bonedog569
38 posts
Jul 29, 2010
6:52 PM
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So last week I pop into guitar center here in SF - just cause there's an open parking space in front - and peruse the specials / clearance items and whatever else catches my eye. I spy a Hohner 'voodoo hand' wireless harp system , brand new for $79. After verifying online prices @ around $230 - and getting assurances I can return it if I choose - I go ahead and lay out the cash. Tried it this past weekend - no likey. Interesting design but too noisy - and tube amps are noisy enough already.
Today I brought it back and find theres a new clearance bin by the register. I poke around under the heavy metal guitar tab books, orphaned wall warts and what-not, -and what do I pull out? A Seydel 1847 box marked down to $39.99. hmmn - Is this the lowest you'll go? he asks. The dept. manager happens to walk by and blithely states - "everything in that box is a dollar". Frantic digging ensues. I soon have in my hot little hands 1) 1847 silver in C, 1) 1847 classic in G, and 1) 1847 classic in A. All new in box ! Three count em three, $90 harmonicas for THREE DOLLARS !
And boy are they sweet. Never tried em before and they are NICE. Love the tone, especially the classic wood combed ones, and they all play 'like buttah'.
I've just recently started experimenting with 'up grade' harps including the Suzuki Hammond and Manji , and have a Buddha and a Dude harp , as well as some B-rads, on order. After I spend some time with them I'll post a review. For now I am a very happy bonedog - with some brand new bones.
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Joe_L
498 posts
Jul 29, 2010
7:42 PM
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Sweet deal. Sounds like a trip to Guitar Center is in the plans.
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Ryan
326 posts
Jul 29, 2010
8:11 PM
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Holy Crap!
Tell you what, I'm prepared to give you double what you paid for those harps. That's a 100% profit for some old used harps. No promises but you may even be able to talk me up to $3 each.
Last Edited by on Jul 29, 2010 8:14 PM
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LittleJoeSamson
380 posts
Jul 29, 2010
8:20 PM
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They're nice, no doubt...but a hint. Break 'em in gently. Do LOTS of full mouth chording to set the reeds.
I speak from experience. I started honking with my set at only a month. My D failed in month two. C in month 3. A in month 4.
Very dissappointing for the price. Sound great while they're good , tho.
Congrats on the great deal!
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bonedog569
39 posts
Jul 29, 2010
8:32 PM
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@Little Joe - thanks for the tip - will do.
@Ryan - If ya don't ask - ya wont get - In this case ya wont get anyway - but I like your spunk
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oldwailer
1318 posts
Jul 29, 2010
8:51 PM
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You shouldn't tell me stuff like that--it makes me all hard and my wife has a headache!
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Hobostubs Ashlock
939 posts
Jul 29, 2010
8:52 PM
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man o man thats sweet
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Ev630
691 posts
Jul 29, 2010
11:59 PM
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Little Joe, I also found the Seydels sweet but kind of puny. The answer was to TB everything since the reeds were so sensitive. I normally pucker bend on 2 and 1 but for these it's TB-ing.
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LittleJoeSamson
383 posts
Jul 30, 2010
12:19 AM
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@ Ev630...yeah, Charlie Musslewhite turned me on to 'em.
I revert to Lee Oskar's and Huangs.
Dropped tuning Golden Melodies also work out.
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Ev630
692 posts
Jul 30, 2010
1:08 AM
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The other downside is that the Meisterklasse-style models are the worst moustache-catchers in history and the metal combs are like French kissing a battery.
But they do sound warm and sweet once you wipe your eyes and dry your tears, LOL.
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Ant138
519 posts
Jul 30, 2010
1:41 AM
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Wow i'm jelous!!! the 1847 is my harp of choice. I've just spent £35 on a new Seydel Solist Pro and £45 on a Manji(which is ok but not as comfortable as the 1847).
But 3 bucks!!!:o(
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LIP RIPPER
255 posts
Jul 30, 2010
3:42 AM
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You're really pissin me off! I think of all the harps I have that I like the feel of the 1847 best. It's a little larger, has fantastic smooth coverplates, radiused corners and is stainless. I was just thinkin the other day that if I had an 1847 with brass reeds that I would really have something.
