TahoeMike00
89 posts
Aug 28, 2010
5:24 PM
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(long story, sorry)
Just now starting to build up my harps in other keys. I have a C, D, & A. All Special 20's. Thought I'd get a G next.
I find a "reputable?" seller on Flea-Bay - ok, lots of sales, with 100% positive rating.
I order a Special 20 in G. I wait. And wait. And wait. Wait some more. I e-mail asking WTF. He says his supplier is "kinda funny sometimes" (I know, everybody funny)
So he then offers to substitute a MB in G straight across in lieu of the SP20 for me. Ok, I says to self; "self, I've heard all this chatter about 'legendary' MB's I might as well take the MB rather than wait for the Special 20 just to check out a MB"
I get it in a few days. I take it out of the box and begin to play... dee, dee, dee, thud. Hmmm, 3 hole blow sure sounds strange. I try again. And again. Pfffft. Pfffft. Quaaaack! Must be my newbie embouchure or technique or something' I'm doing wrong. Seems plausible, especially since I have never played a G or MB. Few days later, still doesn't seem right to me. So I bring it to my next lesson. I'll spring it on my instructor to see what he says.
I tell him to give my harp the once over, not telling him what I was experiencing. dee, dee, dee, thud. Quaaack. "Wtf" he says. "This thing is hosed." You bought this *new* he asks incredulously...
He immediately takes it apart and tinkers with it. Gets it so it will at least play -something- but it wasn't pretty.
He said to send it back under warranty. No prob.
I download the return/warranty form from the hohnerusa site and fill out the form, with a very detailed explanation as to why I am returning the MB even though the paperwork from the seller says "Special 20" - I even called their customer service number to clarify what I was doing and mentioned I wanted a MB back. 'No problem" says the lady with the German accent.
7 or so days later I get back (yeah, you already guessed it) and Special 20.
The box was beat to shit, label torn off the bottom. The harp? Cover plates loose. I blow through it up and down real quick. Holy crap, sounded like a paper party favor with the end of the paper torn of. Now I know at this point it ain't me. I take off the cover plates and see screws missing from the reed plates. Sharpie pen marks on both sides of the reed plates. Dirty too. Slobber stains etc. Wow, I'm impressed now!! Not.
So I tighten what reed plate screws that are there and try again. Still not sounding good. Another dead reed but this time on #2. Could be my technique, but I don't have problems like that with my A,C, D. I have several C's as well, and a Big River which has it's character flaws but it is not as bad as the 2 G's as stated above.
I will send this one back too. Not sure if it will do any good to explain what I just mentioned above as I really don't care as I will probably change to another brand.
Any suggestions or comments about this? Is this an isolated incident or is this the way it is with Hohner USA?
Edit: I forgot to ask - should I have received back the original harp? (i.e. the one I sent in) and if not, shouldn't have they sent me a *new* harp and not one already trashed and laced with who knows what kind of cooties?
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The more I learn about harmonica, the more I learn how much more there is to learn.
Last Edited by on Aug 28, 2010 5:29 PM
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Stickman
403 posts
Aug 28, 2010
5:35 PM
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1st don't buy harps on e-bay, try here.
http://www.rockinronsmusic4less.com/
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
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The7thDave
156 posts
Aug 28, 2010
5:40 PM
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I had much better experience with them. Blew out a reed on a D Special 20 within a month of buying it at a Guitar Center. Looked up the return policy on the website, sent it back, received a new one in good condition within 2 weeks.
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--Dave
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* BTMFH *
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Greg Heumann
743 posts
Aug 28, 2010
6:38 PM
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Hey, there's a new harp dealer in town. These guys had the booth next to me at SPAH. They're harp players and they care. REALLY nice guys. Richard and Danny. Check 'em out - "New Harmonica" - http://www.NewHarmonica.com
Tell 'em I sent you!
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/Greg
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Jim Harris
45 posts
Aug 28, 2010
10:22 PM
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Stickman -- Rockin Ron sells on ebay -- I've bought from him. Also Bluzerd and the Instrument Store are top picks. Several others too -- great deals and quick delivery.
Tahoe Mike -- I've never been jacked around like you were. I've bought from quite a number of ebay sellers and have had 100% positive results for new and used harmonicas. Sorry you had this problem. Who was the seller?
Last Edited by on Aug 28, 2010 10:23 PM
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TahoeMike00
90 posts
Aug 28, 2010
10:34 PM
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Actually I should have been more succinct.
Forget for a moment that I bought a [bad] MB from an ebay seller. Not his fault I suppose.
