Todd Parrott
1316 posts
Mar 12, 2015
11:34 PM
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Just curious if anyone besides me likes or prefers the sound of a particular model harmonica for certain keys? For instance, I love the sound of an Eb Special 20 (with open covers), as well as Ab. There's also a certain characteristic I like about a Marine Band style harp in A, Bb and D. And, I like the old style Meisterklasse harps in F and F#.
Of course, I still like Golden Melodies in any key. ;)
Do you have favorites for certain keys? What are they?
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rainman
161 posts
Mar 12, 2015
11:49 PM
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The Bushman Delta Frost in F is a nice harp and sound better than any I've tried. My favorite A harp is my Marine Band Deluxe.
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dougharps
881 posts
Mar 13, 2015
7:15 AM
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Good issue, Todd! I have noticed some differences, but for me it has not been consistent as to which model goes with which key. Sometimes I think it is more about how well the specific harp is set up and whether I am playing hard or softly instead of the brand and model of harp always being my choice for a given key.
However, I think that as a general rule I like the higher pitched harps to have closed covers, and the lower pitch harp to have vented covers.
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Doug S.
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timeistight
1723 posts
Mar 13, 2015
7:42 AM
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I've been using Golden Melodies for Eb, E and F and Marine Band harps below that.
I think I agree with Doug on the unvented covers for high harps -- they're a bit mellower.
I also suspect that Equal Temperament sounds better on the high harps, where I probably don't chord as much anyway.
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"You can't just copy somebody. If you like someone's work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to."
Last Edited by timeistight on Mar 13, 2015 7:43 AM
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shakeylee
161 posts
Mar 13, 2015
6:19 PM
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this reminds me of years ago,i guess the 90's,i used to play a different model for most keys.
that way i never had to look at the key or marker.so,say if i had G,C,A,&D out,it would be something like a huang silvertone in G,a suzuki pro harp in C,a sp20 in A and an MS in D.or whatever .
it really made things fast when grabbing for a key.
i remember some harmonica players used to get mad at me for not having a particular favorite.at the time,they all sounded pretty much the same and a lot of premium harps were no better than cheapies.i don't know why other people got mad about that,but they did! haha
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www.shakeylee.com
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SuperBee
2462 posts
Mar 14, 2015
3:38 PM
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My kit was like that for a while,a real mixed bag. now it's more consistent. Can't say I've considered the issue of models for keys too closely though. I've got a standard marine band, lacquered comb but not "old", in key F which is just such a cracker, it's never been apart except covers off for tuning. I can't imagine a harp in this key sounding better for the songs I play with it..which range from Sonny boy to jr wells to the pogues
I do have a LoF 1847 and maybe it's true I prefer that to my Thunderbird in terms of tonal quality. And of my two Ab harps I possibly prefer the mellowed sound of the solist pro to the marine band. But it probably depends somewhat on material.
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