Sarge
505 posts
Dec 09, 2015
4:39 PM
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Have any of you tried any of the new Easttop harmonicas? I bought one at the bean blossom blues fest. What a great OTB harp it is. www.newharmonica.com has several models, both diatonic and chromatic. I bought the 008S.
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Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
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root
66 posts
Dec 09, 2015
5:04 PM
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I'm going to spring for a brass- combed 16 hole chromatic tomorrow.
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1847
2968 posts
Dec 09, 2015
5:17 PM
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i don't think we are suppossed to discuss this harmonica
it may ruffle some feathers.
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WinslowYerxa
989 posts
Dec 09, 2015
6:01 PM
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Whose feathers would be ruffled?
We're allowed to discuss all types of harmonica and all brands, so what could be a problem? East Top is a Chinese company that is putting out some high quality product at reasonable prices. Their chromatics look like Suzukis, but they're not knockoffs - the guts are different and in some ways an improvement. Quality of reed adjustment for optimal response is a more arguable point, and probably subject to individual preference.
Danny G (newharmonica.com) here in the US and Brendan Power (brendan-power.com) in the UK both think highly enough of East Top harps to start stocking and selling them.
I recently took delivery on some test instruments from East Top, four chromatics and two diatonics. A quick test play on them indicated very good instruments. After I've photographed them in pristine out-of-the box condition, I'll play and record them, then strip them down and photograph the innards, and then publish a review in my blog at winslowyerxa.com. Probably early in January.
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Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
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Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Dec 09, 2015 6:01 PM
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chromaticblues
1734 posts
Dec 09, 2015
6:14 PM
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I was really thinking about getting the 12 version of the brass combed version until I found out it was almost $400. I know I can make a Hohner 270 Deluxe work about as well as a 12 chrom can. If it was around $250 I would have bought one, but!
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Sarge
506 posts
Dec 09, 2015
6:29 PM
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I played one of the 12 hole chromatics at the bean, it was under $200.00 and it played really nice. If I had the money I would buy one.
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Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
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isaacullah
3109 posts
Dec 09, 2015
6:33 PM
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The lower end Easttop diatonic model looks identical to the Hohner Blues Bender. Anyone have both and can compare/confirm? I'm not overly enamored with the Blues Bender, but it *is* a step above your normal low-end Chinese made harp. If the pricier Easttop diatonic models are closer to Suzuki's (as I've heard tell), then they could be good. But so far, at least here in the US, the price difference isn't big enough to make me want to find out (for diatonics, at least).
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chromaticblues
1736 posts
Dec 09, 2015
6:35 PM
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@sarge That wasn't the one with the super duper brass comb though. I'm not saying they aren't good harps. I don't know! I would buy the brass comb one if it wasn't so $$.
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nacoran
8814 posts
Dec 09, 2015
8:56 PM
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1847, why not? To date I can only think of one brand that we eventually asked people to stop starting threads on, and that was because they were out of business and the threads were nasty.
Anyone know where in China they are made? I could put a flag on the Google map for them.
Sadly, because of our silly IP blocks (and maybe the Great Firewall of China) and the language barrier we aren't likely to hear much about them until they get a larger international presence.
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Nate
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shakeylee
455 posts
Dec 09, 2015
10:18 PM
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i might be interested in trying one!
has anyone ordered from new harmonica before?
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Crawforde
19 posts
Dec 10, 2015
5:03 AM
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You can't go wrong ordering from NewHarmonica .
Even newbies can call up and ask silly questions and Danny will take care of them, thats what I did when I wanted a chromatic and from what I can see he steered me right .
If he has what you want in stock it will be shipped quickly.
I bought an Easttop chromatic from him a few months ago, then another one, and a couple other harps too. He is easy to deal with and stands behind his products with great customer service and support.
I have no connection to Easttop or NewHarmonica other than as a happy customer.
We are lucky in the US with some great harmonica shops. I have found Danny at NewHarmonica, Ron at Rockin Ron's music and Greg at 16:23 harmonicas all very helpful and easy to deal with. Harmonica people Rock!
My kids both play what my wife considers "real instruments".
Just try to find a violin dealer / business that has decent prices, is easy to deal with, and treats you with respect even if you aren't Josh Bell (or his dad).
I finally found one, but went through a lot of bull$$&&&&@! for a few years first. Still haven't found a good Tumpet shop, any Ideas?
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Mahcks
62 posts
Dec 10, 2015
6:00 AM
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$150 for a 12 reed bass? I don't get it.
