HarpNinja
579 posts
Aug 22, 2010
7:00 PM
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So I picked one up at SPAH...Bb...my first was a Low F and it didn't do much for me. However, I think I could have rectified the situation with a little customizing.
With the Bb I wanted to start with as little intervention as possible to set it up to play overbends and to kick butt. I did nothing to it that isn't "standard" custom work...nothing you can't read about in the Harp-L archives or using the search engine on this site.
I can't really compare it directly to my other "tweaked" harps as the level of intervention here was very minimal. Nothing you couldn't do with a screwdriver, toothpick, and chapstick.
OOTB, it played ok. The obs were there but thin. The ods squealed to the point of being useless. The standard bends were solid if not good for OOTB. It didn't feel leaky and it had solid response.
After 30min of work, broken up into two work sessions, I now have all the bends - including overdraws - playing great. I can easily sustain the ods, bend them, add vibrato, play them soft of hard and have ZERO issues with squealing or choking. The obs are spot on everywhere but 6, which is still a little to breathy. I think I just need to work on the gap again.
Overall the Manji is a bit stiffer than the Bb Marine Band i have customized. I don't mean it is slow to react, it just isn't as springy. This is neither a good or band thing, it just feels like the reeds are a bit stiffer when initially sounding. It doesn't take more breathe to play it, and I am not saying it has slow response. It is just "tighter" sounding. I actually think the work I did is the main reason. The tone is a bit warmer than the MB as well. Both of those points could probably be adjusted to taste with more time in on the harp.
I had several "advanced" players try some of the harps I worked on (admitingly some were further along than others) and know that I have a very solid grasp on how to set up a harp...and I am getting better and better the more I practice. That being said, I didn't do anything "fancy" or taboo to talk about with the Manji...yet.
Bottom line...I will for sure buy more Manji's...they will become my OOTB harp of choice (kill a stock MB and requrie less initial work to make playable). I will continue to work on MB's as I have several with Buddha combs to finish for myself. I will also pick up some more Buddha MB's down the road as they are wonderful and allow me to spend more time practicing than working on reeds!
My GM's will be used for experimenting with tunings. ;)
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Mike
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Zhin
545 posts
Aug 22, 2010
7:57 PM
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Mike, that's how I see it these days too. Unless it's a Buddha MB, I don't care much for MB's anymore.
I'm also buying only Manji's now.
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http://www.youtube.com/harmonicazhin
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Joch230
297 posts
Aug 22, 2010
8:23 PM
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I have 5 Manji's now. I got 3 of them at SPAH this week. They all at least play all the basic stuff right out of the box. I can't say that of the 5 Golden Melodies I have. I still like them both.
-John
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jbone
381 posts
Aug 23, 2010
4:35 AM
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i'm adding manji's as needed, b now have 6 in my case. btw the low F is really nice for slow 3rd pos stuff we do in the duo.
i don't tweak a thing, that's part of my yardstick on how well i like a harp. all i've done to any manji is rinse gently in warm water to get the crud out. i have had NO issues with any of them esp the D i bought in November.
i'm not as evolved a player as many are. but more or less a joe average high function amateur, gigging a couple or 3 times a month and playing at jams frequently. these harps do all i ask with no stalling or squealing. that's good enough for me!
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Todd Parrott
171 posts
Aug 23, 2010
2:03 PM
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Mike, you must have gotten lucky. Suzuki was nice enough to give me one at SPAH in the key of C and it's not very responsive, though I still think they are good harps, probably even better once they are set up.
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RyanMortos
758 posts
Aug 23, 2010
2:23 PM
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I'm with you Mike.
I picked up a Manji in D at SPAH & think it is the best out of the box harmonica I've tried yet. If they are more consistent then the average Hohner and stick to that playability sooner or later my case will be full of them. Just have to blow out all the other harps I got first :) .
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Contact:
My youtube account
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HarpNinja
582 posts
Aug 23, 2010
3:47 PM
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Todd,
I sent you an email offlist...sorry to spam here, but I couldn't remember if you checked the email from your website very often.
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Mike
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toddlgreene
1711 posts
Aug 26, 2010
7:23 AM
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Mike, if I may ask, what was it you didn't like about the Low F tuning in the Manji?
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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Joch230
304 posts
Aug 26, 2010
7:34 AM
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I got a low F manji at SPAH. I really like it. Can't get any OB on the 4 or 5...can squeak one out on the 6. It has a good sound for more rhythmic playing. Don't have anything to compare it to as it's my 1st LowF. Fun to play on though.
I got an Ab Manji that really nice too. The C is a bit stiff...sounds like Todd Parrots was like that too. I haven't done any tweaks to any of them yet.
John
Last Edited by on Aug 26, 2010 7:36 AM
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toddlgreene
1712 posts
Aug 26, 2010
7:37 AM
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Thanks, joch. I don't overblow/draw, so no worries with that. Does it feel similar to a MB in the mouth?
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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Joch230
305 posts
Aug 26, 2010
7:40 AM
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They seem thicker than a MB. The plates are higher/thicker up front is what I mean. Smooth plates though...don't feel the stamped letters on your lips like you do with the MB. Have a nice bright tone.
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