what is the difference? "
Golden Melody, Special 20, Crossover, Deluxe, 1896 all share the same reeds. They have different reed plates. Rocket is included in that, too, I'm pretty sure. All MS harps share the same reeds, too and their reed plates are all interchangeable (if not exactly the same).
If you compare the length and width of the reeds, MS reeds are shorter and fatter than MB reeds. Longer and thinner reeds can mean more stable overbends and a "creamier" feeling to play to those who can tell the difference. I doubt that an audience would be able to tell the difference, though.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Mar 26, 2014 4:24 AM
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rockmonkeyguitars
47 posts
Mar 26, 2014
5:27 AM
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Ms are all interchangeable with each other but not all the same. A blues harp has a thinner reed plate than a meisterklasse. You can, however, still use a meisterklasse reedplate on a blues harp or big river. The MB reed's are long and narrow while MS reeds are short and wide. The short wide reeds make them harder to overblow.
The tone we hear when playing is different than what everybody else hears. It's like your voice, when you talk you sound different than when you hear a recording of you talking. Harmonica sounds different to the player than to the person playing this. I bring this up because when I play an MS harp, it sounds much beefier to my ear. When I'm listening to a recording of myself, the MS harp sounds very similar the MB. How we perceive ourselves when we play is important even if other people can't hear it.
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Sherwin
143 posts
Mar 26, 2014
7:56 AM
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@Arzajac, Andrew I have been wondering about the possibility of the constituent parts manufacture for the M.B. being carried out in a place other than Germany (China).
I think Hohner is Chinese owned.
If it is the case that parts are Chinese made it does take some of the bloom off the rose for me, but not all.
That something can for the most part be made in one country, then assembled (hand made) in another country and have the second country named as place of origin, I find sneaky and bothersome.
This is after all a harmonica (47 parts), and not an automobile (several tens of thousands of parts).
Hohner will do what it has to do remain profitable, and whatever it's doing, it continues to make great harmonicas. I'll not not lose any sleep over the whole business.
It is what it is!.......though what exactly that is, is, remains a mystery;)
Michael
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A440
136 posts
Mar 26, 2014
8:36 AM
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I have some 2012 MS Blues Harps and 2012 SP20s. OOTB, they sound pretty similar - a listener could not tell the difference. Both are loud. The SP20 reeds are easier to finesse - precise bends, overblows, etc. compared to the Blues Harp - so I like playing the SP20 better. This might be due to the different reed profiles.
The MS harps have come a long way, they don't deserve the bad reputation they still carry from 10 years ago. As far as I know they are made in Germany. I think only the Hohner models below the Big River are made in China - stuff like Silver Star, Piedmont, Blues Band, Blues Bender, etc. which are not MS harps.
Last Edited by A440 on Mar 26, 2014 8:39 AM
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1847
1640 posts
Mar 26, 2014
8:41 AM
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the marine band, the marine band deluxe, the crossover the rocket
are all born and raised in germany.
some of the other models are made in china, and assembled in germany
some are completely made in china.
usually the giveaway is price, germans get 6 weeks' vacation a year
this adds to the cost. chinese get 6 minutes vacation a year
they use that up going to the restroom.
china is the largest producer of harmonica's in the world
hohners largest share holder is a chinese company.
i have some harps that are made in china that are outstanding
i have some german harps that are less than satisfactory.
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i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
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SpecialSean
18 posts
Mar 26, 2014
8:48 AM
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As always, thanks for all of the info guys. It seems that the consensus is the MB is preferred because of the longer and thinner reeds.
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Sherwin
144 posts
Mar 26, 2014
8:56 AM
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@Sean, it's the nails!
Michael :)
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jiceblues
318 posts
Mar 26, 2014
8:58 AM
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I have played both SP20's & MS Blues Harps for a long time .The SP20 is louder .
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