This is quite interesting. The word amp is on logo, and if you google "hohner rocket amp", you get a link to the Hohner Rocket Amp on Hohner's website - which is listed as a harmonica.
So, I am taking this to suggest that there will be a green Rocket this fall marketed towards hard players who use amps. Sorta confusing at this point. I like the idea of a green comb as it reminds me of Slimer from Ghostbusters, but prefer the SP20 comb. ---------- Mike My Website My Harmonica Effects Blog
The Hohner Rocket amp C major harmonica is able, through their newly developed design, to be particularly played loud. This is because of the larger tone holes and laterally closed lids, secondly, because of the recessed reed plates. In addition, the diatonic harmonica in a summery green offers a pleasant feel thanks to the ergonomically shaped comb body.
Is it me, or are there no side-vents on that harp? If the idea is to make a harp for amplified playing, then removing side-vents is consistent with that (easier to completely cup and seal). If this is so, then this harp is basically what I've been asking for: a "Special 20 Deluxe".
The green is not my first choice of comb color, but I don't mind it. It's certainly more "progressive" looking than the rest of the "progressive" harps! Lol!
Cross posted with tmf714. From his post, "laterally closed lids" sounds to me to mean "no side vents" (why couldn't they just say that?!). Also, the damn thing should have been called the "Rocket Amped". Calling it the "Rocket Amp" is waaay misleading and confusing. Hohner's marketing department seems to be getting more and more confused by the day...
But still, this could be a very cool harp (if anyone ever finds out about it, and can figure out what the hell it actually is). ----------
Maybe a clueless branding guru at Hohner thought people would associate it with the Green Bullet . . . never realizing that the mic is an entirely different shade of green
I like Rockets - have a few of them - but I'm not sure I'd want one that reminded me of Kermit. ---------- Marr's Guitars
Offering custom-built Cigar Box Guitars for the discriminating player of obscure musical unstruments
How do recessed reedplates make a harmonica louder? This ad copy is pretty silly.
Also, varying the comb color is something Seydel has been doing for a few years now with the Session Steel, with seasonal summer colors (translucent sunlight yellow, Banff turquoise) and winter (sliver-flecked gray).
While on the subject of colored combs, does anyone know if the combs from the Tagged series harps are interchangeable with Special 20's? These look like Hot Metal harps, and if I am not mistaken, the Hot Metal/Bluesband combs aren't 100% the same as Special 20 combs - I could be wrong. Here's one of the Tagged series harps - they also come with Red combs:
Interesting- will wait for the initial reviews to start coming in on you tube- if these rockets are somehow tuned differently they may be worth a look of course that will also depend on price- and even if you don't like the comb you can always switch them out for another one from Blue Moon Harmonicas
Regarding the comb color: If I were a hohner marketing person, and I were thinking about how to make my harps seem "progressive", I would have chosen this nice blue color:
However if I wanted to start an Ugly Kid Joe tribute band, then this is the proper color green for that:
I think I understand. It's a Rocket with a green comb and non-vented covers. So a loud harp (I.E. rocket), with non-vented covers because people who play into mics like that, and it's green because reasons. Ok I'm just about to do some work on the second Rocket I've ever seen. I liked the other one. Got a progressive sp20 here too, first I've seen. Marketing is so weird, but apart from that BS this seems like a pretty good concept from Hohner. They took a great product and improved the comb, and now they've addressed their slip with the covers.
I saw the colored lids one the other day- I must have got distracted before I reported back to MBH. I clearly remember thinking 'I should post this'. I blame it on Tooka. I was talking with him on YouTube about watercolors. There is, of course, a history of enameled harmonicas with great colors. Here is some from Doug Dawson's collection.
I have to admit I like it! Sure, I would prefer some earthy colors like brown or beige or something, but that green isn't THAT bad, I kinda like it. Looking at the comb, to me it doesn't seem like screaming neon type, it's kind of more of vintage military type vibe I think.
Good point, Danny. I always get my frogs/frog clothes confused.
