baz
4 posts
Jun 08, 2008
2:10 PM
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So lets hear it guys what are the best harps for blues.,
I have been playing for 45 years started with the Honner Echo Super Vamper possibly before most of you guys were born
In those days good blues records were hard to find. I listened to a guy called cyril davis he played with Alexis Kornner who between them started the famous Marquee club in London. Trust me the value of this web site by Adam Gussow is priceless.
Out of the box harps usually are just a compromise on the best the instrument can do .If you can play well on a marine band out of the box how much better could you play if the harp was customised to you .This brings me on to another subject ie custom harps.Every body plays differently .Every persons mouth is different so it stands to reason that a "custom harp" may suit 8 out of 10 but if you are number 9 what do you do?
Well you either learn the trade and mod your own harps or you get off your ass and go see the man who mods them and work with him until you have perfected the right harp for you.Blues perfection is not just about feel Its about absolute confidence in the instument that you play.Today the standards are exceptionly high and to be a good blues player you need to eliminate as many of the intangablles as possible .If you start with the best possible harp then whatever is left IS YOU. So not all of us have the money or the time to chase around after harp techs. Some of us just like to play in the wood shed and feel good when the riff goes well These people do not need to join a band or test themselves in front of others but these are the people who possibly suffer the most from poor out of box harps. So having been there I ask again ,What are the best harps And Why?
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bluzlvr
38 posts
Jun 08, 2008
2:27 PM
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I own a custom Marine Band in A and a custom Special 20 in C, and they're both marvelous harps. I didn't have any special tweaking done, I just ordered them as is. I only use them for special occasions, but I've found that woodshedding on a harder to play uncustomized harp just makes you play better on the customized ones. Kinda like getting out of a Chevy and into a Ferrari.
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baz
5 posts
Jun 08, 2008
2:59 PM
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Ok Iam going to take a detailed analysis of the comments to this question and make a judgement at the end. Thanks for your comments. Baz
Last Edited by on Jun 08, 2008 3:00 PM
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metalosaurio
13 posts
Jun 08, 2008
4:31 PM
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well, for ME the best harp is the Special 20. Several reasons on this. First, it's airtight and very responsive, not like the wooden harps I've tried. I know you can treat the wood and make more airtight, but for me the comb didn't make a huge impact in my tone but airtightness does, so the plastic comb in the SP20 was just OK. second, it's very loud. not the loudest, wich I think would be the suzuki promaster (among the harps I have), but loud, so I can play very soft and given the time play louder and the people can tell the diference (specially in the slow blues)
Now I've started playing overblows, and it's a very good harp to make OBs, so is the golden melody, but they have somehwhat brighter tone and the plastic cracks if your open the harp to often, wich now that I'm doing some customization is important. And that bring us to the last consideration. the SP20 has reed replacements available, so I can replace my reeds if one is broken, without replacing the entire reedplate and of course not the entire harp.
all that has done the SP20 my harp of choice and I'm replacing all my harps with SP20, so I have to get used to just this harp in terms of OBs and customization, wich varies a lot between diferent brands.
regards,
Nicolas
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Jeff
99 posts
Jun 08, 2008
7:45 PM
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If you look at the pro's, virtually all of them own custom Marine Bands. So that should tell you something. All of the legends played MB's - so do most current players: Jason Ricci, Dennis Gruenling, James Cotton, Rick Estrin, Mark Hummel, Kim Wilson, of course, Mr. Gussow....
Out-of-the-box, Marine Bands are not the greatest harps, though. Suzuki's are the most responsive stock harps. But they have their own unique shortcomings. With it's massive support from pro's and players, a customized Marine Band is undeniably *the* "blues harp".
Last Edited by on Jun 08, 2008 10:50 PM
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zobot
14 posts
Jun 09, 2008
11:58 AM
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Interseting ! I'm about to purchase a new harp and I have been thinking about giving the suzuki bluesmaster a try for a while now, however, after reading some of the comments posted I'm now torn betwen the suzuki and the special 20. I've never played either and am by no means experienced in customizing apart fromm experimenting with gapping.Any opinions?