I just got a tracking number for my B-rad so I am excited about finally receiving it and comparing it to others.
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toddlgreene
1612 posts
Jul 30, 2010
4:56 AM
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Ryan took the words from me, but I will repeat:Holy Crap! A dollar for 1847s? Shame on me for not shopping at GC often. Good on you, though! Tell ya what, you can use some of the money you saved on those harps for gas and drive up to San Rafael and have my mom ship one to me here in New Orleans-that would be mighty big of you.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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ridge
60 posts
Jul 30, 2010
5:49 AM
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All harmonica players must stop shopping at GC so they keep putting the harps in the $1 bin after no one buys them for a year.
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toddlgreene
1615 posts
Jul 30, 2010
5:53 AM
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I actually might be to blame/thank then, Ridge-I have NEVER bought a harmonica at GC, I don't think.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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ridge
63 posts
Jul 30, 2010
6:00 AM
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I can't say I have either. I used to buy them from Daddy's Junky Music, a northeast regional chain, I believe. It's been years since I've shopped there. Most of my harps have been resurrected instead of bought in the past 4 years.
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KingoBad
313 posts
Jul 30, 2010
6:09 AM
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I picked up a bunch of odd key MBs for cheap when my guitar center was trimming down to the A,C,D setup. Picked up a Db,Ab and B for about 30 bucks. The first place I go at GC is the clearance bins.
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barbequebob
1054 posts
Jul 30, 2010
9:33 AM
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GC was selling the Seydel 1847's for a while, but ever since Hohner decided to do the blister package thing, all you're seeing now are Hohners. I pretty much loathe buying harmonicas at brick and mortar retail stores as 99% of the people working in those stores knows absolutely ZERO about them at all. Since I've been mainly using customs, there's no point for me to buy harps there anyway.
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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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nacoran
2387 posts
Jul 30, 2010
1:43 PM
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I'll up the offer to $3 a harp! (I'd go higher but I just ordered a new computer.) Maybe I should hit the local shops and see what they have.
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bonedog569
40 posts
Jul 30, 2010
6:22 PM
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Now I'm really feeling like the cat that ate the canary. This ranks up there with some of my classic garage sale finds. A mongomory ward airline amp (nice harp amp) for 7 bucks- along with a twin reverb (super six actually) head for another $15. Before that was a senhieser 421 mic with slightly dinged windscreen - bur working perfectly - for $4. It's been a while though - and never before at a retail store.
Last Edited by on Jul 30, 2010 6:25 PM
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strawwoodclaw
85 posts
Jul 30, 2010
7:19 PM
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well done what else was in the box I wonder. It is good to find a bargain every now & then instead of getting ripped off as usual
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Ev630
693 posts
Jul 31, 2010
1:10 AM
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The best deal in music I ever made was buying my 707a with black CR for about 200 bucks. It wasn't cheap but ten years later I would have paid a grand for that same mic. I've never found one as sweet and I own plenty.
Still... a buck a harp. Man!
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MP
741 posts
Jul 31, 2010
12:18 PM
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a guy was doing a PA installation at a church and brought me a leftover pre-war Astatic JT-30.
the element had been replaced with a dead japanese (primo) crystal and someone had stuffed foam inside it; maybe for feedback control?
anyway, i loaded it up with a $18 NOS 151 from angela instruments and it kicked.
i gave him $20. at the time, mic and element prices hadn't gone through the roof yet.
even so, your story is waaaay better.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
Last Edited by on Jul 31, 2010 12:19 PM
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bonedog569
41 posts
Aug 01, 2010
12:08 AM
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@MP Well - perhaps. But you will likely have and use that astatic long after the Sydels have been blown out. For some reason (old age) I can't remember where I scored my vintage astatics and sure bullet. They didn't cost much - because there wasn't nearly the demand for them as there is now. Don't really know if there's much benefit in being old - but I guess this passes for something like it.
Been bonedoging with my buddy Pete playing the new G 1847. This is the sweetest playing G that I can ever remember owning (though it's been established that the memory is not what it once was.) I think it's probably the best harp I have right now. If we get productive I may get a video up.
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