|
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Hohner Blues Harps
Hohner Blues Harps
Page:
1
johntrem
6 posts
Jun 08, 2008
2:18 PM
|
The main thrust of this post is the fact that most serious blues harp players use Marine Bands as opposed to Blues Harps, a harps "designed" for blues playing. When I was young I bought Marine Bands, then thinking I was using the "wrong" harp, switched to Blues Harps. I like boths models, but since I've begun to get back into playing, I've found a preferance for the Marine Band. Any thoughts, opinions or ideas as to the reasons serious players prefer the Marine Band over the Blues Harp, other than volume or tone, or are those the main reasons?
|
shaneboylan
28 posts
Jun 08, 2008
2:28 PM
|
Great topic.
I began by buying a few blues harps purely because of the name, but since then i've bought an MB and IMO the sound is quite similar (with the MB having an edge thanks to the holes a t the side of the cover) there's one area where the MB is definitely superior. I like wooden combs - and the somewhat annoying tendency of the MB's comb to swell actually renders it favourable to the blues harp's comb - which almost seems to sit in a bit from the metal casing and sometimes prevents your lips getting a decent airlock on when tongue blocking.
But in general - both are good harps and are very playable.
----------
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window."
-Steven Wright
|
metalosaurio
12 posts
Jun 08, 2008
4:12 PM
|
I'm not very fond of the wood harps, mainly because you have to treat the wood and the harp to get an airtight harp, wich you can get in the first place with some other harps (the SP20 for example). But putting aside the wood considerations, a good reason to chose the MB instead of the blues harp, is if your want to do cutomization or to simple replace a broken reed. The hohner do not sell individual reeds for the MS series but they do for the MB, SP20 and GM, wich use the same reeds.
regards,
Nicolas
|
Preston
18 posts
Jun 08, 2008
7:15 PM
|
I personally love the blues the harp. I only have one of them - and I actually bought it on a whim. I went in to replace my MB key of C that had just went flat on several reeds, and they were out MB's. The guy behind the counter recommended the Blues Harp, as it had the wooden comb like the MB. I decided to give it a shot, and I haven't regretted it since.
The first thing I noticed (and I realize this is personal preference) is that they are wider than the MB. I have large hands and large fingers, and I always felt when I was holding the harmonica that I had to hold it way out on the edge to get it deep in my mouth. The BH ads a little extra to hang onto as opposed to the MB.
I've played it for several weeks now and there is absolutely NO swelling in the comb - one of my main complaints with the MB.
Also, the reeds are part of the MS series, so you can replace them without replacing the whole harp. I know metalosaurio says you can replace individual reeds on the MB's, but if you aren't real handy already, replacing entire reedplates is a heck of alot easier.
Bottom line, when I go to buy my next harp, I will get another Blues Harp.
|
Preston
19 posts
Jun 08, 2008
7:15 PM
|
I personally love the blues the harp. I only have one of them - and I actually bought it on a whim. I went in to replace my MB key of C that had just went flat on several reeds, and they were out MB's. The guy behind the counter recommended the Blues Harp, as it had the wooden comb like the MB. I decided to give it a shot, and I haven't regretted it since.
The first thing I noticed (and I realize this is personal preference) is that they are wider than the MB. I have large hands and large fingers, and I always felt when I was holding the harmonica that I had to hold it way out on the edge to get it deep in my mouth. The BH ads a little extra to hang onto as opposed to the MB.
I've played it for several weeks now and there is absolutely NO swelling in the comb - one of my main complaints with the MB.
Also, the reeds are part of the MS series, so you can replace them without replacing the whole harp. I know metalosaurio says you can replace individual reeds on the MB's, but if you aren't real handy already, replacing entire reedplates is a heck of alot easier.
Bottom line, when I go to buy my next harp, I will get another Blues Harp.
|
harpmonkey
34 posts
Jun 09, 2008
12:17 AM
|
I currently have several MB, a handful of Hohner Hot Metal, and one Hohner Pocket Pal. All but the MB's were bought when I first started playing harp.
I also had one of the $3 Hohners (High G) and tried to gap it and "gapped" the reed right out of the sucker (the grinding for tuning was done right on the base of the reed and left no strength.
Since that venure, I have only opened one MB harp and looked at it. I will try again to gap it. It's a Bb and very leaky on the bottom, especially the 2 and 3 draw.
I bought one Seydel low C, (wood comb) and I love it. It seems to be a very good harp. Compared to my low Eb MB, it plays easier and it does not reed rattle as badly as the MB does.
I am happy and plan on purchasing a few more Seydels down the road.
But The Hot Metal, Pocket Pals are not up to snuff, they play, but are either weak on tone, or are not up to the dynamics of blues playing.
And I also have 4 harmonic minor Lee Oskars that I got a good deal on and wanted to try.
They are good for just noodling, but I still prefer the playability of the MB.
I am partial to wood combs at this point.
hth
|
New_B
3 posts
Jun 10, 2008
6:35 PM
|
I have both the Marine Band and the Blues Harp. I prefer the MB only because I have small hands and it is slightly smaller than the BH. It just feels better.
Last Edited by on Jun 10, 2008 6:35 PM
|
johntrem
10 posts
Jun 11, 2008
5:23 AM
|
Several posters have stated their preference for Blues Harps over Marine Bands due to the Blues Harp being wider than the Marine Band. Are these posters refering to the length of the harps? When I hold my Blues Harps next to my Marine Bands in comparison, they are the same length. Blues Harps have more shallow covers and therefore are smaller in height. Granted, my Blues Harps are older. Has the design been changed and are contemporary models of the Blues Harp "wider" (longer in length) than the Marine Band?
|
harpmonkey
40 posts
Jun 11, 2008
8:37 PM
|
My wife gave me a MB (C) and a Blues harp (C) back in 1988.
