harmonicanick
892 posts
Sep 20, 2010
9:55 AM
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Following on from Frank's moaning about harps that cost over 30 bucks and people that buy 'em
I have a milestone birthday comin' up and I was looking at the Suzuki Fab.
It's pitched at the very top end of the diatonic market and is priced in the uk at £200 ($312)
Anyone got one? Anyone tried one?
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Buddha
2480 posts
Sep 20, 2010
10:04 AM
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for that money, get a custom harp from one of the top builders. There is a night and day difference between the fabulous and a good custom harp.
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"I am a great believer in understanding, not copying."
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harmonicanick
893 posts
Sep 20, 2010
10:24 AM
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Buddha, please can you give me a price list for customised GM's shipped to the uk.
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Buddha
2481 posts
Sep 20, 2010
10:39 AM
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contact me offlist please. groovygypsy at gmail
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"I am a great believer in understanding, not copying."
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Buzadero
554 posts
Sep 20, 2010
10:52 AM
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Milestone?
Please, do tell.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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barbequebob
1250 posts
Sep 20, 2010
10:57 AM
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The FAbulous has a chrome plated brass comb and comes in two versions, one tuned ET and another in 7LJI (I wish they had other harps, especially the Manji available in 7LJI or 19LJI), but for the price they're asking for, I'd much rather spend the money a custom.
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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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mercedesrules
22 posts
Sep 20, 2010
11:15 AM
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.....So, what is the consensus, if any, about what is the top 2010 US dollar amount it makes sense to spend on a production harp?
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harmonicanick
894 posts
Sep 20, 2010
11:15 AM
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Buzadero,
Yeah I'm entering the 'twilight' years (60)
Gotta do something special; actually I have never been scuba diving. Does one enjoy it on the first dive if I did this?
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Buzadero
555 posts
Sep 20, 2010
11:17 AM
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Congrats.
Sure, go diving. Scuba, sky, muff.
You'll love it.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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hvyj
618 posts
Sep 20, 2010
11:31 AM
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I've got a Fabulous in the key of C ET. I also have a full set of Buddha harps made with GM reed plates and covers. The custom Buddha harps are clearly superior instruments and a better value.
I really like Suzuki harps, and i was impressed with my Fabulous, but for that kind of $ you are unquestionably better off getting a custom harmonica. The precision of the bends on a Fabulous is close to what you get on a custom, but the tone and responsiveness of the Buddha harps is dramatically superior. Plus, a good customizer (like Buddha) will set up the harp so it is optimized for your particular individual style of play.
The first Buddha harp I got was made after extended email correspondence with Chris and it was excellent. Then we set up a Skype session so Chris could actually hear me play before the remaining harps in the set were made. Those harps were even better than the first because after hearing me play, Chris had more accurate information about how to set up the reeds for me and my particular style of play.
So, in my experience, it's not a close question. The fabulous is very good but a custom harp is a far superior instrument and a much better value.
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gene
563 posts
Sep 20, 2010
11:39 AM
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"...The first Buddha harp I got was made after extended email correspondence with Chris and it was excellent. Then we set up a Skype session so Chris could actually hear me play before the remaining harps in the set were made. Those harps were even better than the first because after hearing me play, Chris had more accurate information about how to set up the reeds for me and my particular style of play.
..."
That Buddha guy's amazing. I wish I could afford just one custom.
....But then, if I had just one, I wouldn't be satisfied with having just one. :(
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Joch230
319 posts
Sep 20, 2010
11:39 AM
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That harp sells for $200 at Rockin Ron's...shipped. I'm sure not overseas though. That's more than what I paid for my Buddha harps although I know his prices have gone up since.
-John
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harmonicanick
895 posts
Sep 20, 2010
11:53 AM
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hvyj
thanks for that
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The Gloth
466 posts
Sep 21, 2010
2:05 AM
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IMO, the Fabulous is just a "prestige" product, like Seydel have one, and Hohner too. I mean that it is not made for musicians but rather for collectors.
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http://www.buddybrent.be
Last Edited by on Sep 21, 2010 4:38 AM
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ness
292 posts
Sep 21, 2010
5:40 AM
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Does anyone know what Suzuki does differently on the Fabulous? I'd agree with Gloth, that it's largely a prestige thing, but I suspect they do a little something different too.
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John
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ness
293 posts
Sep 21, 2010
5:42 AM
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...and, if there is something special in the design or materials, I wonder if the better platform in the hands of a top customizer could become something really, really special.
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John
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Hobostubs Ashlock
1063 posts
Sep 21, 2010
5:47 AM
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harmonicanick said (Following on from Frank's moaning about harps that cost over 30 bucks and people that buy 'em)lmao thats to funny
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Hobostubs
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Joch230
320 posts
Sep 21, 2010
7:44 AM
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Ron just let me know that Rockin Ron's has the Fabulous at a special price of $175.
I do remember Joe Spiers saying that he had good results customizing one of these. Search our archives if you want more info.
-John
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hvyj
626 posts
Sep 21, 2010
9:30 AM
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The Fabulous has a long reed profile (like the Manji) and much tighter tolerances than OOB harps. The precision on the bends is UNBELIEVABLY BETTER than on an OOB harp and I can pop OBs on a Fabulous and I don't OB. It is an objectively superior instrument by any standard.
