ME.HarpDoc
27 posts
Oct 27, 2015
12:44 PM
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I am putting together a beginners blues harp course for our Community Adult Education program. I'm working out the content and timing of the course and that may be a topic for a different discussion, but what I'm hoping to get from those of you who have taught programs to multiple students is my choices for harmonicas to supply for the course.
Based on my own learning experience, I find the order of importance in a harp for a new player taking lessons is: 1.comfort (how it feels to mouth and lips) 2. reliably playable OOTB 3.Easy bendability 4. Airtightness 5. Endurance (doesn't easily break reeds when drawing too hard) 6. Sound (newbies can't really tell ET from JI. They just want to sound bluesy)
I want to keep the cost of harmonicas down (under $35 US) but not so low that they will be discouraged trying to play a leaky, poorly tuned harp).
So far in that price range I've come up with the following based first on comfort (recessed reed plates and rounded corners)
Seydel Blues Session Standard
Suzuki Bluesmaster
Suzuki Harpmaster
Hohner Special 20 (just out of price range and a little sharper corners)
Less comfortable due to sandwich construction but good harps in price range;
Suzuki Folkmaster
Hohner Blue Midnight
Hohner Big River
With the above in mind, I'd like your opinions on Out Of The Box playability, "ruggedness" for the new player and ease of bending. I need a sense of reliability OOTB as I won't have time to address regapping or bad reeds.
I've stayed away from the Marine Band and the Manji due to either cost or the wood comb issues.
Last Edited by ME.HarpDoc on Oct 27, 2015 12:47 PM
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florida-trader
810 posts
Oct 27, 2015
1:06 PM
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Of the harps you listed I would recommend the Suzuki HarpMaster. They are a great harp for the money. Special 20 is great too but you seem to think they are out of the price range.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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rainman
187 posts
Oct 27, 2015
1:08 PM
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You can buy Special 20 on Ebay all day for $35.00 and It's a great harp. Rockin' Ron (or Tom) might make you a deal if you're buying a bunch as well. I own Seydel standard and Harpmasters/ Bluesmasters and they really don't stack up.
Last Edited by rainman on Oct 27, 2015 1:09 PM
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The Iceman
2758 posts
Oct 27, 2015
4:13 PM
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Lee Oskar Harmonicas
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The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Oct 27, 2015 6:28 PM
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shakeylee
409 posts
Oct 27, 2015
4:22 PM
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bushman delta frost
suzuki harpmaster
price per unit goes down with the more you buy.
also,i believe with a beginner who won't have as much breath control,the bronze reeds,with a fairly high gap OOB, will outlast harmonicas of other brands.
i must say,out of MS harps,the blue midnight seems like the best value.
if you need to go cheaper,i think huang silvertones and suzuki folkmasters are about equal.
i have not tried a huang harpmaster yet. anyone?
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www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Oct 27, 2015 4:25 PM
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A440
468 posts
Oct 27, 2015
4:22 PM
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SP20. Then don't dwell too much on the choice of harp with the students. The worst thing is when beginners start chasing a better harp. Better they trust they have the right instrument and focus on learning to play it. The SP20 is a solid instrument and great tool for learning.
Call Rockin' Ron for a volume discount.
Last Edited by A440 on Oct 29, 2015 4:18 PM
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SuperBee
2916 posts
Oct 27, 2015
6:24 PM
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Ambitious OP if you thought you would get a consensus here.
If you have a good source of Sp20 I think they'd be an excellent choice. I reckon Rockin Ron probably moves enough to be confident any you purchase there will be new stock. You just don't want to get a bunch of those produced around the time of the transition to rebadging, when they got the gaps so wrong.
Otherwise I'd definitely consider Lee Oskar.
Sorry I can't comment on the Suzuki models mentioned; I just don't have enough experience of them.
I took part in an adult ed harmonica course once.
At the time I was playing MS blues harps and I recall many of the other participants, instructor too, had Lee Oskar harps.
I remember wondering if I was missing out on something. They're dependable ime.
