Shredder
140 posts
Feb 08, 2010
4:29 PM
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I just recived 2 Haung Star preformers and 3 Johnson Blues Kings.These are the 1st ones Iv'e ever had my hands on.
The Star Preformers were "A" & "D" @ $12 each. I play Golden Melodies and was looking for an alternative that was less costly.
The harps are quite beefey with thick reed plates but still feel like the G/M's just a bit heavier. The covers are chromed and look good. The reed plates protrude like G/M's past the cover plts.
I opened up each harp and found the tolerances of the "A" harp loose espically on the ends of some reeds. There is 1/64th gap on some of the ends of the reeds to the reed plate and some of the cornners are rounded off of the reed. Some embossing would help but the end clearance looks to be to much to emboss on some reed slots, not that great of a harp.
Now the "D" harp was a different story. All the clearances are tight except for the 10 blow. It has one cornner of the reed rounded off. Funny thing, I can get the overblow to sound quite well. Maybe that gap helps because some times I struggle with an O/B 10 on a D harp unless it's adjusted just right?
The "A" plays and O/B's well but it's to loose and takes to much air to play. The "D" is a definate good one. The only thing is they don't sound quite as loud as the G/M's but not by much.
Overall for $12 if they were all made like the "D" harp I would buy some more> The "D" harp will get played on stage so lets see how long it will last.
The Johnson Blues Masters, all in "C" have heavy reed plates, Chromed covers that hold well in hand and play very well OOTB. I had one with a flat 6 blow the rest are fine.To my supprise every one will O/B from the 7 hole on up to 10 quite easly, WOW. These are way better than the plastic covered Peadmonts Hohner is selling. I got these as give aways for $3 each but now I'm thing about keeping one for my self.
I ordered all these harps from Coast to Coast music via the internet. Shipping was $8.60 and I recived them in 5 days via USPS.
Just thought I would throw this info. out there. The Haungs must be hit an miss but for 12$ each you could get a whole set very cheep and with some tweeking have some good harps. The Johnsons are quite a buy them selfs.
Mike
Last Edited by on Feb 08, 2010 4:29 PM
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ZackPomerleau
703 posts
Feb 08, 2010
5:18 PM
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You must mean blowbend, not overblow. But, I've never tried Huang, heard they are okay. I have some Johnson, never liked 'em.
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GermanHarpist
1100 posts
Feb 08, 2010
5:20 PM
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Thanks for the review, Shredder.
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germanharpist on YT. =;-) - Resonance is KEY!
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Hobostubs Ashlock
442 posts
Feb 08, 2010
7:20 PM
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thanks,I like the star performers if there tweaked a bit but was scared to try the Johnsons,I guess i might rethink them and give one a shot
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Shredder
141 posts
Feb 08, 2010
7:47 PM
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@ Zack or who ever can post a video or sound file. Please post a good audio of the differance between a blow bend an a over blow. You can explain it all you want but until I hear it I won't know whats what.
Mike
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ZackPomerleau
704 posts
Feb 08, 2010
8:32 PM
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Shredder I can. But, explaining, a blow bend is lowering a note, but the overblow makes a higher note.
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nacoran
1067 posts
Feb 08, 2010
11:36 PM
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I apologize in advance for this. It's off topic bathroom humor, but it's a true story...
I was in a restroom once, standing at a urinal. I looked over at the wall and there was a thermostat that read Johnson Controls.
I have no idea if it worked.
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Shredder
142 posts
Feb 09, 2010
9:53 AM
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Zack,
I can bend for example, the 9 blow down then come back up to a higher note.
The controle thing is whats cool to me, real slow and deliberate.
Please excuse me for my lack of termonology. This board is the only real exposure I get from real harp players. There are no instructors around these parts, Im self taught for the most part. Every once in a while I will run across another harp player but most of them aren't quite as advanced as me. Not bragging just stating a fact.
That being said I appreciate your willingness to give me insite on the techinical aspects of harp playing.
Mike :)
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ZackPomerleau
707 posts
Feb 09, 2010
11:54 AM
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Don't worry about it! I just wanted to help you out, and I know what you're saying. Per capita, it seems there aren't many harmonica players past the Bob Dylan stage.
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Diggsblues
144 posts
Feb 09, 2010
12:31 PM
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johnson controls are real LOL
Zack Bob Dylan is a better player than you think.
I've heard him on an album as a sideman and you
wouldn't have known it was him.
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congaron
513 posts
Feb 09, 2010
12:36 PM
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Dylan sounds the way he does on purpose. It's part of his songwriting mystique. Planned dissonance. He's very good at it.
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congaron
514 posts
Feb 09, 2010
12:39 PM
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Oh..sorry, I meant to post about johnson harps.
I heard a guy play as a one man act on vocals/harp/guitar at a blues festival. He had a set of 12 johnsons in a case. The only reason I know that is because I wanted to know what he was playing that sounded so good into a vocal mic using a neck holder. Very beefy, raspy tone. I used to have one in the key of c but I gave it away before I got good enough to know how it played. They are not that cheap here, but still way cheaper than any hohner....$8 I think last time I bought one.
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nacoran
1074 posts
Feb 09, 2010
12:57 PM
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Shredder, it sounds like you are playing blow bends. That's when you take the normal blow note a hole plays and bend it down. An over blow takes the normal note a hole plays and pushes it up. If you know both techniques you can get 3 different blow notes on one hole. (I still can't over blow.)
Here is a page with a sample from Overblow.com
http://overblow.com/?menuid=195
And here is a Wikipedia article on harmonica techniques.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonica_techniques
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ZackPomerleau
709 posts
Feb 09, 2010
2:30 PM
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Diggs, I have seen Dylan live and I know he is MUCH better. It's just a general description most people will know.
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Shredder
144 posts
Feb 09, 2010
6:10 PM
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I must be crossing the two of them up some times. I can bend it down but on the up swing I get a higher note than the hole plays normaly when I finish off.
I under stand the blow bend part better now, I don't have any problems doing this move. Yeah it's a lot tuffer to go higher than the hole normaly blows.
Mike
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