restlesscourage
1 post
Mar 14, 2014
11:32 AM
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I'm in the market for my first harp, and have pretty much narrowed the field down to these two models. I'm leaning heavily toward the Suzuki, but my harp-afficionado friends are telling me Hohner is the only way to go, which is making me hesitate. I'd love to hear your pro/con lists, particularly from those of you who've had experience with both.
Thanks much!
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rogonzab
496 posts
Mar 14, 2014
11:44 AM
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I have both, and they are very good.
If this is your first harp, then go for the one you think is nicer, and in the key of C.
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arzajac
1308 posts
Mar 14, 2014
1:03 PM
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Both are good harps. Both have non-vented covers and recessed reed plates (your lips touch the comb, not the reed plate)
But they are completely different harps. The Special 20 has better reeds, in my opinion. Both harps can be excellent to play, learn bending notes on, etc... But if you ever want a harp that can play overblows smoothly, the SP20 reeds hold more potential.
The SP20 may be a little more airtight out-of-the-box than the BluesMaster. An airtight harp is always a good thing.
I like vented covers, and the Harp Master is the same harp as the Blues Master but has different cover plates. You can get the Harp Master for about half the cost of the SP20 in Canada. Hohner prices are a little higher here and Suzuki's are a little lower.
What's available to you? It's always nice to at least be familiar with some harps that are common to local music stores. Even if they are not your favorite, you know that you will always be able to find them.
"Hohner is the only way to go"
Not so. The Suzuki Manji has excellent reeds, too. I would say they are even better than Hohner reeds in the higher keys (above C). Seydel harps are excellent, too. Some people are thrown off by the wider spaced holes while other can't live without it and never go back.
I strongly suggest you try them all. No need to do it all at once, but if your like most people who get hooked by habit of playing harp, you will find yourself in a year from now with a small collection of harps.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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arzajac
1309 posts
Mar 14, 2014
1:03 PM
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Both are good harps. Both have non-vented covers and recessed reed plates (your lips touch the comb, not the reed plate)
But they are completely different harps. The Special 20 has better reeds, in my opinion. Both harps can be excellent to play, learn bending notes on, etc... But if you ever want a harp that can play overblows smoothly, the SP20 reeds hold more potential.
The SP20 may be a little more airtight out-of-the-box than the BluesMaster. An airtight harp is always a good thing.
I like vented covers, and the Harp Master is the same harp as the Blues Master but has different cover plates. You can get the Harp Master for about half the cost of the SP20 in Canada. Hohner prices are a little higher here and Suzuki's are a little lower.
What's available to you? It's always nice to at least be familiar with some harps that are common to local music stores. Even if they are not your favorite, you know that you will always be able to find them.
"Hohner is the only way to go"
Not so. The Suzuki Manji has excellent reeds, too. I would say they are even better than Hohner reeds in the higher keys (above C). Seydel harps are excellent, too. Some people are thrown off by the wider spaced holes while other can't live without it and never go back.
I strongly suggest you try them all. No need to do it all at once, but if your like most people who get hooked by habit of playing harp, you will find yourself in a year from now with a small collection of harps.
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
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2chops
225 posts
Mar 14, 2014
1:07 PM
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Buy one of each in the key of C. This will give you the chance to compare for yourself to YOUR OWN EAR. You'll have an extra "just in case" you get too enthusiastic and blow a reed. I'm a SP20 guy mainly. But I do have one Suzuki. Chords sound a bit better on the SP20 to my ear. Both of these are priced low enough that buying one of each won't break you.
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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groyster1
2566 posts
Mar 14, 2014
3:41 PM
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they are both very good,inexpensive harps....I prefer the harpmaster to bluesmaster but would give a slight edge to special 20........
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dougharps
576 posts
Mar 14, 2014
3:47 PM
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Unless I had money problems or the price was too good to pass by I would always choose the SP20 over the Bluesmaster, especially for my primary set of harps. I have some Bluesmasters I bought for less used keys (B, F#, Db, Ab) because they were on a really good discount at the time. They will do OK and I have used them when needed, but the Special 20 is a better playing harp in my opinion.
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Doug S.
