Gnarly
1586 posts
Jan 02, 2016
9:03 AM
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I shot this video with Danny G's camera in Denver, the concept is that these three harmonica giants play out of the box Manjis and attempt to use all their extended techniques.
You can hear me interjecting at various points, and even play guitar off camera.
Lots of playing and "love of harmonica", enjoy!
And see you in San Antonio for the next SPAH!
SUZUKI MANJI M-20 10 Hole Harmonica Seminar
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1847
3076 posts
Jan 02, 2016
12:13 PM
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i put a dab of nail polish,on either side of the reed where it meets the rivet.
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if i type in the correct captcha why is my post lost in cyber-space
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Gnarly
1588 posts
Jan 03, 2016
2:51 PM
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Bump--I think this is worth sharing.
Captcha is rapval
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robbert
384 posts
Jan 03, 2016
9:30 PM
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Well...maybe I may have overlooked Suzuki Manjis...thinking, thinking...
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dougharps
1103 posts
Jan 03, 2016
10:11 PM
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I wish I hadn't missed this seminar! Maybe it was on Saturday, when I went to the mountains, or maybe I was just really tired at the time of the seminar and went to crash. Thanks for recording and posting the video.
I feel validated for my comments about bending differences when first playing a Manji that I made on an earlier Manji thread. Jason discusses that same issue clearly after 11:45. You just adjust how you play, and any difficulty goes away once you get used to it.
I really like the idea of an out of the box demonstration by these incredible players.
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Doug S.
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Kingley
3989 posts
Jan 03, 2016
10:19 PM
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Thanks for posting this Gnarly.
Great idea for a demo. Filip Jers has long been a favourite of mine. His tone and phrasing are superb. Loved the bits with Jason and Filip playing guitar. Demonstrates perfectly that any decent mid range harp out of the box is perfectly playable for 99.9% of players and hopefully helps to dispel a lot of internet myths about out of the box harmonicas.
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Gnarly
1590 posts
Jan 05, 2016
9:19 AM
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@Dougharps Yup, Saturday morning.
This is one of the perks of being part of the company, I was required to shoot this video. Notice how I couldn't keep my mouth shut.
No harmonica is perfect, but these are good out of the box, and if they aren't, well then I get to play them, send them to me and I will make them right.
That number again, toll free, 800-854-1594.
Operators are standing by to play harmonica.
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Killa_Hertz
103 posts
Jan 05, 2016
9:31 AM
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I think one thing that jason said definatly rang true. And that was that most of what we don't like about other harps and/or the reason we stick with the harps we do is familiarity.
I have lots of different model/brand harps and there all great. Just they are different from eachother. I feel like which ever harp you play most is going to feel like its "better".
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jan 05, 2016 9:34 AM
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1847
3084 posts
Jan 05, 2016
9:44 AM
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killa hertz.... you have no doubt found the truth.
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if i type in the correct captcha why is my post lost in cyber-space
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JInx
1140 posts
Jan 05, 2016
1:11 PM
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"I can jam more notes over you, submit!l lol
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Gnarly
1591 posts
Jan 05, 2016
2:45 PM
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@Killa_Hertz That's probably why I am still playing SP20s!
I notice that Mooncat is using the powder coated Blue Moon covers, I guess he has gotten used to them.
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Harmonicatunes
142 posts
Jan 06, 2016
4:36 AM
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Forget the harmonicas for a moment. What about the players?
What a gap there is between guys like that and (most of) the rest of the pack. I know Koei Tanaka a bit, it was interesting to watch him, knowing that he had to follow either Jason or Filip. But he did, and nailed it each time.
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Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
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Martin
945 posts
Jan 06, 2016
7:10 AM
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"Demonstrates perfectly that any decent mid range harp out of the box is perfectly playable for 99.9% of players and hopefully helps to dispel a lot of internet myths about out of the box harmonicas."
Don´t know what counts for "decent mid range", but this is a demo of Manji harps. Where I live they cost almost twice than an S20 or LO -- and the LO can certainly NOT be relied upon when it comes to those extended OB´s that you hear now and then here.
Still, I would not hesitate to invest in a Manji, if it wasn´t for what people have said about their lack of endurance, which, sadly, is my top priority.
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Moon Cat
543 posts
Jan 06, 2016
7:59 AM
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Man Filip and Koei are the best and such great guys too! Yes I'm loving the Blue Moon mods!!!Thanks y'all Manji Gras!