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baz
7 posts
Jun 09, 2008
12:46 PM
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Hi zobot Special twenty is a good harp but try the honner miesterclass (sorry about spelling ) This is the top dog off the shelf diatonic
Last Edited by on Jun 09, 2008 12:46 PM
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snakes
9 posts
Jun 09, 2008
12:52 PM
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Well I must admit that I am pretty new at this harmonica playing business, but for my money I like the Suzukis. I've only tried Lee Oskars, Special 20's, Hohner Bluesharps, Marine Bands, and Suzuki Bluesmasters as far as diatonics go. I also have not yet purchased a customized harmonica yet so we are only talking out of the box. To me (pricing aside) the Suzuki offers a better customer experience. The metal seems more polished and just glides and they are noticeably easier to bend than any of the other harps I have listed. I've taken some criticism for that last statement about being easy to bend which has made me ask the question of myself, but it is just too noticeable for me to dismiss. Now whether I will be saying that these are my favorite brand after I become more expert that remains to be seen, but I have never received a bad one (I order over the internet) and I find them airtight and the tone enjoyable as well. Therein lies my brand loyalty.
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Jeff
100 posts
Jun 09, 2008
2:12 PM
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Snakes, you would be right in saying that Suzuki's are easier to bend. Their reeds are a much softer bronze, opposed to the brass Hohner, Lee Oskar and Seydel use. They're also more airtight than other brands.
Though, I prefer a long-slot reed (Hohner) over a short-slot harp (Suzuki). It gives the harp a darker, crunchier, richer tone; Suzuki's tend to be on the bright side because of this. Suzuki reeds also have a longer sustain. So they don't pull of those choppy tongue-blocked rhythms as well as the Marine Bands. I also can't stand equal temperament tuning. All of the harp greats used a just or compromised tuning. The chords are much richer and warmer.
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baz
8 posts
Jun 09, 2008
4:22 PM
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Hi guys i started this thread because there is so much sales and promo stuff on harps it was time a reference of players comments at all levels was established .I am tired of the inconsistant quality of out of the box marine bands and as i suffer from poor eyes feel that the days of fixing and tuning are behind me .Why cant Honner produce harps that are tight enough to overblow without modification? Its not rocket science and they have been in the business long enough.Maybe if i am really lucky someone from one of the major manufacturers may tell me !!
In the meantime please keep posting your comments on which harps and why
Regards Baz UK
Last Edited by on Jun 09, 2008 4:23 PM
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Explorz
7 posts
Jun 09, 2008
4:40 PM
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Until I got my Suzuki Bluesmasters I enjoyed my Special 20's. However I now notice that through my particular mic and amp combo, when I blow on the high notes through the SP20 I can hear a lot of air behind the note. But when I blow on the same note and key on my Suzuki, the note is far cleaner without the extra noise of escaping air behind the note.
I am assuming that this has something to do with how airtight the Suzuki is as compared to the SP20. Just ordered two more Bluesmasters.
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Jeff
101 posts
Jun 09, 2008
6:51 PM
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2draw, the Marine Band Deluxe is put together with screws (is more airtight), has loud open-coverplates and a sealed comb. I use these as my practice "work-horse" harps. Like most Hohners, it's still the luck-of-the-draw whether you get a slightly leaky or great harp though.
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bluzlvr
39 posts
Jun 10, 2008
1:23 PM
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This question is for metalosaurio. Where do you get replacement reeds for the Special 20's? Have you ever replaced one? Was it difficult? (I guess that was three questions.....)
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johntrem
12 posts
Jun 13, 2008
3:05 AM
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I recently received a Suzuki Bluesmaster and must agree with numerous other posters regarding it's airtightness. Also, I second the comments concerning the smoothness of the polished surface of the covers. It was such a pleasant, different playing experience. Granted, it doesn't have the same voice as a Marine Band, to my ears it sounds sweeter, not the "gritty honk" of a Marine Band, but I've been playing it rather gently. Perhaps when the honeymoon period is over that will change. I plan on getting more keys in the Suzuki. I also, like others, don't understand the inconsistency of quality control at Hohner that so many on this forum have brought up. At a company that large and well-established, one would think that a problem like hit and miss quality in a product would have been solved long ago. And, as we all know, there is no return policy on bum harps. Buy a lemon, you're stuck with it.
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DocJon
20 posts
Jun 13, 2008
10:48 AM
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No love for the Bushman Delta Frost? I have one, and it seems to be very airtight and responsive, more so than the Hohner Pro Harp I had until recently. I remember liking my Marine Band, although I recall it was more leaky than the DF even when new. I won't buy another MB again, as I seem to have an allergy to the wood...I'd get a sore throat every time I'd play it, something that doesn't happen with plastic-combed harps.