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WinslowYerxa
991 posts
Dec 10, 2015
9:13 AM
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Easttop is located in zhutang town, jiangyin, jiangsu, China, although some sources place them in Wuxi
https://www.google.com/maps/search/zhutang+town,+jiangyin,+jiangsu,+china/@31.7656324,119.2926075,8z
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Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Join us in 2016 for SPAH on the San Antonio River Walk!
Last Edited by WinslowYerxa on Dec 10, 2015 9:27 AM
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WinslowYerxa
992 posts
Dec 10, 2015
9:19 AM
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The Pocket bass is $150 at newharmonica.com (cheaper than anywhere else - it's mostly offered for about $250).
Have you checked out the price of a full two-octave bass harmonica? Try $800-$1,100.
Then there's the Swan Senior bass for about $175 - two octaves but single reeds and pitched more like a cello than a bass..
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Winslow
Check out my blog and other goodies at winslowyerxa.com
Harmonica For Dummies, Second Edition with tons of new stuff
Join us in 2016 for SPAH on the San Antonio River Walk!
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harmonicabruce
6 posts
Dec 10, 2015
3:44 PM
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I've been working with Danny with the diatonics.
There are six models.
Three of the models have reed plates that are .97 mm thick, and the three higher priced models have reed plates that are 1.19 mm. For comparison I disassembled several diatonic harmonicas and measured the reed plate thicknesses. I found the hohner golden melody reed plate was .91 mm, the lee oskar was .94 mm, the hohner meisterklasse was 1.09 mm, and the Suzuki fabulous was .90 mm.
All six Easttop models have 9 screws holding the reed plates together. The meisterklass also has 9 screws, the golden melody has 7, the suzuki fabulous has 7, and the lee oskar has 3.
Three of the models have riveted reeds, and three have welded reeds. People may disagree about which is better, but two of the models are identical except one has welded reeds and one has rivets, and the model with the welded reeds costs more. So they didn't go to welded reeds to save money.
I'll be working with Danny for a couple of weeks, so if anyone has any question about his Easttop diatonics, I'll be happy to answer.
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nacoran
8820 posts
Dec 10, 2015
7:54 PM
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What are the six models and what are the price points?
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Nate
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harmonicabruce
7 posts
Dec 10, 2015
8:56 PM
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I see Danny just has 5 of the models on his site. The prices range from $20 to $75. My personal favorite is the "blues pro" (T008S). It has 1.19 mm reed plate with welded reeds. The "silver blues" (T006) has a chrome plated brass comb, and gaskets between the comb and reed plates. I've never seen gaskets used on a harmonica like this.
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Sarge
508 posts
Dec 11, 2015
7:07 AM
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The T008S is the one I have; great harmonica! The best OTB harp I've ever played.
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Wisdom does not always come with old age. Sometimes old age arrives alone.
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Gnarly
1545 posts
Dec 11, 2015
10:17 AM
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I dislike Chinese harmonicas in general, but these are better than most.
Of course, I am employed by Suzuki USA to repair warranty harps, so I may be "bought and sold". YMMV.
FWIW, Bruce will be joining Danny when they come to Anaheim for NAMM, so if you are there, come to the Suzuki booth--as well as the Easttop booth, you will probably find them at both places.
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1847
2980 posts
Dec 11, 2015
11:47 AM
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i thought gnarly would be one of the people that would get rankled.
there are grey market harps that they had to deal with
now another harp with laser tuned phospher bronze reeds
spot welded to the plate.
if you take the plates and put them on a manji
not sure anyone could tell the differance.
looks plays and sounds the same.
Last Edited by 1847 on Dec 11, 2015 6:59 PM
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sonny3
301 posts
Dec 11, 2015
12:20 PM
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Sounds interesting, Are any of the Easttops similar to Marine Bands construction and tuning? I dislike equal temperament harps.
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Gnarly
1546 posts
Dec 11, 2015
2:33 PM
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There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the Easttop harmonicas are patterned after Suzuki models.
My feathers are fine tho, I am all for affordable harmonicas--I would have tried chromatic several decades earlier had they not been prohibitively expensive.
As for ET and just (and all the in-betweens), you ought to be able to change one into the other--if not, I can, or any of our other fine harmonica techs (too numerous to mention).
Much of the time, I use my ear to make a harmonica sound in tune--it rings like John Henry's hammer when it is right.
It is all I can do not to adjust harps at work (Suzuki) that are ET. I check the harps before they go out, and when the chords sound funny, I instinctive react. Down, boy . . .
Oh yeah, here is a shifty suggestion--buy a Suzuki that is ET, then call customer service and complain that it doesn't play in tune.
Guess who will get to play your harmonica . . .
I doubt if the warranty covers this, but I'm just sayin' (I'm sayin' just)
Last Edited by Gnarly on Dec 11, 2015 2:36 PM
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