Playing a Fabulous is what motivated me to spend the $ for a set of custom harps. It made me understand what the whole custom harp concept was about and what a custom harp would do for me.
There was a long thread on Harp-l approximately a year ago discussing the question of whether the Suzuki Fabulous and/or the Suzuki Hammond would be a better platform for customization than Hohners because of their superior compression and tighter tolerances. The consensus seemed to be that it's not what the customization process starts with, but where it winds up and most customizers felt that Hohners had the most potential as a platform for customization--this is not my opinion, but, as i recall, it was what the customizers who participated in the discussion seemed to think. Personally, I don't like Hohners at all and I love Suzukis, but my Buddha harps made with Hohner GM reedplates and covers are the best harps I've ever played by orders of magnitude. FWIW.
Last Edited by on Sep 21, 2010 9:32 AM
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Jim Harris
48 posts
Sep 21, 2010
9:40 AM
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So let's say I want a C or A harp "tomorrow", and my choice is between a Fabulous or a Buddha harp. What is the expected delivery of each if I pull the trigger today?
One other comparison: what is the opinion of those familiar with both between the new Harrison B-Rad and a Fabulous, both costing about the same with the Rockin Ron deal?
Last Edited by on Sep 21, 2010 9:41 AM
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Buddha
2483 posts
Sep 21, 2010
9:53 AM
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it will be months for a Buddha harp. I'm nearly finished with all of my backlog and have taken very few orders in almost a year though I did take a few in june.
Right now people ordering from me would have an expected delivery date of sometime before xmas.
You COULD have a fabulous by the end of the week but it's not the same as having a truly great harmonica.
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"I am a great believer in understanding, not copying."
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bluemoose
306 posts
Sep 21, 2010
9:59 AM
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Go for the Buddha, even with the wait you won't regret it. Can't put mine down.
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Greyowlphotoart
32 posts
Sep 21, 2010
11:42 AM
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Don't know much about the Fabulous. I know Christelle has one and has used it on some vids so you could check the tone, but £200 is a lot of dosh for a factory harp. I've just ordered a Dannecker Blues Harmonica today in C (UK based custom made harp supplier) for £95.00 + £7 postage and he says it will arrive tomorrow! (so these won't be set up Bhudda stylee for your particular playing style)
These are custom built harps (Meisterklasse Style)(check out the website - http://www.antonydannecker.com/)They have solid brass combs nicely rounded at the mouthpiece and he sets up and tunes the reeds to most tunings including personalised ones.
Some blurb:-
* Entire mouthpiece and reed plate edges honed and smoothed
* Unique concept round comb mouthpiece section - for supreme playing comfort
* Unsurpassed dynamic tonal range designed for digital studio recordings
* Reed plates and covers are manufactured by Hohner
* Unparalleled volume from a solid brass construction
* A real heavy weight harmonica with a full on loud, rich yet refined tone.
* Weighing in at approx. 190 grams
Spoke to the owner Tony today, nice guy he is too. I mentioned that I am incorporating O/B's in my playing now and he says he set the reeds up tight and pays particular attention to the rivet end. I have gone for the chrome plated Meisterklasse reed plates (at no extra cost)
Well I guess the proof of the pudding is in the playing, but he does come well recommended - so we'll see.
I'll let you know how it works out.
Last Edited by on Sep 21, 2010 11:48 AM
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Greyowlphotoart
33 posts
Sep 21, 2010
11:54 AM
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PS He also has a model called Dannecker Blues Lex which differs from the blues in that it has a comb made of Lexan (sounds like something you'd find on Krypton) which apparently provides a warmer wood like tone.
And if you're determined to spend £200, he has a new state of the art model called The Optimus coming out soon,for exactly..........£200.00.
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RyanMortos
804 posts
Sep 21, 2010
12:12 PM
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Not that you need it but you have my vote for the Buddha harp, wait & all. I'm a proud owner of a Buddha harp & would easily buy another, never owned a Suzuki Fabulous.
Hmmm, Im halfway to 60 this year maybe I should do something too, heh.
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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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hvyj
628 posts
Sep 22, 2010
12:56 AM
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The thing about brass combs like on the Fabulous is they are HEAVY. Not necessarily a bad thing, and I like metal combs anyway, but it is a very different feel. I assume the Danneker brass comb would be the same way.
I've never bought a Danneker harp, but i did have Antony Danneker change the tuning on a harp for me a while ago. Nice guy, excellent craftsmanship, and prompt service. I'm in the U.S.
I don't particularly like wood combs but I do really like the composite material that Chris uses for the combs on his Buddha harps. One of the things Chis can do is make combs of different THICKNESSES. The effect on harp performance is interesting. Narrow combs have a perceptibly quicker response. Thick combs have a depth of tone that some say is similar to what one gets from double reed plates. I've never played a harp with double reed plates myself, though, so I have no basis for comparison.
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hvyj
629 posts
Sep 22, 2010
1:10 AM
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@mercedesrules: Well, before I got a set of Buddha Harps I used Suzuki Hammonds as my performing set (I still carry them as backups). They go for $45-$50 and I think they are a very good value. I like them a lot. Not as good as my Buddha harps, but you get what you pay for.
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