dougharps
992 posts
Aug 06, 2015
9:26 AM
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Delta Frost is pretty raspy, loud, and costs less. Possibly more durable, but not as tight. Different temperament. Supposedly it is pretty much the same as a Harpmaster.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Aug 06, 2015 9:29 AM
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Pistolcat
825 posts
Aug 06, 2015
12:40 PM
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Have you tried a regular marine band?
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Pistolkatt - Pistolkatts youtube
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Gnarly
1444 posts
Aug 06, 2015
1:30 PM
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I would think the Manji would give you a similar sound--but less expensive . . .
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arzajac
1666 posts
Aug 06, 2015
1:45 PM
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I think I know exactly what you mean by "raspy" but the word can be misleading. It usually has a negative connotation, but in this case, as with the term "dirty", it's a positive. But what exactly is "raspy"?
I think what you mean by raspy is that the tone has a pleasing balance of high and low frequencies. Too much high end and the harp is just too bright, too much low end and it sounds like it's lacking in power. But a pleasant mix means you can lean into the note and really get the harp to growl.
I'd be interested to know what you think of Seydel stainless? I find them much too bright - they are piercing and bright, but not raspy. Clean, as opposed to dirty.
Vintage hohner harps were made with a different brass than current Hohner harps and you can appreciate a very different tone when you both listen to them and play them. I know Carlos Del Junco has a stockpile of vintage reeds because that's all he wants to play. That tone has much more emphasis on the lower frequencies but still has a nice balance.
I appreciate that the Manji has a wonderful mix of high and low and I find it quite raspy. But it's not the same as the Hohner sound and that's why Hohner can get away with charging more.
Tuning temperament, cover plate design and the materials can also influence the tone.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica Combs and Tools.
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SuperBee
2756 posts
Aug 06, 2015
2:28 PM
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The crossover does sound different to a regular marine band. Has to be the temperament. Personally, it gets on my nerves and I retune them or choose to play something else unless I'm playing with a band.
Speaking of Seydel, I recently replaced a broken steel reed with a brass reed...because that's what was available. I wondered if the sound would be noticeably different. Not to me. I am feeling pretty inclined to the view that seydels distinctive tone is a lot to do with the size of the space under the covers. A Seydel reed plate is 0.038" thick. That's about 3 thou thicker than a sp20 plate, and may be enough to contribute also.
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A440
428 posts
Aug 06, 2015
3:50 PM
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When a flute, trumpet, and clarinet play the same note, it is the same note... except you know with your eyes closed which instrument is being played. It is the harmonic overtones which determine the character of the sound.
"Raspy" harps generate slightly different harmonic overtones.
The raspiest harps I know are:
Hohner: MB, MBD, MBXO
Suzuki: Manji
A Lee Oskar or Bluesmaster are not very raspy.
I disagree with Andrew. The Session Steel and Session Brass sound alike, so it ain't the steel reeds. And mine get pretty deep and dirty, especially cupped on a bullet mic.
Last Edited by A440 on Aug 06, 2015 4:23 PM
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sonny3
279 posts
Aug 06, 2015
5:09 PM
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I'm pretty sure regular marine bands 1896 are cheaper than Manjis.I find the classic MB pretty raspy and to my ear quite different than crossovers and even deluxe.
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Glass Harp Full
43 posts
Aug 06, 2015
11:24 PM
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I recently bought a Crossover in G and I really like it. It has a body and fullness that other harps don't seem to have, at least to my ears.
I'm also a big fan of the Suzuki Bluesmaster, mainly because they are very comfortable to hold and play. I also like the slightly bigger holes. But they are brighter and sweeter than Hohners.
After reading the thread the Manji sounds like it might be good combination of both. Maybe I should find a harp addiction therapist too:)
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Gnarly
1445 posts
Aug 07, 2015
12:28 AM
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Nope, the only difference is the cover plates--both have phosphor bronze reeds welded to the reed plates, with combs that extend out to the front, similar to the SP20.
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Ian
61 posts
Aug 07, 2015
5:35 AM
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In my experience, manjis definitely have that rasp you crave. Bluesmasters definitely do not, they have a very clean sound, despite being very nice to play.
One harp that I have that is really interesting although I don't play it much is a tombo folk blues. They have an unusual tuning that you might like?.....
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