DanP
272 posts
Mar 05, 2015
12:38 PM
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Does anyone know if you can still get Hering harmonicas in the USA? I bought a couple a few years back and while they are not my favorite harps, I've grown to like them. These days none of the major on-line dealers, such as Musician's Friend, Amazon, Rockin' Ron's, Music 123 etc. currently stock them. There is a dealer on eBay that sells a few but not what I'm looking for and a couple of dubious-looking websites that claim to have them but that's all I can find. Thanks in advance for any info.
Last Edited by DanP on Mar 05, 2015 12:44 PM
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james jeffery
6 posts
Mar 05, 2015
12:52 PM
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I'm living in Brazil right now and they're about all you can get... They used to make harps for Hohner before they moved everything to china so a lot of them have the same spec as Hohner harps. They seem to be set up for hard playing so I always have to gap mine... But I do quite like them!
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jj3ff3ry
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shakeylee
137 posts
Mar 05, 2015
1:03 PM
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danp,what model are you interested in?
i might know of a source. i believe eezy reeder and bosco bought out most of the remaining american stock,but i could be wrong.
i really liked hering.i wish they were still here too.i can get some harps going with a mixture of hering and hohner parts.
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www.shakeylee.com
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Meaux Jeaux
51 posts
Mar 05, 2015
1:06 PM
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I like Hering Harmonicas too, but they seem to have troubles with North American distribution, I can
not say as to why. Pat Missin might know more, you
can contact him thru his site.
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DanP
273 posts
Mar 05, 2015
2:57 PM
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I am looking for the Hering Free Blues harmonica. I think they are good to have for spares or for the odd keys. They are (or were) very solid and well-made for the price.
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GMaj7
632 posts
Mar 05, 2015
4:38 PM
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Herring has pretty much gone out of business completely.
The equipment is still around as are some of the factory workers but every attempt to revive the company has failed.
Fred at EZ Reeder may have a few Herring harps, but probably mostly in the chromatic line.
Herring actually made a great chromatic.
Brendan may chime in on this and whatever he says will be more correct than what I think is the case.
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Greg Jones
16:23 Custom Harmonicas
greg@1623customharmonicas.com
1623customharmonicas.com
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nacoran
8309 posts
Mar 05, 2015
8:31 PM
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Greg, that's sad news. I knew Bends had gone under. I think the more competition out there the better for the average consumer.
I keep wondering if one of the Chinese companies will step up it's game. I seem to remember hearing or reading that one of the manufacturers had a decent premium line but they were being sold domestically.
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Nate
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First Post- May 8, 2009
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Todd Parrott
1309 posts
Mar 05, 2015
8:36 PM
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Isn't Madcat still using Herings? Perhaps he may know of a source for them.
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shakeylee
138 posts
Mar 06, 2015
11:36 AM
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I think there was a time when harp depot was not reliable,but from what I understand ,the present owner is reliable .
They do have herings . Limited stock,but existing.
Also, if you have a drill,you can get pre-ms meisterklasse reed plates to fit hering master blues,vintage 1927 etc.
It is a shame to hear the company is out of business . I really like hering .their chromatics are awesome .
I would imagine,someone with bucks could make a go of it if they concentrated on ,say one wood and one plastic combed diatonic and one twelve hole chromatic.
Too bad I am not a billionaire !!
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www.shakeylee.com
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isaacullah
2946 posts
Mar 06, 2015
3:01 PM
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@nacoran: "I keep wondering if one of the Chinese companies will step up it's game."
As far as I know, the BEST diatonic harmonica being made in China right now is the model that is variably called the "Bluesbender PAC" (for Hohner), the "Sonnyboy Special" (for http://sonnyboysmusicstore.co.uk/), and are also what I believe Brendan P. used for his "own brand" Powerbenders (at least, the one I have is this model). I have no idea which specific harp factory is making this model, but it's different than the Leo Shi and Swans that I've seen. Quality is probably on par with the best of the Huang harps from years past. That is, it's good, but not great.
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isaacullah
2947 posts
Mar 06, 2015
3:17 PM
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BTW, talking about both Herring and Chinese harps, does the design of this harp look familiar to anyone?
Here's the link to that one from "Hero" harmonicas: http://www.harmonica-hero.com/pic/picshow-5-108852-023000553/?lang=3
And what about this one from Swan?
Link: http://swanmusicstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_5&products_id=127
Makes me think that the Chinese manufacturers saw the Brazilian ones as a threat, and are trying/have tried to undercut their market. I suppose it worked?
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Last Edited by isaacullah on Mar 06, 2015 3:19 PM
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sonny3
251 posts
Mar 06, 2015
3:37 PM
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Yeah i kind of like the vintage harps with just tuning.Bought a couple off ez reeder a few weeks back.It seems like Hering is around just no distribution in the states.
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nacoran
8312 posts
Mar 06, 2015
4:52 PM
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Their Brazilian site is still up, so maybe they haven't completely thrown in the towel.
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Nate
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shakeylee
157 posts
Mar 11, 2015
7:27 PM
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has anyone ever tried their rod piazza signature pure bronze model?
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www.shakeylee.com
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Gnarly
1273 posts
Mar 12, 2015
2:23 PM
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AFAIK, Brendan Power is still having Hering build his ChromaBender 12 hole X-reed harp--I do the domestic repairs for him, they were making his Irish Session harp too.
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