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OEuropean
5 posts
Jun 18, 2008
1:17 PM
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I am just starting out to learn to play the blues harp (I'm a 'raw' beginner, who is still struggling to make clear single notes with the 'lip blocking' method). My wife bought me a Hohner Blues Harp. My second harp was a Hohner Marine Band (good reputation!). And a few days ago I couldn't resist purchasing a Seydel 1847 silver harmonica (stainless steel reeds and plastic comb).
I was more than pleasantly surprised by the out-of-the-box Seydel. All of a sudden I understood what airtightness means (the Blues Harp turned out to be extremely leaky and the Marine Band isn't airtight either). The beautiful 1847 is furthermore very responsive, loud and extremely easy to bend (even for a 'raw' beginner like myself). The sound is not very different from a Marine Band.
The 1847 is simply a fantastic harp to learn to play the blues!
Last Edited by on Jun 18, 2008 1:41 PM
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dmarxs
1 post
Jun 18, 2008
4:33 PM
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I would love to love Delta Frosts as I have two but in the UK they are gold dust, everyone is normaly out of stock, waiting for stock that never comes or just have a seletion on odd keys.
Never been fond of the marine band as I have big hands and... I kind of feel it gets lost in there as it's one of the smaller harps I have tried. Feels too dinky to me:)
Have a few 1847 silvers, great harp would love more, the cover plates are brilliant but not sure the steel justifies the price or maybe I just need a better job.
My favourite right now is the Seydel Blues Session, love the sound, feels just right for me, easy to play and bend. Feels very smooth to play. Just wish they had better quality cover plates as I found they tarnish a bit with heavy play.
Tried many other brands and types, but right now Seydel is top of my list.
Last Edited by on Jun 18, 2008 4:38 PM
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oldwailer
83 posts
Jun 18, 2008
8:22 PM
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I'm starting to think about the Seydels--since everybody pretty much seems to like them--are they tuned justified intonation? If so, I might just go the bucks to see what all the furor is about. I play a lot ot chords and the Suzuki type tuning just turns me off.
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OEuropean
6 posts
Jun 18, 2008
9:01 PM
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Many special tunings are offered as standard on several Seydel harps and handmade custom tunings are also available.
Have a look at the Seydel website:
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.sf/en_GB/?ObjectID=3305&Locale=en_GB
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baz
10 posts
Jul 13, 2008
3:50 AM
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Just started to use Sydel 1847 classic & silver .These really are fantastic out of the box harps.I can overblow these after they are warmed up and broken in which is something i have hardly ever been able to do with MBs.
Honner get your act together there is a lot of competition out there and you are falling behind
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EddyLizard2
21 posts
Jul 13, 2008
8:57 AM
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Last Edited by EddyLizard2 on Jun 24, 2013 3:14 PM
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Patrick Barker
85 posts
Jul 13, 2008
10:06 PM
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Oldwailer-
Seydels come with something called "compromised tuning". From what I gathered (I may be wrong), its cords are designed to sound good for cross harp (opposed to marine band's straight harp chords?) and are good for melodies. Here's where I read about it:
http://www.seydel1847.de/epages/Seydel.storefront/en_GB/?ObjectID=112215&Locale=en_GB
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"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
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wheezer
21 posts
Jul 28, 2008
2:46 AM
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Metalosurio
Where do you get individual reeds for SP20's from?
I change my own reeds but cannot find a supplier for single reeds. I have to raid old harps and cut down and re-tune old reeds. If you know where to get single reeds you are the answer to my prayers. Please help.
Bluzlver.
Go to my post 'single reed replacement update'
and you will find the information you require about changing single reeds.
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Patrick Barker
97 posts
Jul 28, 2008
12:12 PM
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Hey- I've been playing on marine bands and special 20's until I got a seydel blues solist in D recently.
This was a mistake- if you want to get a seydel, get either the solist pro or something else because the comb, although sealed, comes sticking out and hurt my lips a lot. Finally I sanded the comb down, and that helped a lot (but now whenever I tongue block the comb tastes extremely woody).
On the harp itself (not talking about the comb) it was loud and played smoothly. I can definitely understand why they're so popular but it almost seemed too airtight for me weirdly enough. While I don't like leaky harps, this harp just doesn't have the right feel for me, but maybe I need to break it in more.
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"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
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