Goldbrick
1336 posts
Mar 02, 2016
12:17 PM
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Looks great and plays sweet-- got one off Amazon for $34 in A. All black like the Anniversary model with a little more bluesy tuning than regular LO
neede no gapping to hit the standard bends and no squeal
looks like only available in A , C and G
I know I am one of the few here who likes the Lee Oskars
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Barley Nectar
1155 posts
Mar 02, 2016
4:35 PM
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Most of my harps are LO's. They are consistent, tough, reasonably priced, rebuildable, readily available, never rust and Lee will talk to you on the phone...BN
http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/folk-instrument-reviews/hands-on-review-lee-oskar-harmonica-system
Last Edited by Barley Nectar on Mar 02, 2016 4:46 PM
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MindTheGap
1232 posts
Mar 03, 2016
12:40 AM
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I've struggled to understand why LO's have the 'also-ran' status here.
I keep reading how much everyone likes the other makes, especially once they've reworked the reeds, flat-sanded the plates, straightened the plates, replaced the comb and covers. Is it that the LO's don't take customisation so well?
Without customisation, other than gapping, the LO's I've bought play about the same, give or take, as my SP20s and Harpmasters. And my LO's didn't need gapping.
Last Edited by MindTheGap on Mar 03, 2016 1:48 AM
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SuperBee
3474 posts
Mar 03, 2016
3:35 AM
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Yeah I dunno, could be. Although Neil Graham (you remember him? He is the third member of the hohner affiliated customiser club) started out customising Lee oskars.
Personally, I don't much care for them but not considering them as an option has just become a habit. There was a time they were 'up there', but since Lee Oskar were a little more expensive and I liked the aesthetic of the wooden comb, I plumped for the MS blues harp, and migrated to Hohner handmade. And now, I won't change. But fwiw, I still find LO aesthetically unappealing. I did buy one, once. And played it until I flattened a reed. It was ok but I was pretty happy to replace it with something else.
Plenty of LO players around. They probably are no-nonsense types with better things to do than shoot the breeze on mbh forums. I have a collection of LO reedplates and dud harps so I can do single reed replacements for some of the gigging players nearby.
Last Edited by SuperBee on Mar 03, 2016 3:43 AM
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Stokes Bay Slim
76 posts
Mar 03, 2016
4:05 AM
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@Mind The Gap
I agree wholeheartedly! I've never had a bad one. I have many LO's plus SP20's and various Suzuki, but the Lee Oskars get the most use.
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jbone
2156 posts
Mar 03, 2016
4:13 AM
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"I've struggled to understand why LO's have the 'also-ran' status here."
@ MTG: I used LO's for some time in the 80's and 90's. I think SP20's were a bit cheaper then and I felt easier to play. LO's are tuned a bit higher if I'm not mistaken and to my ear did not sound as good as other harps.
A few years ago I began using solid comb harps more and I had gotten away from plastic stamped combs mostly. This is still true for me. Only by necessity and price point have I bought a Big River to add a low register harp I could afford, but pretty much all my other harps have solid combs and I prefer the weight and solidity of them.
We owe Lee a huge debt, he was the first to offer reed plates and a tool kit. I still have a kit he sold in the 90's. H's very successful and I can't imagine he'd want to go to a solid comb. And frankly I can't afford aftermarket combs even if someone is making them for LO's. It may be a great combination, but my work horse harps are Manjis currently.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbTwvU-EN1Q
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Martin
971 posts
Mar 03, 2016
5:36 AM
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@Mindthegap: "I've struggled to understand why LO's have the 'also-ran' status here."
If you, like me, don´t work on your harps, the OB´s are a trickier deal on the LO´s. (You probably knew that.)
I can OB most harps OOTB, even the lowlier Chinese brands, but LO´s kan be kind of resistent.
They also have a thinner sound, but if you´re playing amplified, like I always do, that´s not an issue.
Last Edited by Martin on Mar 03, 2016 5:36 AM
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florida-trader
884 posts
Mar 03, 2016
5:49 AM
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If you are a Lee Oskar fan I might have some good news for you. With the success of my CNC Milled Special 20 combs (plus the recessed Seydel Session and Suzuki Harpmaster combs) I have received numerous requests to offer combs for the Lee Oskars. My machinist has finished designing the 3D Model and should have some prototypes for me this weekend. Personally, I will be very curious to find out what will happen to a Lee Oskar after I give it the same treatment as I give my Special 20's. Will there be a significant improvement? I hope so. I'll keep you posted.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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nacoran
8977 posts
Mar 03, 2016
7:57 AM
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I saw them selling for those prices. Budget is tight this month or I would have jumped. If they are still around in a month or two I may grab some.
Tom, good to hear. I'm knocking off a couple big purchases but hope, in a couple months, to start buying harp stuff again.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Thievin' Heathen
703 posts
Mar 03, 2016
8:25 AM
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Over the years, I seem to have acquired just about every LO harp except the Harmonic Minors, of which I only have 1 in Gm. I like them just fine.
I see a lot of working harp players using LO's.
I agree 100% with Jbone on the debt we owe to Lee Oskar for marketing a reliable & affordable harp through the 80's & 90's.
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dougharps
1178 posts
Mar 03, 2016
9:00 AM
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I used LOs for quite a while when Hohners were not being made very well, but switched back when Hohner improved and other brands stepped up. LOs are decent harps and they filled a void as well as offering easily replaced plates. The cover plates DO seem to snag facial hair.
These days I prefer compromise tuning for sweeter chords. LOs are a little leakier than modern Hohners, Seydels, and Suzukis of similar price, but I would play a LO over a Big River or MS Blues Harp. With gap adjustments LOs will OB for passing notes on 5 and 6 just fine.
I am not anti LO, just have some other brand/model harps I prefer these days. I still have more than a full set of LOs, and a few reed plates despite selling off most of my extra LO reed plates when I changed to other models of harps.
LOs are reliable and reasonably priced, and for a beginner, very durable. If I play outdoor gigs in cool weather I often pull out my LOs.
My country tuned and Paddy Richter tuned harps, as well as a few minor and a couple Melody Maker harps are all LOs, and I still use them from time to time.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Mar 03, 2016 9:02 AM
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