HarpNinja
476 posts
May 22, 2010
8:40 AM
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Low D came today in a blister pack. 2 blow is buzzy and makes the harp worthless until I take it a part - sounds like when you emboss to closely. Ridiculous! Who do I b*tch to at Hohner?
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Stickman
332 posts
May 22, 2010
8:45 AM
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Send it back.
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?1487
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
Last Edited by on May 22, 2010 8:47 AM
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barbequebob
845 posts
May 22, 2010
10:13 AM
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Did you get it as Marine Band or the 364?? The 364 in Low D out of the box plays better.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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sorin
168 posts
May 22, 2010
12:52 PM
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Harpninja , just like you I got a special 20 in low D , like 2 months ago , and I had the same experience , but you gotta have in mind that the low d is a different animal , you cannot attack it like any other harp , the reeds are heavy on top and very sensitive ,just make sure the reeds are very well centered , and you will have to adjust your style of playing it too.
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Buddha
1860 posts
May 22, 2010
12:53 PM
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I taught you how to work on harps so quit bitching. Inconsistency is part of the game when you deal with a lower class instrument.
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***
"Musicians are the architects of heaven"
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jim
40 posts
May 22, 2010
1:18 PM
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Inconsistency is part of the game when you deal with ANYTHING made by human beings. That's what makes the game interesting too by the way.
The problem is 90% in centering. Try pushing the reed to one side and check. If it goes worse - well you have only two sides to choose from.
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www.truechromatic.com
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tookatooka
1407 posts
May 22, 2010
1:28 PM
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Are you sure the reed isn't hitting the coverplate? I had that on my LowF Sp20. I cured it by slightly opening the gap up so that it didn't vibrate so violently when first attacked with draw breath.
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harpwrench
262 posts
May 22, 2010
3:00 PM
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The later reeds are also bad about burrs hanging off the edge resulting from tuning.....
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HarpNinja
477 posts
May 23, 2010
5:58 AM
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It was 100% burrs from tuning. It took just a couple of seconds to fix - after taking the harp totally apart!
Buddha, I'll obviously work on it, but I think it is ridiculous that you can't even play the harp out of the box. The other issues like the gapping, comb, etc. I've learned to live with. But what if I would have needed this harp last second for a gig? I couldn't even fudge it!
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hvyj
364 posts
May 23, 2010
6:44 AM
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Buy a Suzuki.
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jim
45 posts
May 23, 2010
8:29 AM
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don't buy a Suzuki :D
Learn to customize.
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www.truechromatic.com
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harpwrench
264 posts
May 23, 2010
9:20 AM
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Suzuki doesn't offer a low D AFAIK.
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jim
47 posts
May 23, 2010
9:24 AM
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You're right harpwrench.
So the only option here is a Seydel.
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www.truechromatic.com
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barbequebob
848 posts
May 23, 2010
12:47 PM
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Like it or not, from anything OOTB, forget about perfection, it just ain't gonna happen. You either get it customized or learn how to do all that yourself and that's the cold, hard, brutal truth. People allow themselves to be duped into thinking that anything that's mass produced is always gonna be the same, perfect each and every time, and that is FAR from the truth. Look at how many stores sell merchandise that's marked irregular or slightly imperfect. There are tons of them like Marhsall's or AJ Wright and many others and when you put out over 1000 pieces of anything per hour like the major harmonica factories, there is ALWAYS gonna be imperfections, like it or not.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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HarpNinja
478 posts
May 23, 2010
12:49 PM
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I know how to customize at a pretty high level, but I don't care that it is OOTB...the note should at least sound, lol!
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barbequebob
850 posts
May 23, 2010
12:55 PM
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I've had a few OOTB where there was actually a nail or a screw stuck between the reed and the reed slot and tons of them with burring problems from the tuning process and I've seen all sorts of crap from EVERY manufacturer.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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hvyj
369 posts
May 23, 2010
1:22 PM
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Over the last 4 years, I've bought 34 Suzuki harps (10 Promasters, 13 Hammonds, 10 Firebreaths and 1 Fabulous). I had problems with an improperly responding reed on TWO of them and Suzuki customer service took care of it immediatly w/no hassle. I got those before I learned how to gap, so I may have been able to adjust them myself if i knew then what i know now.
After switching to Suzukis, i don't understand how I was able to put up with playing Hohners for so many years. I guess i just didn't know any better. Live and learn.
FWIW, even when i was playing Hohners, I never understood the appeal of Marine Bands. I mean, they are put together with nails, they are leaky, the combs swell and they are uncomfortable to play. They might be a decent platform for a do-it-yourself project if you like to work on harps, but I'm not much of a handyman myself and i 'd rather play my harps than tinker with them. Yes, the vented covers do give them a distinctive sound that some people like, but other than that, they seem to be very primitive instruments. There's no Hohner I've ever played that has compression that comes close to a higher end Suzukl.
