New but determined
59 posts
Jan 09, 2016
3:36 PM
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So I started with a couple of SP20's but got excited and wanted better (I love them now).
So I got a 3 pack of Manji's and then a couple of the low ones. I struggled, I'm still a beginner.
So I got a Crossover and then another, they play really well OOTB but I've learned a lot about sanding reed plates and combs flat, gapping reeds, and have done work on everything but the Crossovers and they all play well.
I play all of them.
Lately I've been noticing I play my Manji's just as well as the Crossovers and well, everything plays equally as well as everything else. You said this would happen.
Prices on Hohner products at Rockin Rons are going up. I've almost bought a Crossover G harp three or four times because - heck I don't knew, my SP20 G is sweet but maybe it's the having harps in some semblance of sets thing?
Well I kind of feel like the Manji harps sound a lot prettier to my ears when I'm playing, than the others and getting a Manji in G and a reed plate set to convert my Manji Low C to a Low F is actually affordable but when I look at Hohner stuff now, I'm uncomfortable, add to that new ownership, possibly mfg. in a new plant for some parts could be better or could be worse and I'm kind of old, waiting isn't necessarily an option.
I've got a Manji in G and Low F reedplates in The shopping cart at Rockin Rons right now and it's that or don't buy anything is the way I'm feeling.
Smakin me crazy.
If I get those ill have
Manji D,C,A,G, Low F, Low D
Or, hodge podge of different harps with no low F.
I need coffee, I know it's afternoon but I need coffee. I want to stop thinking about harps, everything I have plays well except I can't bend the Low D holes 1 and 2 but everything has been tweekedand playes as well as my efforts.
A friend of mine, a musician, is telling me to forget everything except playing my heart out with abandon and enjoy myself.
Last Edited by New but determined on Jan 09, 2016 3:41 PM
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Ian
213 posts
Jan 09, 2016
4:49 PM
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Welcome to phase two!
I'm not sure what's in phase two, I'm still figuring it out myself, but it's a lot less frustrating than worrying about which harp is better.
Seriously though, hold on to the passion, it'll keep you playing.
I don't think there is anything wrong with a few different harps in your collection. I was stuck on the idea of only using one harp as I figured I'd learn it's nuances better that way. Now I realise that it doesn't matter all that much and part if the joy of being a blues harp player is being able play different types for not much of an investment.
Now I have a varied mix, very similar to yours in fact... You have good taste sir!
Last Edited by Ian on Jan 09, 2016 4:54 PM
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Fil
92 posts
Jan 09, 2016
4:51 PM
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Seems to me like you're pretty well set with decent harps. Maybe better than decent since you've worked on them. Maybe you friend has a point. Stop thinking so much about harps and think more about playing. I found that early on, which isn't that long ago in my playing, spending money on harp stuff seemed like progress. It's been a bit of a struggle to get past that and I still suffer relapses. Where have you encountered a need for a Low D? I have scores of blues recordings I've identified the keys for and Low D hasn't come up yet. BTW, I'm at the very late stage of my "kinda old's" and understand the feeling.
(I see Ian's note...yes, don't lose the passion!)
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Phil Pennington
Last Edited by Fil on Jan 09, 2016 4:53 PM
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Killa_Hertz
144 posts
Jan 09, 2016
5:01 PM
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Yea bro i know exactly where your at. I'm rather new myself and i went throught that a couple months ago. Buying all these harps trying to find the best one. Hell I'm still Goin throught it. It's just slowing down now cus I've just about tried em all lol.
I went something like sp20 marine band Leeoskars session steels back to marine band seydel 1847 noble marine band then crossover manji then deluxe then more mb.
Some of these i did like you and got a few of like the lee oskars i got C A G. Session steel was C A Bb. The moved back to MB C which i had from the begining but didn't like at first Cus it was sharp as hell and the wood beat up my lips. But i filed the edges and my lips got used to the wood. Crossover in A its nice but the tuning didn't sound the same. Because it isn't but anyways. Manji Bb was leaky and didn't feel right. MB deluxe Bb want worth the extra dough. MB in G. Blues harp in F and Eb i don't like these at all.
Ive been tinkering with the manji here and there since i got it. Because it looks cool, its Solid and built well, and i liked the mellow tuning. But it just wouldn't play right. It was so leaky and reeds would choke at the same time.
We'll let me tell u, I got that thing arched and gapped right (after much trial and error with other harps i finally figured out somewhat how to arch) And flat sanded the comb n draw reed plate. And flattened the blow plate with a mechinist square.