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Cotton
57 posts
Oct 27, 2015
6:56 PM
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I am still a fairly new player. The first harmonica I bought was a lee Oskar. Could not play or learn on it. The holes are larger-- I did not have enough air. I did much better on a Suzuki or special 20. I liked the bluesmaster or special 20 best in my first year.
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Jim Rumbaugh
1175 posts
Oct 28, 2015
10:02 AM
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1) If you can't play a Special 20, It ain't the harp that's the problem.
2) all 3 Suzuki play easy (for me). The Bluesmaster has held up the best for me. Loved my Folkmaster, but it blew out too soon.
3) as a beginner, I hated my Big River, now I love it.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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SuperBee
2917 posts
Oct 28, 2015
12:05 PM
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Sometimes it is the harp that's the problem. Even if it's a special 20, especially if the special 20 is one of those built around the time of the changeover to the 'progressive' rebadging.
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nacoran
8757 posts
Oct 28, 2015
5:51 PM
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I've played Sp20s and Lee Oskars off that list and like em both. To my hands I'd give a slight edge to the Lee Oskar. To my mustache I'd give a slight edge to the Special 20! (How Lee Oskar had a mustache all those years and didn't do something to fix the hair grabbing is beyond my comprehension.)
I've heard good things about the Delta Frosts as harps, but warnings about their supply chain. If you can get them from Rockin Rons in stock they seem like a good option. I know they are trying to reestablish their reputation for reliable delivery, but for now at least I'd still use a reputable middleman.
I definitely prefer plastic combs (at least until you get into the pricier options like metal or custom wood combs).
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Nate
Facebook
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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jason campbell
57 posts
Oct 29, 2015
5:56 AM
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I'd suggest they get a Big River harp, as it's much lower cost for beginners, but good enough quality so they aren't discouraged. Then add the note that the other harps listed are of better quality, in case anyone wants to start out there.
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The Iceman
2764 posts
Oct 29, 2015
6:16 AM
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There is something counter intuitive in seeking out the cheapest harmonicas for new students.
If one is interested in learning an instrument, don't scrimp on the equipment to be used.
Make sure the student understands this as he makes a choice.
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The Iceman
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Popculture Chameleon
94 posts
Oct 29, 2015
2:19 PM
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I have to agree about the special 20 they are fairly cheap and are great harps- it is what I started on before switching over to the Hohner Rocket
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jason campbell
58 posts
Oct 30, 2015
9:28 AM
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What Iceman says is true that a beginner would really get benefit from a high quality harp.
But I'm making the assumption that not all of these people are sure they want to commit to being a harmonica player, so they may want to err on the side of less costly at first, obviously they need to stay within a certain range of playability.
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A440
475 posts
Oct 30, 2015
1:12 PM
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I agree with Iceman, that the cheapest harps will impede learning for a beginner. So rather than a Hohner Hot Metal or Blues Band, its worth the extra to get to a SP20, or similar grade instrument. But spending beyond that, to a Crossover, Fire Breath, or 1847 would not be of value to a beginner, so I agree with Jason: err towards a $35/30€ harp.
Last Edited by A440 on Oct 30, 2015 1:14 PM
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Dragonbreath
70 posts
Oct 30, 2015
5:10 PM
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Compared to buying pretty much any other istrument, 35$ is nothing! Tell the students they are really lucky to be able to buy the same instrument many professionals use, for practically nothing! The cheaper ones are just toys, shouldn't really be concidering them, especially given these circumstances.
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shakeylee
418 posts
Oct 30, 2015
10:53 PM
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bushman are fully stocked and on sale at ron's
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www.shakeylee.com
Last Edited by shakeylee on Oct 30, 2015 10:53 PM
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ME.HarpDoc
29 posts
Nov 03, 2015
7:41 AM
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I've read mixed reviews of the Suzuki Folkmaster. Any experience or comments about them?
