Harp Study
123 posts
Aug 14, 2015
8:19 PM
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I tend to go through phases where I prefer different harp models. Does anyone else go through this as well?
For awhile I was big on golden melodies (which I would probably stick with if they came in a compromised tuning versus ET), then I was into marine bands, then seydel session steels and now I am back into special 20s which is the harp model I first started on.
Just curious.
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Harpaholic
747 posts
Aug 14, 2015
9:05 PM
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We all go through different brands to find what's best.
Session Steels are my current favorite OOTB harp even though I have Crossovers, Manjis, 1847's, Noble's, Rockets, 2 Joe Spiers MB's and 5 JS SP20's.
I could never go back to an OOTB SP 20 after playing Seydel's.
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Aug 14, 2015 9:06 PM
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SuperBee
2767 posts
Aug 14, 2015
9:56 PM
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i guess i did but its been a long time. i messed around with what i could find in the shops...up until online became a thing...so that meant i tried a few harps...didnt really settle on anything back then..tried Huangs, Sp20...MS Sp20 that is...seem to recall a Pro harp...started buying MS Blues Harps because i got a couple that were ok...and i decided wood combs were cooler...never got into LO much, just bought the one and i wasn't especially impressed over the Blues Harp, and they were more expensive...when i learned to adjust my harps it was like a new world...suddenly i could make just about any harp play ok...i thought...tried a Bluesmaster, couldnt make it play OK...i think i started replacing Blues Harps with other stuff about 7 or 8 years ago...when i got into online info more...tried Solist Pro...Moustache problems...once i got into marine band and crossover i didnt really get the urge to look for something better much...tried manji...expensive and i didn't like the comb...got a few Sp20s just because sometimes you have to buy one from the shop...got an 1847 just because i wanted to know how much of Jimi Lee's tone came from his harp...not enough of it to make me shell out for more new harps...got some promasters because they were super-cheap...meh...they played so badly and very hard to work on without removing the valves...i keep the B, Db, and HiG around just because those keys...but basically once the Marine Band became my harp i stuck with it and i dont see a need for much different...until i need something...i bought some s/h sp20s with intention to retune them CT...my 1847 is CT...maybe i'd make a set of ET something...i have a lot of old seydel plates i thought i might mend and make ET...i mean that kind of thing but not models per se...
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Glass Harp Full
47 posts
Aug 14, 2015
10:23 PM
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I'm still experimenting with harps. I started out years ago with a Blues Band then bought a Marine Band once I got more interested. I stopped playing for a long time and went to the shop for a Marine Band when I decided to start again. They didn't have one so I got a Pro Harp. Then I started reading reviews and discussion forums online and discovered there were more brands than I thought. I got into Suzuki Blues Masters and Harp Masters, which are my favourites for comfort of holding and playing, but sound brighter/cleaner than I'd like. I bought one LO and wasn't impressed; it only lasted two weeks. I've recently drifted back to Hohner with a Crossover I really like. If money wasn't an issue I'd probably get a full set. I have one Seydel but haven't played it enough to have formed an opinion one way or the other. I'm still keen to try other models and I'm sure the harp companies will keep bringing out new stuff to keep us all spending our money :)
Last Edited by Glass Harp Full on Aug 14, 2015 10:27 PM
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Gipsy
173 posts
Aug 15, 2015
12:09 AM
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Just like Superbee since I learnt to fettle my own harps my harp of choice has changed. Previously I had to rely on how well the harp was set up OOB to help me decide my favourite. The downside of this equation is the money spent on all sorts of makes and designs of harp. The upside is that since I've learnt to fiddle I've been able to revisit my ' bad harps ' and get them to play properly, I've been able to make a reasonably informed choice of favourite harp.
I've decided I prefer cover plates without the side vents and have hit on Sp20's. I do find the comb has sharp edges and is a little uncomfortable, so I'm in the process of swopping these out and replacing them with Hohner Rocket combs. ( Here in the UK they are available direct from Hohner Europe by mail order for approx $8 a piece ).
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Harp Study
124 posts
Aug 16, 2015
5:03 AM
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I would for sure agree that learning how to do basic setup work has really changed my thoughts on which models I like. So far I have not found a model that consistently plays just the way I like right ootb, but that isn't a big deal in my mind.
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Old_Standby
5 posts
Aug 16, 2015
3:49 PM
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I used to try different harmonicas, but I don't bother any more. I did try several brands and models, but since the prices have gone up I can't justify the expense.
Life was easier when there was only one choice available. Everybody played the Hohner Marine Band. When you went to the music store to get a harmonica all they would have is a few Marine Bands, mostly in the key of C. They could order different models/keys for you, but they didn't really care about harmonica sales. I don't mean life was better, just easier.