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Bluzdude46
591 posts
May 23, 2010
2:59 PM
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a Hohner isn't complete until Buhdda is done with it. My customizing is bare minimum before I get near a stage with a harp. All my backups are at least done by me no out of box.
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The Original Downtown Philadelphia Fatman... Accept No substitutes!
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7LimitJI
152 posts
May 23, 2010
3:34 PM
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Marine Bands are great harps.They are cheap too.
With a minimum of work they can be made superb.
Round off the corners on the comb and tines.
Sand it flat and seal it.
Drill and tap the plates and comb, or use nuts and bolts.
Open up the back of the covers.
Gap it to suit your style.
All the spares are available including reeds for cheap and easy repairs.
A little bit of investment in some tools and do some research. There are loads of videos on the net showing how to do all of the above.
I've got some Promasters. They are nice harps, but, I can't get spare reeds, the reeds are welded on.
It gets very expensive when you have to buy new plates just because one reed is broken.
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Those Dangerous Gentlemens Myspace
Due to cutbacks,the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.
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hvyj
374 posts
May 23, 2010
7:28 PM
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A reedplate for a Promaster or Hammond is $20 from Rockin Ron and I can install one in 2 minutes or less. And you don't need to replace them very often. Over the last 3 years I've performed with my Suzuki Hammonds 2-3 nights most weeks and i haven't had a reed flat out or go bad yet, I mean, it's not like playing Hohners. Suzuki reeds last so much longer you hardly ever need to buy new plates.
I like playing my harmonicas. I have absolutely no interest in working on them. i don't have the skill, aptitude or time for tinkering. I'll gap reeds if and when necessary, but that 's it.
I'm not buying a harp so i can have a do it yourself project. i buy a harp to play it so i expect to be playable when i get it. My Suzukis and my Buddha harps meet this criteria.
Last Edited by on May 23, 2010 7:35 PM
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harpwrench
272 posts
May 23, 2010
8:00 PM
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I think reed longevity has a lot more to do with player skill than what harp they're playing, especially with the current quality level of modern harps. Plenty of people blow out Suzukis and Delta Frosts (same thing), or dealers wouldn't stock replacement reedplates.
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hvyj
376 posts
May 23, 2010
8:24 PM
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Joe,
No doubt you are correct. But I've NEVER blown out a Suzuki. I've had plenty of Hohner reeds go flat through fatigue during the period immediately before I switched to playing Suzukis. I really do not believe my playing technique evolved dramatically right after i made the switch. But I've only played higher end Suzukis, if that makes any difference.
I've been playing for 30 years. I've never found Hohners to be particularly durable. The Hohner reeds flat out quickly. Lee Oskars and Suzukis seem to be much more durable in my experience and are certainly more air tight than Hohners (better compression as i like to call it).
I don't like the the tone of LOs. Too bright for my taste. To my ear, Hohners have a more open tone than Suzukis which I think have a more focused tone. Personally, I like the tone of the Suzukis--especially the Hammonds. But Hohners do have a distinctive sound which many players prefer.
Last Edited by on May 23, 2010 8:36 PM
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Joch230
146 posts
May 23, 2010
8:47 PM
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I got 3 Hohners last week from Rockin Rons. 2 Melody Makers and a Special 20. Both of the Melody Makers squealed on the 2 draw bend...like a feedback sound. The Special 20...the 8 draw was almost dead. Fixed 2 of them so far...I can't remember the last harp that I got that just worked. Frustrating but part of the game.
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jim
50 posts
May 23, 2010
10:14 PM
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The Manji I've bought has problems with squealing blow bends, and the 3 draw bend. Nothing is perfect out of the factory. But suzukis and seydels are much, much better than hohners.
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www.truechromatic.com
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7LimitJI
154 posts
May 24, 2010
1:37 AM
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@hvyj
If your happy, that's all that counts :o)
I've found the MB last equally as long as the Suzuki's.
I like the finish and quality feel of the Promaster.
But when they went to welded reeds I stopped purchasing them.
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Those Dangerous Gentlemens Myspace
Due to cutbacks,the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.
