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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Firebreath
Firebreath
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HarpNinja
701 posts
Oct 17, 2010
6:32 PM
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Had a "G" Marine Band that was in tough shape and I used it to practice customizing. The 5 draw went flat around SPAH so I got a Manji in G knowing I needed a decent back up. Well, the MB 5 draw is cracked and the harp is now on the shelf (broke my drill bit to replace reeds and haven't ordered a new one).
I had several G harps lying around and started cleaning up a Golden Melody. Turns out it was five years old and unusable for a number of reasons. Have a Sp20, but it is even older and sounds way too muted (they seem to do that rather quickly, even when staying in tune). Then I came across a Firebreath. It looks like I embossed it, but that is it.
At any rate, I cleaned and gapped it. I am not a huge fan compared to the Manji on so many levels, but one thing I noticed was that it was really hard to get overblows that bend. I am not talking squealing, but the notes essentially farting out when trying to bend them.
I think the FB is a pretty solid harp, even if you're doing OBs as passing notes, but really, the Manji is so much better! It has more presence and snap...it is louder...and it can be set up to OB pretty well with minimal work.
Just my ramblings for the weekend! I had to clean a Marine Band in C that was the first harp I put a B-stock Buddha comb on and did some really heavy reed work. It is a very nice harp, but getting old and hasn't been used gently...a good MB just sounds so good and bends so well (can OB several semitones across the board)!!!
That harp has been beat to crap by me and still plays great. Took a lot of work, but it sure is sweet.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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HarpNinja
702 posts
Oct 18, 2010
5:59 AM
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I very much wanted to like the FB, but I didn't, and was therefore hesitant with the Manji. I thought the Promaster was just as good as the FB and they are cheaper.
But yeah, they are a good looking harp! Honestly, I had a few of them and I gave a C FB to my son to play with. Awful, I know, but he dug it out and I figured it was no biggie.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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earlounge
182 posts
Oct 18, 2010
1:51 PM
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I have a Low F FireBreath. I was excited to get a wood comb with full length covers. My ideal harp would be a GM shape with a MB sound. The sound is there, and it overblows on 4,5,6 OOTB. It's a bit quiet, but that might be the low key.
The cover plates seem to sit off center and don't have a permanent resting place. Maybe it's just my OCD, but it just seems like a poor design.
I have also complained a bunch that this particular harp came to me severely out of tune. I should have just sent it back, but I wanted instant gratification. So I decided this harp would be first tuning project. I think I did ok.
I love the wood tone and the playablility is really good. Maybe I should try another one.
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