My main issue is with Hohner - when I returned my new MB which was bad from the get go, Hohner returned back to me a Special 20?? which appeared to be used. The box was beat to hell, the cover plate screws were loose, the reed plates were dirty with spit stains, missing screws from the reed plate, and it had a dead reed.
it almost seems that they shipped me someone elses harmonica that was sent in for repair or warranty.
Sorry for the confusion.
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The more I learn about harmonica, the more I learn how much more there is to learn.
Last Edited by on Aug 29, 2010 8:46 AM
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jbone
386 posts
Aug 29, 2010
6:58 AM
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just my couple of cents. i'd skip fleabay when it comes to harps and go with a specific dealer, local or on line. i prefer rockin' ron's but have used coast2coast as well and gotten quality every time. same with bushman. i read of other reputable dealers as well but have not used others.
and while the sp20 is a great work horse harp, i've used a lot of them until a few years ago, there are other makers out there who do better. some cost more but are worth it. i keep suzukis in my case along with bushman delta frost. a hering here, a sp20 there, but at the moment- until a maker surpasses the excellent quality of the manji, that's how my case looks.
i've owned a couple of marine bands which were customized and am waiting on a couple more. and they worked great, so well i had one stolen and one i blew out and lost in a move. i played them at every opportunity and used them to death. i'm very curious how a mb custom will stand up to a manji. or surpass it.
my problem with customs is the wait. and the expense.
for production harps, there are plenty i have yet to try, but i feel like i've settled for the moment on my choices. affordability enters the equation and even though the manji is a bit pricier i have had not one single problem with any of the 6 i currently use on a regular basis, at jams and gigs and around the house rehearsing with my duo partner.
perhaps you just need to find a reputable dealer first of all. we all have our own preferences about what harp to play. c2c has never steered me wrong, they have always shipped quickly and had decent prices.
just my 2 cents...
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Ant138
552 posts
Aug 30, 2010
3:30 AM
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I think thats really bad customer service. I think Hohner still think they are Top Dog. But i do think people are starting to go elsewhere. There are so many good Harp company's out there who are willing to give good customer service and Hohner need to buck up their idea's!!
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N.O.D.
141 posts
Aug 30, 2010
3:11 PM
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It seems i had a very valid point about starting a petition to tell Hohner what there customers are thinking about there services,
Now just who removed my comment to this thread and why
where is my freedom of speech is there a democracy in MBH Land?
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Adam
Last Edited by on Aug 30, 2010 3:13 PM
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MrVerylongusername
1211 posts
Aug 30, 2010
3:19 PM
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It's here...
http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/678526.htm
Now, where did I park my car?
;-)
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GermanHarpist
1749 posts
Aug 30, 2010
3:24 PM
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NOD, I just read your post on the other thread about the petition...
The german forum jack-black actually had a meet up where some people from hohner, seydel and the forum got togeather to ask them exactly these questions.
I searched for the results of this discussion all I found was that the discussion wasn't very fruitful... So please, do your petition,... hmm .. I would even sign it, I don't think it will change much.
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Don't engage in negativity!
Last Edited by on Aug 30, 2010 3:24 PM
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N.O.D.
143 posts
Aug 30, 2010
3:31 PM
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OOPS!!! I was searching the wrong thread thanks guys
sorry for my accusation to moderators and Adam:)
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Cheers
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GermanHarpist
1752 posts
Aug 30, 2010
3:35 PM
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No worries, big misunderstanding :), I'll delete my posts...
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Don't engage in negativity!
Last Edited by on Aug 30, 2010 3:36 PM
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N.O.D.
145 posts
Aug 30, 2010
10:28 PM
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Hi Bro's iffin ya thinking WHAT THE!! is N.O.D. on about this is my speel watcha Feel:)
Bro's Adam endorses Hohner Harps,a large part of MBH forum members play Hohner Harps,we have Pro's that do custom work on Hohner harps,
what better place to start a petition to let Hohner
know of your disatifacation toward there Loyal customers, and to stop being a secret sociaty let us know whats going down:(
we can go a step further tell them what we want in a harp all i want is 2 harps Bringing them into the 21st century give the MB a solid composite resin comb with screw down reed plates:)
Same with the Special-20 a solid composite resine comb like the Manji and open back cover plates
all i have to do is gapping and my Harp is Perfect:)
PS i have had no problems with Hohner harps in the 100 odd years i been playing them so i can't start a petition complaining about there services,
i can only suggest my wish list of what i would like
in my perfect OOTB Harps:)
so if enough people from a forum Run by a Proud endorser of there product complain about Hohner Harps,
i guess it would be a fair bet they should take notice, especialy if we just happen to let them get wind of the link to the thread Happening in MBH land:)
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Cheers
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