Ant138
504 posts
Jul 21, 2010
1:07 AM
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Does anyone know how Suzuki got into making Harmonicas?
This question has been puzzling me for a while. I'm assuming
its the same Suzuki that makes Cars and MotorBikes. The logo sure looks the same.
Did they start making harps first and thought WOW!! were good at this lets try making a top performance Motorbike.
What stopped Hohner or Seydel from branching out from making instruments?
I suppose if Hohner started making Cars they wouldn't be the best off the forecourt car you could buy. You might need to take it to Buddha, Spiers or Harrison's garage and have it tweeked:o)
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2010 1:12 AM
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Brendan Power
63 posts
Jul 21, 2010
1:30 AM
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No, they're different companies. Suzuki is a very common name in Japan, a bit like Smith in the West.
Actually, Suzuki Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co. started BEFORE Suzuki Motors. According to Tachikawa-san (better known to us as Tachi, head of worldwide sales), the boss of Suzuki Motors met Manji Suzuki and asked his permission to use the same name, as the two companies are both based in Hamamatsu. They remain very good friends.
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mikolune
36 posts
Jul 21, 2010
1:41 AM
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However - the Yamaha the automotive company and the musical instrument company belong to the same Yamaha corporation - but they don't make harps. The logo is identical. Question is: what did they start out making - cars or pianos ? will try and find out!
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Ant138
505 posts
Jul 21, 2010
1:41 AM
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Thanks for that Brendan, i wasn't expecting a definitive answer on this one. it's been puzzling me for a while as the logo's are very similar.
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tookatooka
1554 posts
Jul 21, 2010
1:53 AM
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Wow! Funny you should bring this up. Bought my wife a Suzuki Splash yesterday. Superb little car fully loaded. Suzuki make superior engines. If interested look up hayabusa smart car on YouTube. It's a smart car fitted with the Suzuki Hayabusa 1 litre engine from the worlds fastest motorbike. Incredible.
I like Suzuki harps. I like Suzuki cars.
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Ant138
506 posts
Jul 21, 2010
2:11 AM
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@ Mikolune, it would be interesting to know what Yamaha started making first. Maybe the name Yamaha is a popular name like Suzuki and Yamaha bought another company out?
I'm still unsure about Suzuki Harps. I only own one, a Promaster in A which has a really sticky 3 hole which i can't seem to sort out no matter what i try. I'm hoping the Manji i just ordered will be better than the promaster as all i hear is good things about Suzuki harps.
@ Tooka, i'll look up the Hayabusa later when i get home from work:o)
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HarveyHarp
82 posts
Jul 21, 2010
7:43 AM
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Yamaha started as a Piano Company if I remember correctly. Their Logo is crossed tuning forks. Actually, Yamaha used to make Harmonicas. My first harmonica was a Yamaha Solo Tuned Harp that I bought when I was in the Air Force in Thailand in 1971. The first song I picked out was Moon River. I do not know when they stopped.
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toddlgreene
1579 posts
Jul 21, 2010
7:45 AM
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Harvey, they stopped right after they heard you play Moon River.
Just kidding!
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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HarveyHarp
83 posts
Jul 21, 2010
7:55 AM
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You're right. I should have learned Sukiyaki, but It has some real cool 3 draw bends that I could not do back then
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mikolune
39 posts
Jul 21, 2010
8:04 PM
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@Ant138: seems they started making out pianos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamaha_Corporation
edit: just saw this was already answered :)
didn't know they used to make harmonicas.
Last Edited by on Jul 21, 2010 8:05 PM
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