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SuperBee
2935 posts
Nov 03, 2015
11:42 AM
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I haven't played one for a long time. Iirc the 2 I had (G, A) were 'OK' (not really ok). They weren't the most awful harps I had but I never really enjoyed playing them. And I've read the quality has declined since (I bought mine in the late 90s)
They are significantly different to the other Suzuki harps I've seen. 36e8mn
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the_happy_honker
233 posts
Nov 03, 2015
2:35 PM
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I have to second SuperBee's comment about the Folkmaster.
Five, six years ago there were a lot of reports of Big Rivers with random problems, one guy would say the combs leak, the next would say the reeds were gapped out-of-this-world high, a third would say everything got corrected when he re-seated the reed plate screws.
It sounded to me (Big Rivers aren't sold in my neck of the woods, so I've never seen one and taken it apart) like Big Rivers weren't subject to the same standards for quality as the other MS harps, which was reflected in the cheaper price. If that is still the case, I think Big Rivers would be a bad idea for a beginner. An experienced player has either the chops to overcome a harp's shortcomings or the technical finesse to correct the mechanical problems. A beginner has neither - a leaky, hard-to-play, hard-to-bend harp is just that, which can be discouraging.
The most consistently playable harp, IMO, is the Harpmaster, followed by the Special 20. The one Session I have plays just fine, but that is not enough of a sample to form an opinion.
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Glass Harp Full
60 posts
Nov 04, 2015
3:19 AM
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I would also suggest steering clear of the Folkmaster. It is uncomfortable to play with sharp edges on the cover plate. It also has quite a low volume and not a very full sound. I certainly wouldn't buy another one.
As a beginner myself I've found the Bluesmaster and Harpmaster to be very good. And they aren't expensive, around AU$40.
For cheaper harps I think there's something to be said for the Hohner Blues Bender. It has a nice sound and slightly bigger holes which I found helpful in getting single notes. Not the best quality harp by any means but it would do for someone who just wants to try out harp to see if they're interested or as a practice harp.
Last Edited by Glass Harp Full on Nov 04, 2015 3:20 AM
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eetechTom
5 posts
Nov 04, 2015
9:31 AM
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One other thing to consider is facial hair. I know from experience the Bushman Delta Frost is goatee friendly, and replacement reed plates w/comb run $29.99. SP20 is probably beard friendly due to similar cover plate/comb construction. Heard the Lee Oscar is torture for someone with facial hair.
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nacoran
8767 posts
Nov 04, 2015
10:29 AM
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eetechTom, I used to have a hard time with the Lee Oskars and my goatee (the mustache half particularly) but I have noticed, over time, that it happens less and less. I am operating on the theory that it works like an epilady. After time the hairs that get in it's way stop growing in, but I have noticed my mustache seems to be more 'groomed' looking! :)
Lee Oskars seem to be the most durable harps, to me, so a bunch of beginners prone to overdoing it might see some value in it. But again, once you get to the $30 range you are going to get a decent harp from any of the big manufacturers.
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Nate
Facebook
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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ME.HarpDoc
31 posts
Nov 09, 2015
4:37 PM
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Picked up a Folkmaster in A. Not bad. In tune, not too leaky, easy to bend. Corners and reed plate sharp and would be more uncomfortable than other choices but ok for beginner. However, I'm probably going to take the majority advice and start them with a Harpmaster or Bluesmaster. Spoke today with Rockin Ron. Great guy and he'll work with me on a volume discount. Thanks to all past posters who led me to Ron and thanks to all for feedback
Last Edited by ME.HarpDoc on Nov 09, 2015 4:39 PM
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shakeylee
426 posts
Nov 09, 2015
8:48 PM
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it is hard to beat a harpmaster from rockin' ron!!
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www.shakeylee.com
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Noodles
406 posts
Nov 09, 2015
10:20 PM
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I would think that most harps in the $30-$40 range would be a good bet for a beginner. I would stay away from wood combs. I would also want screws rather than nails. You know those babies are going to need some cleaning. Oscars are mustache-grabbers. They’ve brought tears to my eyes more than once.
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