geordiebluesman
26 posts
May 31, 2008
2:18 AM
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Hi Harpers,i just wanted to share my thoughts on the MB Deluxe,having read all the comments on the "Which Harp Is Best" thread i got myself a couple of new harps,a Seydel and a MB Deluxe.The Seydel is nice but not great,but OH MY! the Honer is an absolute delight.Staight out of the box and stone cold it played better than anything i've had before it is even better than my Suzuki 350V's,and that takes some doing,this harp is super responsive,it gives a lovely percussive feeling in the throat and just makes you want to do faster and faster runs,and i got overblows from it straight off no effort at all!.Anyway that's it for me,from now on all my harps are gonna be MB deluxe's,if you have'nt tried one go treat yourself you won't be sorry i promise! Cheers.KEEP ON HARPIN
Last Edited by on May 31, 2008 2:20 AM
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ramclean
5 posts
May 31, 2008
4:08 AM
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Thanks for the post. I've been looking for more feedback on the MB Deluxe. Which Seydel did you try; and have you bought a Suzuki Bluesmaster?
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Jeff
91 posts
May 31, 2008
7:43 AM
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I have an entire set of MB Deluxes. They are great harps: really loud with an even more in your face tone than the regular MB's due to the very open coverplates. They play ever-so-slightly better than a stock MB due to the screws simply being more airtight and secure than the nails.
I've read interviews with Rick Epping (the creator of the MB Deluxe). And even he states that the reeds of the MB Deluxe are no different than the reeds in the regular MB. So for the new buyers, I wouldn't expect the Deluxe to play that much better than a stock MB. (I still have to open mine up and atleast regap them). But the volume and difference in tone due to the different coverplates make it a nice treat.
Here's a couple great articles on it at Mel Bay's site:
http://www.harmonicasessions.com/oct05/h-workbench.html
http://www.harmonicasessions.com/dec05/h-workbench.html
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bluesnut
17 posts
May 31, 2008
2:53 PM
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i bought key of A the MB deluxe has been a good buy but the 2 draw is flat and i have not tuned it up. the rest are special 20s. the MBs i purchased were rough on the lips when it expanded due to saliva, the MB deluxe dose not.
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Patrick Barker
63 posts
May 31, 2008
3:53 PM
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I've always wanted to try it but feel its a bit expensive. Maybe I'll try one because it sounds like everyone loves it, and I've heard its as good as customs of similar prices. While the reeds may be the same as the original Marine Band, I'm guessing their gapping, the sealed comb, and the crimped cover plates could make a big difference in air tightness and volume of the harp.
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ramclean
6 posts
May 31, 2008
5:09 PM
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Jeff: You said in another post that you were impressed by Seydel Soloist Pros. I've bought one Seydel, a Blues Session. It is a well made harp; but, it isn't as responsive as my Bluesmasters. It is hard to find a Richter tuned harmonica that is anywhere near the Suzuki's. Thoughts?
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Jeff
92 posts
May 31, 2008
6:47 PM
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In terms of responsiveness, nothing can match a Suzuki (stock-wise). Don't waste your money on the never-ending quest.
But I'm in love with the Marine Band tone; especially when it comes to the 3/4 bend. The Suzuki's just don't have the gritty "honk" that the Marine Band delivers so well. As my playing progresses I've found I'm willing to compromise a little bit on the responsiveness of a harp to play one that has a better tone. And that's why I play the MB Deluxes (customized of course).
I like the Seydel's because they have a sweeter Marine Band-esque tone. But yeah, nothing is going to come close to a Bluesmaster in terms of playability. And I've tried virtually every current stock diatonic harp on the market. I would just retune your Bluesmasters to a Richter tuning. Or pay $15 for Randy Sandoval at Genesis to do it.
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geordiebluesman
27 posts
Jun 01, 2008
12:50 PM
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Dear Ramclean,in response to your question the seydel is a soloist pro and no i have'nt tried a Suzuki Bluesmaster cos i really love my 350V's but their tone is a bit bright and i love that down and dirty rasp you can only seem to get from an MB,i'll tell you something about the MB Deluxe though,the comb seems to swell up more than my stock MB's,i don't know if the comb is a different wood, but it is a different colour so maybe it is,does anyone know?
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Patrick Barker
64 posts
Jun 02, 2008
4:35 PM
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Both the MB and the MB deluxe have a pear wood comb, and I'm guessing the color difference is due to a different finish. The Hohner website says that the MB deluxe has a sealed comb, so it shouldn't expand at all- I wonder what happened with yours.
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geordiebluesman
28 posts
Jun 03, 2008
1:25 PM
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i dunno Patrick but it's a real lip slicer now but i'm gonna shave it back with a razor blade and seal it with some marine varnish that is used on boat hulls,that should keep it dry even with my massive slopping cake hole!
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Jeff
94 posts
Jun 03, 2008
8:48 PM
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Not having to work today, I spent 8 straight hours dedicated to learning Jason's solo in Blues Penitentiary. Playing a MB Deluxe, my upper lip was bleeding officially for the first time since I've played harp. I feel like I'm now a member of some weird underground club. I just hope it doesn't hurt too bad tomorrow as I really want to finish up learning this piece, lol.
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geordiebluesman
31 posts
Jun 04, 2008
1:42 PM
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Dear Jeff,welcolme to the club,i once played along to the soundtrack of the film CROSSROAD,which is exellent,(except for the crap acting by the kid playing lightning boy,he was probably called that for being so wooden cos lightning is attracted to trees!)anyway i got so carried away that i totally tore my lips up and they swelled up massive for two days i looked like a porn star giving the invisible man a BJ!which is a bad look for a hetrosexual plumber in newcastle a place so macho you can get your head kicked in for wearing a vest in a blizzard,so now i make sure my lips are kept moist cos a blistered lip really hurts
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