I had no idea how to play harp, tried from the silly paper insert and promptly, picked my Washburn strat body back up, cranked up the amp and used the harps as slides...
Never tried harp again.
I just didn't have a clue (or Adam's Youtube lessons)
But I remember the harps were the same harps, wood combs and all, but with different covers. I could not figure out why the blues harp, would not "play" blues. I played one, then the other. One hole, two holes, chords, tried everything.
But just never knew about bending or anything.
Figured I just did not have the right harps.
But they sounded the same, and were the same dimensions.
Then one day a few years ago, I decided I had to learn blues harp, stumbled on Adams third video and have been "hooked on harp" (hence the name "harpmonkey")
Got that harp monkey on my back, and I think it's a forever thing.
(OK, another song guys)
But I think the new Blues Harps are different than the older one I had.
|
geordiebluesman
36 posts
Jun 12, 2008
12:42 AM
|
{VERSE} I ain't had no supper,ain't had a sip of wet,i know i need to earn some green, but i ain't working yet,i just can't break this habit,i'm harpin all the day,there's a blue harp monkey on my back,and i guesse he's here to stay(CHORUS)Yeah there ,s a monkey,a monkey on my back,an that monkey just ain't running,------from my harp attack! Here you go Harpmonkey see what you can do with this as a starter,you could have your own signature tune.Cheers,KEEP ON HARPIN!
|
TBone69
13 posts
Jun 12, 2008
2:10 PM
|
The only Marine Band I tried was an old one I got from my wifes grandfather. I could only get polka-esque sounds out of it.
This is before I new anything about playing and figured if I bought a Hohner Blues harp I could play the blues. Boy was I in for a suprise.
Anyways I have not ventured away from them since and have them in multiple keys. The only thing I dont like is the sharp edges on the reed plates. I find that I need to take the file to everyone of them, just make sure to close of the holes before filing or take them apart before hand.
I almsot tried a Lee Oskar but could not get myself to buy a plastic combed harmonica.
|
harpmonkey
43 posts
Jun 13, 2008
12:04 AM
|
"...covering the holes before filing."
Reminded me of a plastic combed harp I bought last year.
New, out of the box, started up and down the harp. Then started draw bending, getting a groove on and all of a sudden, some small bit of plastic shaving hits the back of my throat and I think, "Damn..." "Find me dead in my truck, in the parking lot of a music store".
Shot dead by a Bb harmonica...
But then I coughed like a cat with a furball, and... well I am still here.
Last Edited by on Jun 13, 2008 12:05 AM
|
Scoltx
8 posts
Jun 14, 2008
7:32 PM
|
I liked Lee Oskars and SP20's for about the first year but always preferred the tone of my G Blues Harp. The LO's had a wider hole spacing than the Hohners and I had a hard time switching back and forth so decided to replace the LO's and SP20's with Blues Harps after getting an email from Elderly Instruments about another impending price hike from Hohner.
I've been hitting all the local music stores in my area and replacing them one by one with BH's. I can usually find older stock even cheaper than the online discount music stores.
One plus of the BH (at least to me) is that the coverplates have supports in the middle whereas the MB doesn't, makes them a little less crushable. A downside the the BH is that it doesn't come in as many keys. I was looking for a Low F and ended up buying an MB for like $23 Canadian! Not too shabby, however they must have been asleep on the production line the day they made that harp, it is completely missing a nail on the lower coverplate.
My next harp will likely be a Marine Band 364 Low C, I like the low tones, especially after hearing Deak Harp jammin on one in Adams vid #129.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U8S71M9brVI
Anyone else have problems with SP20 coverplates tarnishing badly after a few weeks of use? I have not noticed that on any other harps ie. BH, MB, LO or Big River.
|
wheezer
3 posts
Jun 15, 2008
4:41 AM
|
Yes, the SP20 coverplates do deteriorate very badly.I also have pro harps where the black finish has flaked and I treat these in the same way. I find that all I can do is remove them and polish them with fine wet and dry paper. Of course this removes more of the finish and needs doing often, but they are playable. Generally the subject of "which harp" is a minefield, the same goes for mic's and amps. In the end it is whatever suits you best. I have a Jambone F that cost 2GBP that has lasted 10 yrs of regular use and still plays well, on the other hand a Suzuki Bluesmaster in A blew 3rd draw after 2 gigs. I just don't think that money always gets the best in harps, luck is what matters. I have never played a Marine Band that I really liked but have had Pro Harps that i thought were great. I generally do not like wooden bodies or overlapping reed plates (as in Hohner MS)I would always look for plastic body and recessed plates as in Lee Oskar but I have an MS Blues Band D(plastic comb) that is good and a Blues Band E (wooden
comb) that I like. Although they both have MS type reed plates they both play pretty well. Both these harps were bought for me and they would not have been my choice.
You can go on and on about what harp to buy but to me the big question is why do we pay twice as much in the U.K. as
they do on the U.S.A. for known brand harps like Hohner Over there you get for Dollars what we pay in GB Pounds, at $2 to the GBP to me that makes them twice as expensive here.
Last Edited by on Jun 15, 2008 6:59 AM
|
Post a Message
|