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jbone
329 posts
May 24, 2010
3:54 AM
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messing with a new harp is to me like buying a new car and immediately taking it to the shop for a major overhaul. i want to turn the key and drive 500 miles with no worries, and do that repeatedly.
so far, every suzuki bar one that i've bought has been great right out of the box. the one that wasn't was because i didn't like the cover plates and decided to change them and use delta frost covers instead. that was 7 months ago and that harp along with all my suzukis have performed very well every time i've opened my case.
i do have a couple of custom mb's on the way, nothing radical, just bore, stroke, port, polish, add a cam, balanced and blueprinted. oh wait, that's my race engine. and darn- i could have gotten a crate motor for the same $$ and used it immediately!
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7LimitJI
155 posts
May 24, 2010
4:57 AM
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Guess I've just been lucky then.
Every harp I've bought has been playable OOTB, with some adjustment as to how I played them.
Hohner, Suzuki, Hering, Lee Oskar
ALL, have required some gapping to get them to play just as I like.
These harps are mass produced in big numbers, there will always be a percentage of people not happy with something.
As has been suggested above. If you learn to do minor reed adjustments, all will be playable with less than 10 mins work.
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Those Dangerous Gentlemens Myspace
Due to cutbacks,the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.
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ness
208 posts
May 24, 2010
6:02 AM
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Learn these truths, and you will find happiness:
1) You'll never get 100% perfection off the shelf with any brand or model harmonica;
2) Learn to do the things that make them playable to your satisfaction, or enlist the help of someone who can;
3) There is no right answer; there is no best harmonica;
4) Time spent debating the virtues of various harmonicas (or amps, or tunings, or pizza) would be better spent learning to perfect the instrument, your technique or your repertoire.
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John
Last Edited by on May 24, 2010 6:03 AM
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jim
55 posts
May 24, 2010
6:09 AM
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...
5) don't buy marine bands :D
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www.truechromatic.com
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Nastyolddog
780 posts
May 24, 2010
6:32 AM
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Bro's I'm hard core SP-20 man, hard core OOTB player
iv'e never bought a bum harp yet,
if i can't get authentic tone from a OOTB harp im not trying hard enough, or i need to go and sit in the corner and pratice my technique,
It's a Bad Tradesman that blames his tools,
and a Fool of tradesman that thinks all them
fancy new embossing and gapping tools will make him a better tradesman,
Play it strait perfect your technique then you will never buy a bum Harp again don't complain perfect your Playin:)
NOD TBing OOTB NAZI TB or die!!!!!
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Pluto
69 posts
May 24, 2010
7:03 AM
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That reminds me, when is Budda gonna have a class on harp mods?
Pluto
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Buddha
1862 posts
May 24, 2010
7:53 AM
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"That reminds me, when is Budda gonna have a class on harp mods?"
Let's do it at SPAH.
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***
"Musicians are the architects of heaven"
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pharpo
285 posts
May 24, 2010
9:21 AM
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I have played Marine bands for 30 years....that does not make them the best...just what I preferred. About 3 years ago I bought a set of LO's. Different tone....And they didn't last long before developing problems. Went back to MB's , learned to do my own "maintenance". I just bought a
Soloist Pro at HCH.... plays VERY nice.....We'll see how it holds up.
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Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
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barbequebob
851 posts
May 24, 2010
9:49 AM
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Ness, I agree with you 100%.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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ness
210 posts
May 24, 2010
10:39 AM
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Thank you, sir.
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John
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jim
58 posts
May 24, 2010
1:01 PM
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pharpo,
LO's are tuned to 444hz "equal" temperament. Which sounds very different than MBs.
Seydel Solist Pro is tuned to a very very good 443 compromise, much more precise than MBs.
That surely explains why you like the Solist, and don't like the LO's
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www.truechromatic.com
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barbequebob
855 posts
May 24, 2010
1:13 PM
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The Seydel comprimise tuning is essentially just intonation, but what makes it a comprimise is that 5 & 9 draw is tuned 2 cents flat, wheras 7LJI has those two notes tuned 29 cents flat and 19LJI has those two tuned 1.5 cents sharp.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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dfwdlg
117 posts
May 24, 2010
1:47 PM
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BBQ-B et al:
I like stock MB tuning, but prefer the larger hole combs (e.g, SP-20, Delta Frost, etc.). Does the SP-20 or any other harp have that exact MB tuning? If not, what harp do you think comes closest to the fat chord sound of the MB?
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jim
59 posts
May 24, 2010
1:48 PM
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yes. I wanted to point out great consistency in tuning of Seydel diatonics.
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www.truechromatic.com
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HarpNinja
479 posts
May 24, 2010
2:21 PM
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@Nasty - Blaming the tools when they literally don't work is totally acceptable.
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MP
333 posts
May 24, 2010
2:50 PM
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i thought seydels were 444.
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jim
60 posts
May 24, 2010
3:25 PM
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Hm... the last pair of 1847s is indeed closer to 444hz
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www.truechromatic.com
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