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www.mooncat.org
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Gnarly
1592 posts
Jan 06, 2016
8:46 AM
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@Martin My information is that the Suzuki reeds are fairly robust--most players tell me they last a long time.
I am not sure who has complained about their lack of endurance--do you recall where you heard that?
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harpwrench
1042 posts
Jan 06, 2016
11:22 AM
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Interesting, thanks for posting.
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www.spiersharmonicas.com
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Martin
947 posts
Jan 06, 2016
11:24 AM
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@Gnarly: As a matter of fact I think it was here ... but I don´t recall any specifics.
Do you now if the Manji reeds are the same as on other, less expensive, Suzuki models? That would make it interesting to try out this particular aspect of Suzuki diatonics.
My only Suzuki experience is with the Folk Masters, and I must say that the first one I bought lasted me a sensationally long time (not the three following that one though...). But that´s a low end model, I know.
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dougharps
1106 posts
Jan 06, 2016
11:27 AM
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I have had no problems with Manji durability. Crossovers, however, cannot take hard playing.
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Doug S.
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Gnarly
1593 posts
Jan 06, 2016
12:41 PM
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The Folkmasters are Chinese harps, not the phosphor bronze reeds in all the Japanese models.
Manji reeds are longer and more narrow than the other Suzuki reeds.
Any reed will break if you play it wrong.
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Harmonicatunes
143 posts
Jan 06, 2016
2:56 PM
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I've not heard any reports of Manji unreliability
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Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
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Kingley
3992 posts
Jan 06, 2016
9:59 PM
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"Don´t know what counts for "decent mid range", but this is a demo of Manji harps. Where I live they cost almost twice than an S20 or LO -- and the LO can certainly NOT be relied upon when it comes to those extended OB´s that you hear now and then here."
The Lee Oskars are renowned for not being an overblow friendly harmonica. I seem to recall reading that this has something to do with the reed plate slots. However Manji's, MB Deluxe, Crossovers, 1847's and many other mid range harps are suitable. As a side note I would say that majority of harmonica players probably don't use overblows at all though. For their needs the Lee Oskars are more than suitable. For anyone playing extended overblows a lot in their playing a custom harmonica (or one they have worked on themselves) is the obvious choice. As those are advanced techniques and not used by the majority of harmonica players. Or at least not the majority of blues harmonica players.
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HarpNinja
4169 posts
Jan 07, 2016
7:07 AM
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I haven't played an OOTB Manji that I have liked, however, I recognize, with effort, they play great. I also would be inclined to agree that they hold up well.
My first harps were all Suzuki and I tried really hard to use them, but find Hohner harps have been a better fit.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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Gnarly
1594 posts
Jan 07, 2016
8:45 AM
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Like I say, I have no problems with SP20s, but I feel it helps if you work on your own harps--no one else knows how you play.
Except Joe Spiers, who knows how he does it.
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Killa_Hertz
122 posts
Jan 07, 2016
10:22 AM
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HarpNinja ... I feel the same way. I got my manji (Bb) and tried to like it because its built well and looks good. feels really nice in the hand. It feels good in my mouth. ( insert penis joke here) covers are solid. i played with the reeds trying to get it to play how i wanted, but no such luck.
I just got a promaster and its a Wonderfully built harp aswell. seydel is the only one that comes close in quality to suzuki, in my opinion. and most of their harps are in a higher price range.
I bought another manji (key of C this time) from Brandon. He has gapped and arched it already. Got my fingers crossed it plays somewhat closer to what i like. if it plays how i hope, ill buy a whole damn set, lol.
To be fair i hated my first Marine Band. Now its all i play really.
Im pretty sure if i could properly set one up it would be great.(manji) I had to play with that promaster for hours before it finally played how i like. But its a Rock. I could shoot that Promaster out of a F@#$ Abrahms Tank, pick it up N Rock Out. Its a Solid harp. Im impressed.
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jan 07, 2016 10:24 AM
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Martin
949 posts
Jan 07, 2016
2:46 PM
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Well, hopefully I was misinformed about the Manjis life expectancy.
But it worries me some that one supposedly will have to "work" on such an expensive instrument? Adjusting reeds and such is indeed a challenge for a klutz like me, and I´d hate to wreck a new and expensive harmonica.
(Incidentally, the recent S20´s I´ve bought have all been perfectly set up -- or, as "perfect" as one could expect.)
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Gnarly
1595 posts
Jan 07, 2016
4:09 PM
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I just got a Seydel Session Blues in low E, to retune to harmonic minor for a customer. It was set up well.
