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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Low range harps
Low range harps
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harpmonkey
1 post
Apr 05, 2008
5:27 PM
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Greetings all!
I have spent some time trying to discover what harp is being played by Sonny Boy Williams II (Alec Rice Miller).
Especially on this cut:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH6PT6sJODw
Some video clips and still pics show what looks like a 12/14 hole Marine Band, but I can't be sure.
I know that Hohner used to make a lower range harp, but discontinued it around 1975, and that they make the 364, 365 but the information on Hohner's site shows these to be additional upper end, or split with two holes on the upper and two holes on the lower end of the harp.
Marine Band 364 (only adds two high end holes)
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?1572
Marine Band 365 (adds two holes to the low end and two holes to the high end)
The 365 SBS (Steve Baker Special) is the 12 hole 365 but drops the highest (number 10 hole) and adds three holed to the lower end of the harp, which gives a complete lower octave, and allows you to draw bend all six of the lower holes.
Marine Band 365 SBS
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?29
Seydel also makes a 12 hole similar and it is a shorter length harp than the 365 SBS, which seems to make holding and hand effects more natural feeling like a standard 10 hole diatonic.
Seydel Solist Pro 12
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=101875&Locale=en_GB
I really like the low bass, never forced and laid back warm sound SBWII gets when chugging with the harp he is using. Reminds me of a lower clarinet with that woody and airy sound. If anyone has a definitive answer I would be greatful.
Thanks in advance!
HM
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leanground
Guest
Apr 06, 2008
12:41 PM
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he's using a Hohner "Echo Vamper" discontinued. It's now a Marine Band 364
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harpmonkey
4 posts
Apr 06, 2008
1:56 PM
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Thanks for the reply!
The Echo Vamper was the Euopean version of the MB. Same harp. Much like many Japanese cameras having differnt names for the same body for export version.
So then it is only the additional lowwer 2 holes, 4 notes that allows that bass line?
Then the 365 SBS would provide an additional hole and 2 more lower notes?
Hohner's descriptioin of the 364 (and 365) is what confuses me:
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12-hole version of the popular Marine Band. Features four additional notes at the high end of the range. Keys of C, G, or D only. Length: 5 3/8".
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It indicates the additional holes are on the higher end of the harp.
If the harp is a standard MB 1896 tuned an octave lower, but with the additional 2 holes on the upper end, then that makes sense. If it just a standard tuning and upper holes, it would not play the bottom end any different.
The 365 SBS has all the holes at the bottom end according to Hohner.
At around $50 per harp, I don't want to purchase something I would not play (much).
Can anyone help clear this up for me?
If not, I can alway contact Hohner and post what they say.
In case anyone else is interested.
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