Now . . . if they would do an ad with the Kerm as an official endorsee I'd be seriously stoked (I picture him sitting on log, playing banjo, harp in a rack) ---------- Marr's Guitars
Offering custom-built Cigar Box Guitars for the discriminating player of obscure musical unstruments
Do people really buy harmonicas from how they ... look? "Hey, that harp looks great, I gotta have it!" "OK but it plays like shite ..." "Doesn´t matter -- it´s green."
Have I over-estimated the harp playing "community"?
I have heard that the bright green comb gives it a sharper rock tone that will cut through the mix and allow it to compete with screaming rock guitars! ----------
I agree with Rbeetsme. Sounds like the add copy was written in Chinese then translated. None of it makes sense!
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on May 10, 2015 9:36 AM
Best to here it from Hohner themselves. Theyt have a new online pdf document which outlines their entire range.
The Green Rocket is on p10, the document is at http://www.playhohner.com/fileadmin/hohner_group/hohner/07_news/news_2015/new_catalog/HOHNER_Harps_2015_INT_Web.pdf
The Green Rocket is non vented ---------- Tony Eyers Australia www.HarmonicaAcademy.com everyone plays...
just mended a rocket today...very impressed with these harps. i dont care much about vents/no vents but good to have the option. i'm not sure about the tuning though. it did seem very bright. generally about 15 cents brighter than i'd expect, but the 10 blow was so bright it was almost another note. maybe when they opened the gaps they also changed the tuning to account for those super-heavy breathers...
Haven't heard much about the "Rocket Amp" in the time since this thread was first posted. Anybody play one? Or has this harp not been selling well? Perhaps that "ugly kid joe green" color they chose for the comb backfired on them?
I wish they had just made it in black and simply called it the "Special 20 Deluxe". ----------
There are a few about... I don't think there's a problem, I think there's just not much to say. I actually think 'no news is good news' might apply here. All the Rockets I've seen have been good harps...but in the main, I see harps which people like enough to want repaired...I do see a few 'lemons' which sometimes get included to make up numbers in a job... The only thing wrong with thevRocket IMHO, is the sp20 is so good...but Hohner can't drop the sp20 anymore than they can drop the MB1896...so it's tough for the rocket to catch on
I bought one of these out of curiosity and because I like the green comb. It's comfortable to play and hold and I like the bigger holes. It's also loud. The only issue I had with it is a sticky 4 draw reed, but I gapped it and it's been fine. I don't play amplified yet so I can say anything about that aspect. Overall a good harp.
@SuperBee "no news is good news". Yeah, that might indeed be the case. There was an initial glut of reviews for the standard Rocket, but not hardly a peep for the Rocket Amp (damn these names!!).
@Glass_Harp_Full: Glad to hear from someone who has actually gotten their hands on one! A little disappointing to hear that the 4 was sticky OOTB, since these are supposed to have received a better factory set up than the Spec 20, but glad to hear that it plays well. Is the green of that comb quite so, um, "loud" in person? I'm not opposed to colorful combs on principle, but that green seems awfully loud in the pics! :) ----------
The green makes it look like a toy, but the green Blue Moon is awsome. Don't the marketing people ever ask the people who might buy these things, or are they simply geniuses suffering from allusions of adequacy. I'm sorry, I'm not normally so negative but I've probably been to RockinRons 8-10 times to see if they've gotten them in stock but got so turned off I just thought wait, maybe they will come to their senses. It looks like a toy, not that harmonicas have any trouble being taken seriously as it is...
Taste is a funny thing. The Vice President of our club says of one player "I could listen to him play all night" and of another act that played at our club "I didn't think much of them, very average" My view is precisely opposed to that, and I'm with the majority who find the guitarist monotonous and the other act entertaining. About combs however, appearance is very low on the list of my concerns...in fact that applies to harps, amps and mics. What they look like is of very little importance, though I understand it's easier to market an item which has a bit of visual flash. Makes sense to have some variety in comb colour to help identify the harp quickly, but apart from that, idc
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