My experience with the Suzukis is that many times, they are set up with the gapping lower than a robust blues player might like. But gapping is something every player should be prepared to address, if they want to get satisfaction. Everyone plays differently, don't they?
And I don't think you have to "work" on your Manji to make it play well for you--you might have to get used to the differences in it from your previous model of harmonica, but that is a different issue.
If you feel you have to "work" on your Manji, call me at work and let me do it. 800-854-1594.
Warning: this is not an invitation to get free customization--but every Manji should be satisfactory out of the box, that what this video seminar is about!
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Gnarly
1596 posts
Jan 07, 2016
4:11 PM
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@Martin Practice your gapping skills on old harmonicas with broken reeds. That way, you don't have to worry about damaging your useable harps.
Of course, I mean to say that you can gap the reeds you haven't broken . . .
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Moon Cat
546 posts
Jan 07, 2016
4:37 PM
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A Les Paul, a Stratocaster or a Selmer Sax or any other expensive instrument for that matter is almost NEVER played off the shelf/out of the box by most people who can afford one…Action, intonation and mouthpieces/reeds are changed or adjusted. Setting action/off-set/gapping is probably easier or as easy for most than changing a guitar string... If you want an instrument to play the best for YOU there is no way to expect that company to make it FOR you….Hohner, Seydel and Suzuki alike HAVE made the instrument perform the best they can for the average player's needs and thus it does…I don't understand what part of this video does not prove that we (myself, Koei and Filip) can and do play almost everything we normally play on adjusted harps here on these out of the box Manji's despite all that I just said about Gibson's Fenders and Sax's etc..? Learning to adjust/set up your harmonicas is in my opinion simply PART of becoming a good player in general (agree with Gnarly practice on old harps). It's usually one of the first lessons one learns on any instrument the first day you meet with your teacher (Piano excluded). I don't get what all the fuss is about? These harmonicas (Suzuki's) are just less in need of "as much" set up then most the other brands in general. All the companies today that are selling 50.00 plus harps…Well ALL those harps are pretty good BUT NONE are excluded from needing a set up NOR should they/can they be…Why any of this is an issue including durability (all brands last me a long time) worth discussing frankly leads me to believe we all need to practice more and worry less about WHAT harmonica were doing that on…It seems then all these questions will answer themselves off the internet. Sorry if this ruffles feathers I will most likely regret being honest here…But yeah. Meow and Much love to players of ALL brands!
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www.mooncat.org
Last Edited by Moon Cat on Jan 07, 2016 7:20 PM
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Killa_Hertz
125 posts
Jan 07, 2016
5:16 PM
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YEA!!! What He Said!!!! ........
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jan 07, 2016 9:12 PM
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Killa_Hertz
127 posts
Jan 08, 2016
6:26 AM
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First off Martin if you dont at least Gap your harps, your missin out. Like Jason said they can't make them work perfectly for everyone. They come just in like a "neutral position" if you will. You wouldn't get in a car and drive it without adjusting the seat n mirrors to your needs.
Also you shouldn't let others experience dissuade you from tryin new stuff. You never know how YOU will like it. And peoples opinions change. so take em with a grain of salt bro.
Anyway, I hate to drag this out and its a lil off topic of what this thread was created for, but I have to Talk about this after all my Manji discussion on here in various threads.
Yesterday after all that talk about setting up harps I had someone help me arch the reeds a lil better on my Bb Manji. I also spent a lil more time flat sanding the Comb and Draw Reed and flattening out the blow reed. THE THING PLAYS FAN~EFFIN'~TASTIC NOW!! I knew it would if i just knew what i was doing. It very well may be on its way to being my Favorite harp now. I couldnt put it down. I was up till 2am playing it. And i get up at 5am .. lol. I know what Jason means about feeling like you have ahold of something on the bends. I wonder how it will play with a New Comb.
P.S. I wanna be clear n say that the Manji DID play ok out of the box. But mine was just a tad airy and not as responsive as i would like. Just needed that lil bit of something to satisfy what I wanted from it. I dont think that's a big deal. Certainly NOT a Deal Breaker. My best playing MB has countless hours into it. It's just part of the Deal, Right? And half the fun too, I think.
Anyways My Experience. And My 7 Cents. For What its Worth. Which prolly isnt much. 8^)>
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jan 09, 2016 12:40 PM
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HarpNinja
4173 posts
Jan 08, 2016
7:59 AM
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Great post, Moon Cat.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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