That Manji has not left my pocket. It's great. I got another one in the mail and two more in low keys in my cart at rons.
All that said it's all bull$#!+. Just play whatever you can play. I think people do get to hung up on it. Me included, but it is all crap. If you give kim wilson a seydel session do you think he would just sound awful. Hell no. But at the same time i think it is part of the fun to always be tweaking and tryin new stuff.
But i say if you like the manji go for it.
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
Last Edited by Killa_Hertz on Jan 09, 2016 5:04 PM
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Killa_Hertz
147 posts
Jan 09, 2016
7:03 PM
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Fil you brought up a good point. I'm getting ready to buy my first low tuned harps. I want a C because sonny plays one on bye bye birdie and ide like to learn it.
I was also going to get an F because the normal F is a lil tricky in spots. But is so close to G i thought it might be boring and i have a free G harps which i could maybe tune down.
Ron has these two pack manji low sets. I'm going to buy one. The one i was thinking about was the C and D. But u say not many tunes in D. What would be the most usable low harp?
The kits are
Low F and Low D
Low C anc Low D
Low E and Low Eb
Low F and Low C
Ofcorse I'm not locked in on one of these, but ide like to get one. I may be able to find more options elsewhere, but i like to give ron's my buisness if i can. Amazon is rich enough. Lol.
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
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New but determined
61 posts
Jan 09, 2016
7:47 PM
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I bought Rons Low D and Low C not knowing anything much other than I have difficulty hearing high notes and the standard D is a challenge to tell what I'm doing.
Last Edited by New but determined on Jan 10, 2016 6:22 AM
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New but determined
62 posts
Jan 09, 2016
7:55 PM
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Okay, reading my own words I can see it's probably stupid to buy any more harps, probably stupid to even try to do this but I'll persist (determined) because I like the sound and I can really feel the bends and wail- that's so cool and it goes right into the heart :-)
Last Edited by New but determined on Jan 09, 2016 7:57 PM
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Mirco
362 posts
Jan 09, 2016
10:05 PM
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Killa_Hertz: If you're asking which two to get, I'd get the pair of Low F and Low C.
Low F is probably the most useful and common low harmonica. When the band calls a tune in key of C, you have to play key of F harp (unless you know more positions). The normal F harp is very high and only works, I think, in certain types of songs. It's good to have a low F in those cases.
It's a toss up between low C and low D. But my personal preference is the C. Key of G, 2nd position. You'll get a lot of use out of it.
Do you go to jams? You'd be wasting your money getting an E or an Eb flat. You wouldn't be using them that often.
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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ME.HarpDoc
78 posts
Jan 10, 2016
5:32 AM
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@ NBD
You've talked about you hearing before but your posts clarify the extent of your hearing loss as well as your love for the music. It appears like your sensitivity to differences in harps may have gone up as your sensitivity to sound has gone down :)
I'd say go for the low F as you seem to get such pleasure being able to "feel" the low end. If you're in the presence of others who enjoy the sharing of music, you'll be able to play with them.
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Killa_Hertz
164 posts
Jan 10, 2016
4:35 PM
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Thanks for the advice. I just ordered 2 set low C and Low D from Rockin Rons. I know what umean about the low F being useful. The F is kinda high so a low f would be good to have. But i have a few G harps lying around. I'm gonna time my G lee oskar down to low F.
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
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New but determined
63 posts
Jan 10, 2016
7:50 PM
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I may end up with a spare G harp, is there a good video that shows how to tune down like you mention? I have a good tuner for my guitar I could use.
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Killa_Hertz
168 posts
Jan 10, 2016
10:16 PM
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I don't know about any videos, but if you ve never tuned a harp before this one might be a lil tricky.
The best way i think is to add weight to the end of the reeds. I think i read someone used super glue. Nail polish. Solder. Imma do some research to see what works best.
Because if you take away metal from the rivet end the pitch goes down. Take away metal from the tip and pitch goes up. So the oposite is also true. Add metal or weight to the end and pitch will go down. How much to hit F idk. You would still have to tune it aswell. You may be able to go down to F by just tuning it and not adding anything. I'm not exactly sure how far down you can tune something and stiil preserve reed integrity.
Ill do some more reaserch on it and let you know.
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"Trust Those Who Seek The Truth...
Doubt Those Who Say They Have Found It."
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SuperBee
3212 posts
Jan 11, 2016
1:27 PM
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Ah, seems the spam net got my last post.
I suggested blu tack is the stuff to use to weight the reeds and tune down. Reversible, adjustable and stays put.
Hope this one is not spammy
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