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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Chinese Hohner Harps.
Chinese Hohner Harps.
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TNFrank
381 posts
Oct 09, 2010
7:46 AM
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I've had 3 different kinds and all of em' look like the same comb and reed plates. The only difference is the cover plates. Has anyone else noticed this? It seems that Hohner's Chinese Manufacture makes up a bunch of the exact same combs and reed plates then they put on whichever cover plate that want that Model to be. So, basically there's no real difference between the low priced Blues Band and the higher priced harps.
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Suzuki HarpMaster in C
Suzuki FolkMaster in D,E and F
Hohner Old Standby in A
Hohner Special 20 in Bb
Hohner Big River in Low F,G,A,Bb,C and D
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HarmonicaMick
184 posts
Oct 09, 2010
9:46 AM
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I think - though I'm not sure - that there's a lot more to it than that. Stuff like the suitability of the brass used for the reeds, and other factors that other MBH forum members would know more about than I do would come into play.
Also, there's the whole issue of quality control. In short, there's usually a fair amount of mileage left in the old adage, "You get what you pay for," and there probably always will be.
Not being funny, Frank, but is your OCD eliciting these thoughts about various harps. I say that without malice or poking fun, because I've gone through a similar thing with my OCD.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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TNFrank
387 posts
Oct 09, 2010
10:07 AM
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It just seems to make sense because of the way the Chinese mass produce things. Make one comb, one set of reed plates, slap em' together and then add whatever cover plate for that model onto the mass produced comb/reed plates.
It's even the same way with auto makers. Build one engine and one transmission and slap it into whatever car you happen to be building on that day. My wife's Dodge Caravan mini-van has the same 2.4L that the PT Cruiser has and in a modded version that the SRT-4 Neon has. Same motor, different cars.
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Suzuki HarpMaster in C
Suzuki FolkMaster in D,E and F
Hohner Old Standby in A
Hohner Special 20 in Bb
Hohner Big River in Low F,G,A,Bb,C and D
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HarmonicaMick
185 posts
Oct 09, 2010
10:14 AM
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Yeah, I know that's done with some cars we've got in the UK. I saw it on Top Gear. I can't remember which model, but it's the same one as at least one other, the only difference being the name badge on the front. I think it's the Toyota Aygo; it's made in the same factory as another big brand name car. In fact it's the same model as the other big brand name car, just with a name change.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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barbequebob
1320 posts
Oct 09, 2010
10:18 AM
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@TNFrank --- I hate to say it, but you are coming off as someone who collects things too much for his own good and is often too quick to jump to conclusions without enough hard information to base things on.
There's a HUGE difference between more top of the line instruments and the cheapo stuff. Cheaper harps uses a stiffer, harder brass and the reed slot tolerances are often wider because they're made for absolute newbies and, as I've said TONS of times before, 98% of all newbies are BRUTALLY HARD on harmonicas and putting a better one in the hands of a newbie who is teaching himself how to play is not the best thing in the world because the good stuff tends to use softer brass and have a tighter reed slot tolerance, both of which makes harmonicas play louder and easier, but in the hands of a player who plays FAR too hard and has no breath control, they will quickly blow them out and 80% are ALWAYS gonna be blaming the harmonica and truth be told, the REAL problem is the technique of the person playing it and many of those players are largely unwilling to face that FACT.
Cheaper harps have fewer people spending time on the quality control area and each time you have to have something higher wuality, it means another body is taken off the production line to do it, and that ups the cost of labor to produce it and you and too many players talk like instrument makers are supposed to be run like a non profit organization and that's a totally foolish way of thinking.
Reality check ----- You can't get the quality of a Rolls Royce, Maseratti, or Aston Martin while trying to pay for it at the price of a beat up Chevy on its last freaking legs, and thinking you're gonna get that anytime soon is dumb as the day is long.
Too many players are far too quick to blame the instrument and the vary same players are rarely gonna admit where 85% of the real problem lies, and it lies in their playing technique. Bad playing technique will ruin ANY harp quickly.
There are harmonicas that use the same reed plates and combs, but they may be tuned up differently in terms of temperament being used, and also the the design of the cover plate often plays an enormous role in how the harmonica sounds, plus how you hold it, and the big X-factor is playing technique.