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Gnarly
957 posts
Mar 14, 2014
4:38 PM
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Suzuki harmonicas come with a one year warranty, which includes reed breakage.
I use Special 20s a lot, but then, I fix my own harps for free!
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Martin
630 posts
Mar 14, 2014
5:00 PM
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@Gnarly: Is this true for Suzuki harmonicas all over the world? A one year warranty for reed breakage?
I´d seriously appreciate an answer -- I know you have some affiliation to the company.
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arzajac
1310 posts
Mar 14, 2014
7:49 PM
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Looking up Suzuki HarpMaster on YouTube, I found this: Filip Jers "Lonely wednesday night - jamming some jazz blues in 12th position on a Suzuki Harpmaster MR-200 Diatonic Harmonica. "
Awesome stuff!
Crazy sustained overblow at 1:05... Amazing. Could that note have carried the message any better? Wow!
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Custom overblow harps. Harmonica service and repair.
Last Edited by arzajac on Mar 15, 2014 2:18 AM
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slackwater
24 posts
Mar 15, 2014
12:10 AM
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There's lots of choice and lots of choosers, MY take is that for many years I was a Hohner lover, with a couple of years checking out Lee Oscars when they first showed up around here in the eighties, then going back to Hohners ever since...until about twelve months ago when I bought a Manji and a Marine Band Crossover at the same time. I preferred the Manji. Since then I wanted some new harps in keys I only play sporadically so I tried a couple of Harpmasters and Bluesmasters- of which I like the Harpmasters best. From now on, untill further notice, I'll be using Suzuki.
I really like 'em, the Manjis( which I've bought more of)and the cheaper ones too!
To me, the welded in reeds represent the biggest step forward in harps I've seen in a long time..maybe ever! In fact I wonder how long before we see Hohner having a go at welded reeds, they've become such followers in recent years.
I've gotta say, I've never got into customised harps at all, from what I gather that's a whole other story but, for off the shelf instruments, from now on it's Suzuki for me.
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Gipsy
49 posts
Mar 15, 2014
12:34 AM
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I pretty much guarantee that whichever of the 2 harps you buy now, you'll buy the other one not far down the road. Why not save the agonising and buy them both now? In the long run it'll save you worrying whether you've made the correct decision.
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Gnarly
958 posts
Mar 15, 2014
1:11 AM
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@Martin, I can't speak for countries other than the US, but I am the Suzuki harmonica repair person, and I can offer that warranty service to all of our customers--unless they bought from Best Deals Eva, a company which is selling non warranty harps.
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SuperBee
1752 posts
Mar 15, 2014
3:47 AM
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For me, these two are not in the same class. Bluesmaster is a substandard harp in my view. Not exactly a junk harp, but not something I'd consider a competitor for sp20
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Kingley
3514 posts
Mar 15, 2014
4:03 AM
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I honestly wouldn't worry about it too much and I'd take whatever people say with a pinch of salt. Everyone is different and what works for one person won't necessarily work for you. There is no right, wrong or best brand/model of harmonica. My advice would be to buy any mid priced harmonica to learn some stuff on. Just spend around $30-$50 and get whichever one takes your fancy. Just make sure it's a standard tuned diatonic harmonica. Then once you have some basics down and can play clean single notes, bend some notes, play the major scale, the pentatonic scale and the blues scale. Then try a few different models and brands of harmonica, to see which you prefer. Also try them in different keys. I'd recommend C, D, A, Bb and G to start with as that will cover the lions share of the stuff you'll hear on record. Once you have a decent grounding and as your technique grows, then buy more keys in the harp brand/model you prefer and concentrate on learning and building your acoustic tone and honing your chops.
Last Edited by Kingley on Mar 15, 2014 4:04 AM
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Martin
631 posts
Mar 15, 2014
12:21 PM
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Thanks Gnarly, I´ll try to check with the local agent, if I can find one!
Sadly, buying harps from the US has turned out to be rather costly for me in the past, when the diligent Swedish customs officials has gone through my packages and added a hefty figure in tax etc, plus roughly that amount once again for their pleasure of doing just that. But it´s their duty.
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restlesscourage
2 posts
Mar 15, 2014
3:18 PM
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Thanks for the responses, all! Lots of good information.
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