I remember ordering a 'Blues Harp' because it was supposed to be made differently so you could play the blues. At the time I think the only real difference between the Marine Band and the Blues Harp was the cover plates. I felt a little bit let down when I found out they really weren't any better.
The other reason I gave up switching models/brands, is I found out that there was just enough of a difference in the hole spacing of the combs that I would mess up on more difficult passages.
After reading Harpaholics comment about the Seydels I might have to try one :)
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The Black Pit
35 posts
Aug 16, 2015
4:53 PM
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I think it's almost mandatory to play a few models to find what suits YOU best. Besides tone, there is comfort, volume, playability and other factors. My turning point in buying harps was when I realized that a comfortable, airtight, responsive harp with decent tone is what made it fun to play and enabled me to practice longer. Those models were the Special 20 and Harpmaster (or Bluesmaster for full length covers). I tried Seydels' equivalent, the Blues Session, and found it leaky and dull sounding with coverplates that were too thick and of course Seydel's goofy hole spacing. But plenty of people love Seydels, which brings me back to my first point: Find what suits YOU best.
I also found that the added benefits of more expensive harps are wasted on someone of my limited experience. I couldn't get any benefit from them that my Special 20's or Harpmasters didn't already provide. That being said I have a few wooden combed Marine Bands and Old Standby's that I love to bits, mostly for their tone. They're just not as comfortable to practice with for extended periods of time.
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"The blues are the roots of all American music. As long as American music survives, so will the blues."...Willie Dixon
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Harpaholic
749 posts
Aug 16, 2015
7:43 PM
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The Seydel's Blues Session is not even close to a Session Steel, that's why there half the price.
The Session Steel cover plates are fine, but I prefer 1847 plates
after putting them on 2 of my Session Steels, that's the ticket!
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Aug 16, 2015 7:48 PM
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isaacullah
3056 posts
Aug 17, 2015
10:20 AM
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What's kind of funny about this is that you HAVE to play all kinds of models to figure out what you like, but by the time you figure that out, you more than likely have a full set of mish-mash harps of all brands and models! So, it's definitely an investment and long-term kinda process. Me, as it turns out, I went the full circle, tried pretty much everything out there, and came back to the very first harp brand and model I ever bought: Hohner Special 20. However, if Special 20's disappeared overnight, I know I could be pretty happy with Delta Frosts or Seydel Solist Pro's.
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HarpNinja
4124 posts
Aug 17, 2015
10:24 AM
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I sometimes try harps other than the SP20, but eventually settle back in on the SP20.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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Ian
65 posts
Aug 17, 2015
5:36 PM
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Having only played for 8 months I'm not sure im qualified to answer but I went from bluesmasters to manjis, to a few types of hohners (for the tuning) then I'm back to manjis again. From having tried a fair few harps now I find the build quality on suzuki harps to be a lot better than the others.
Still want to try the 1847 but they are so expensive I kinda don't want to like them.
Last Edited by Ian on Aug 17, 2015 5:37 PM
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1847
2682 posts
Aug 17, 2015
6:00 PM
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the session steel with the 1847 cover plate is the way to go.
i wish i had them when i started out..
i have broken worn out harps everywhere.
no need for that.
if a reed goes bad just pop in a new reed plate
save the old plates. much better than saving
hundreds of old worn out harps
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SuperBee
2770 posts
Aug 17, 2015
6:23 PM
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I've heard it said that Suzuki have higher build quality, but personally I've seen no convincing evidence. I haven't seen that many, but those I've owned have all had their share of build-quality problems.
i can't quite understand the price difference between session steel and 1847...it's about $30 AUD I think...covers are much the same, plates are similar...are ss plates cheaper than 1847? I guess they are easier to make without the lip...
Funnily enough, the first Seydel steel sent to me for repair was 1847 with Session covers, but each to their own hey...
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Harpaholic
752 posts
Aug 17, 2015
6:44 PM
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I'm waiting for Titanium alloy reeds, but it might be a long wait?
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joshnat
240 posts
Aug 18, 2015
11:10 AM
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Years ago I was playing Hering 1923's but kept blowing them out. Plus they were getting more expensive and harder to find. I went through a few Marine Band DX's, Manji's, Seydel Solist's and ended up with SP20's.
I recently played one of my old Hering's and really liked the sound and the feel. And the heft (they're heavy). And I love the intonation. But boy, was it a leaky harp compared to my SP20's many of which now have Blue Moon combs on them. I wish I was good enough to retune my SP20's to JI, but I'm sure I would screw them up.
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SuperBee
2771 posts
Aug 18, 2015
8:20 PM
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you'd be fine, just a little practice to get the hang of it
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