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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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Kyzer Sosa
824 posts
Oct 09, 2010
10:29 AM
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bob, you NAILED it...id wager that if hed spent as much time practicing scales on JUST a C harp as he's spent concerning himself with the 20 harps he's bought at 3 weeks in, he'd be in a much better place.
I mean if buying cheapos to save money and marital hassles was the objective, frank, youve landed way off base. you could have got the G,A,C,D Manjis or Crossovers for what youve paid thus far. and quite TNFrankly, that's all you'd need for a good loooooooong while. but weve covered that havent we?
For your wallets sake, your wifes sake, and for your place in the ever changing learning curve of the harmonica, stop buying gear till your technique/musicality catches up. it feels real good to open the mailbox and admire your shiny new toy, but not knowing how to use it must surely make that initial feeling go away very very quickly.
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Kyzer's Travels
Kyzer's Artwork
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TNFrank
388 posts
Oct 09, 2010
11:21 AM
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"There's a HUGE difference between more top of the line instruments and the cheapo stuff."
@Bob:
I never said that the same comb and reed plates were used on the higher end Hohner harps as were used on the Chinese made ones Bob, don't even know why you'd say that I said that.
"but not knowing how to use it must surely make that initial feeling go away very very quickly."
@Kyzer:
Who says I can't use the harps I have Kyzer? No, I'm not some "Harp God" but I can play a pretty decent tune on my harps. I just love how some of ya'll like to jump to conclusions about me and my playing when you've never really ever heard it.
If I were a 15 year old boy that never played a lick of music on anything in my life then maybe you're critique of me would be justified but I've been playing music for years and crossing over to a new instrument, even harmonica, isn't really all that hard if you have a basic knowledge of music.
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Suzuki HarpMaster in C
Suzuki FolkMaster in D,E and F
Hohner Old Standby in A
Hohner Special 20 in Bb
Hohner Big River in Low F,G,A,Bb,C and D
Last Edited by on Oct 09, 2010 11:23 AM
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nacoran
2919 posts
Oct 09, 2010
11:38 AM
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For what it's worth, the Blues Bands, the Pocket Pals, Scout Harps and several others do seem to be the same harp with different covers... but... they also come with different grades of case. Blues harps have cardboard boxes, Pocket Pals have plastic boxes. I'd venture to say that the 'Standard Line' are basically variations on covers and boxes. I think the Piedmont might be in that category too.
Mick, yeah, I had a Plymouth Reliant. It was the same thing as a Dodge K car.
BBQ, Kyzer, some people have to learn it for themselves. And complete sets can be a big thing with OCD. It's one of those things you have to live with when you've got it.
Standard Line
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Nate
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Jaybird
178 posts
Oct 09, 2010
11:58 AM
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I agree 100% with Kyzer. Frank should re-read his post carefully.
Frank replied:
"Who says I can't use the harps I have Kyzer? No, I'm not some "Harp God" but I can play a pretty decent tune on my harps. I just love how some of ya'll like to jump to conclusions about me and my playing when you've never really ever heard it."
Well show us your stuff, Frank. Make a video, or at least a sound file.
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I bought my first harmonica 5 years ago.
Watch Jaybird play harp!
Last Edited by on Oct 09, 2010 12:05 PM
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HarmonicaMick
186 posts
Oct 09, 2010
12:16 PM
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Nate,
"BBQ, Kyzer, some people have to learn it for themselves. And complete sets can be a big thing with OCD. It's one of those things you have to live with when you've got it."
Thanks for pointing that out. That wretched condition can bring about the kind of human suffering that it's almost impossible to imagine, unless you live with it. I read or heard somewhere that it kills 20% - as best as I can remember - of those who suffer from it: booze, depression, suicide, etc... etc. It's no joke. I've personally known a few people who've had their lives turned upside down beyond recognition by it: losing their job, their marriage.
Anyway, I'm going way off topic. I just wanted to say thanks for pointing it out. I get a few folks who seem to think it's something to be ridiculed. No finger pointing intended here.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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TNFrank
389 posts
Oct 09, 2010
12:17 PM
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I'm working on putting together a sound file that I can post on SoundClick then I can post a link to it here. ;)
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Suzuki HarpMaster in C
Suzuki FolkMaster in D,E and F
Hohner Old Standby in A
Hohner Special 20 in Bb
Hohner Big River in Low F,G,A,Bb,C and D
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Kyzer Sosa
825 posts
Oct 09, 2010
10:40 PM
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im not knocking your playing, and do take in to consideration, your tenure with the guitar. I never played music before I picked up the harmonica, but i always knew i had that inner voice. after three weeks in though? i couldnt play a whole tune, i was just getting strong single notes down, simple riffs, do re mi, all that stuff.
I cant comment on OCD or the cons associated with it. thanks for pointing it out Mickl. I never even thought to get all the keys... even for the benefit of playing along with something in a key i didnt have.
12 keys? 14 keys? i dont even know what it is, but at two years in, i have yet to find use for more than 5 of them. just based off your sig line list, youve got 12 keys, 4 duplicates. take those 8 harps, go back in time and get 4 good ones (and save $)? just makes sense to me.
everyone's different though, we all have our ways with how we approach our harmonica journey. the choices in your journey thus far simply intersect, rather than run parallel, with mine. but its all gravy baby! suck, blow, repeat...
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Kyzer's Travels
Kyzer's Artwork
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TNFrank
404 posts
Oct 10, 2010
8:04 AM
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I've actually got 8 of the 12 Keys but in reality I only use 3 harps with any regularity. My A,Bb(thanks Adam ;) and C harps. Sometimes I'll pick up the G harp but I could probably get by very happily with those 4.
The Big Rivers are simply a compulsion I have to own a set of harps that are the same kind. I'm shooting for Low F thru standard F and I may, or may not skip over the E and Eb all together, not sure yet. Basically, if I can get a standard F in the Big River harps I'll have what I consider a "Set" of working harps.
My other harps are mostly just "special" harps that are either a bit higher end then the Big River(the HarpMaster and Special 20) or are a bit lower end and my "beater" harps(FolkMasters and Old Standby) that I can pack around with me without fear of getting it dented or otherwise messed up.
I don't know what drives me on, that inner desire to have a "Set" of something, to complete something so it's logical and whole. I know that everyone sees the world thru their own eyes and this is how I see mine. Not right, not wrong, it just IS.
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Suzuki HarpMaster in C
Suzuki FolkMaster in D,E and F
Hohner Old Standby in A
Hohner Special 20 in Bb
Hohner Big River in Low F,G,A,Bb,C and D
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groyster1
533 posts
Oct 10, 2010
2:51 PM
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@Kyzer
its interesting that you have yet to find use for more than 5 keys but know its true
@TnFrank
remember I have offered to give you an old golden melody in Eb because I really dont need it and I have all keys plus low F and high G and only because I am anal
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TNFrank
408 posts
Oct 10, 2010
2:58 PM
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Yep, I remember the generous offer of the Golden Melody in Eb, just need to get the time and gas to make it to Dyllis so we can meet up someplace.
Like I said, I could probably live a happy life with a G,A,C and D harp but like you, I just feel compelled to own a set of em' weather I'll use em' or not. Don't know why I'm like that, I just am and it drives my wife half crazy.LOL.
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Suzuki HarpMaster in C
Suzuki FolkMaster in D,E and F
Hohner Old Standby in A
Hohner Special 20 in Bb
Hohner Big River in Low F,G,A,Bb,C and D
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Kyzer Sosa
826 posts
Oct 11, 2010
12:02 PM
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@ groyster, its simple really. 99% of the songs I play to, with two bands, utilize only those 4-5 keys...
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Kyzer's Travels
Kyzer's Artwork
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TNFrank
420 posts
Oct 11, 2010
12:26 PM
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That's the way I understand it too Kyzer. If you're playing in a guitar band then you can get by with 4 or 5 keys easily. G,A,C and D are the main ones and you might need/want an F or Low F but that covers most of the bases with keys that a guitarist will play in. Now if you're playing with horns or playing Jazz, that's an entirely new ball game.
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Suzuki HarpMaster in C
Suzuki FolkMaster in D,E and F
Hohner Old Standby in A
Hohner Special 20 in Bb
Hohner Big River in Low F,G,A,Bb,C and D
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