Mozartist
Guest
Aug 24, 2008
3:56 PM
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Can anyone tell me exactly what the modular system is? Are MS harmonicas better? Thanks in advance. Long live Scott Joplin. He really put the sin in syncopation.
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oldwailer
156 posts
Aug 24, 2008
9:15 PM
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MS is actually an acronym penned at the Hohner factory that means "Mediocre Stuff."
The MS harps are pretty good--they mostly work and they play OK--they just don't really get down to it the way a Marine Band or Spec 20 will.
The "Modular System" idea was that you could swap combs, covers, and reed plates among all your mediocre harps. God only knows why Hohner didn't do the same kind of thing with their Non-Mediocre stuff--like MB and Spec 20. . .
Blues harps (MS)cost more than MB's! That's a rip!
Of course, this is just my humble little opinion and I am naught but a fledgling harper--somebody out there will probably have something good to say about them. . .
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Aussiesucker
27 posts
Aug 24, 2008
10:13 PM
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IMHO you are right Oldwailer. The MS system harps are really not as good as SP20s which probably should be modular. The problem though with replacement reed plates is that the plates cost 2/3 the price of a new harp and in the case of any wooden combed harp why would you bother anyway? I find that in using Bluesmasters they wear me out before I wear them out! Do I like playing them -well yes as they are 100% reliable and very lip friendly but probably lack in tone compared to a SP20. I have a couple of MS Blues Harps which have a nice tone but are not loud and I had 1 MS Big River in A which was IMHO a piece of junk. Without doubt the Big River is the leakiest harp and after having it apart numerous times and using micropore tape to effect a better seal it still was junk! It's a smart looking harp but don't let looks fool you as it's really cheap and nasty. It now lives in a Grandchilds toy box where it belongs.
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wheezer
27 posts
Aug 25, 2008
3:05 AM
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Old Wailer is spot on again! Mediocre Stuff is a great description, it really made me chuckle. The thing is though that the old type (recessed reedplate) SP20, Pro Harp & Cross Harp, all had interchangable parts in the first place. A couple
weeks ago I repaired all the duff reeds in my old type Hohners
and I had forgotten just how good they were to play. The MS models of these harps are no where near as good. As for the over lap on the reedplate, who thought that was a good idea!
To Aussiesucker. If you like the Suzuki Bluesmaster, wait till you try the Promaster 350V. Compared to MS Hohner it's the differnce between driving a Ford and a Bentley. One slight problem though is that Suzuki have just increased their prices.
I ordered a low F from 'bluzerd' on ebay and the price is now
$41.50. With the p&p that would bring the U.K. price to appx. £25.00, about £5.00 more than a MB. No contest!
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snakes
19 posts
Aug 25, 2008
3:56 PM
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Couldn't agree more about the quality of both Suzuki models. And yes dangit, prices have gone up.
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Warbleman
31 posts
Aug 25, 2008
7:03 PM
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I know that the Blues Harps don't have the amazing tone of the Marine Band. But I really think they catch a bad rap and I'm not sure why. They don't have the tone of a MB and that's why the MB is my harp of choice. But I have a couple Blues Harps and love them. They have a sealed comb, they're screwed together instead of nailed, in my experiences they play great, the case they come with is ten times better then the case included with Special 20's, MB's, Golden Melody's, etc, and is having the option of replacing the reed plates really a bad thing? Is there anyone out there that digs this jive I'm layin' down?
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Preston
43 posts
Aug 26, 2008
12:52 PM
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I couldn't agree with you more Warbleman. Blues Harp is my harp of choice as well. I have just plain quit buying Marine Bands.
In addition to all the positives you pointed out, I also love the covers. Do you know how many MB covers I've smashed in inadvertantly when I first started playing? It takes quite a bit to smash in a blues harp cover.
Lastly, I will leave everyone who doesn't like the MS system Harps with this thought: Tinus Koorn.
Author of tenhole.com and overblow.com, he plays a meisterklasse, wich is a MS harp. Now that dude can play in all 13 keys, all on 1 (one) "Mediocre Stuff" harp.
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oldwailer
160 posts
Aug 26, 2008
4:12 PM
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Warbleman, what's a "case?" OHH! You mean that piece of plastic that I throw into a box for future use when I first get a new harp--the harp then goes into my harp box.
I wouldn't care if they went back to the cardboard ones--remember how fun it was to duct tape them together?
I like the covers on the Blues Harp a lot--I have several of them--three in the key of D--and when I reach for a D that I want to wail with--I go for my old Big River--maybe I'll try putting the Blues Harp covers on the Big River--that might be an improvement on my mediocre D harps!
More seriously, if you like the BH--that's fine with me--Some people even like Suzuki's! (yuk, yuk))
Last Edited by on Aug 26, 2008 4:19 PM
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Warbleman
32 posts
Aug 26, 2008
6:22 PM
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I think you guys missed my point. I think Marine Bands are better, period. But that's only because I believe that as a musician how you sound is the most important thing and if that means sacrificing a little playability then so be it. But I just think that the Blues Harps don't get the respect they deserve. And I gotta say OldWailer, the Blues Harps "cases" make me pretty happy. I've finally gotten into the habit of not just carrying a harp in my pocket, I now stick it in an individual case and the BH cases are the only ones that hold the harp firmly enough to not rattle around. I too keep all my harps in a larger case, but when I'm not going to a gig I like to just carry one on me at all times in case the blues overtake me in the middle of Walmart or something. lol
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Miles Dewar
5 posts
Aug 26, 2008
7:47 PM
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Warbleman-
Ha Ha, Yes! I feel you. Im a Blues Harp man myself. The one thing i love about the Blues harp is that its very sturdy. I smash my hands together pretty hard while im playing, and the Blues harps are rock-solid. you dont get that nice "Grungy" sound that the Marine Bands have, but i still love the blues harp sound.
* There is one problem i found though, is that the corners of the coverplates and the very oouside edges of the corners have little places that cut my lips a lot. I just filed them down with a smooth file and it helped.
Other than that "little" problem the blues harps I believe that the Blues Harps are "Da Bomb".
also, i dont see why people DON'T like the switchable parts.
If the part that is broken can be replaced for even 3/4 the cost of the entire instrument, then why pay more, if you still need that key harp. But.... I can see how we can think the opposite because if I do 2/3 worth of damage to my car, I Would want to buy a new car, rather than replacing the 2/3 damage.
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Miles Dewar
6 posts
Aug 26, 2008
7:51 PM
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oldwailer. That's some funny stuff.
------ Be Positive!!!!! ------
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oldwailer
162 posts
Aug 26, 2008
8:40 PM
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I'll tell you, Miles, the BH doesn't have a corner on the market for razor edges. LO's are among the worst--I think all the harps I have needed a bit of file work to be safe for use.
LO's have the added benefit of removing excess beard hairs during your best riffs.
Of course, all I have are the regular models off the shelf--no deluxes or anything--seems I have a rather cheap wife--er, uh, small budget for harps!
Warbleman, I think the case is just an attempt to make up for firing the whole damn razor-edges removing department at the Hohner factory! ;)
Last Edited by on Aug 26, 2008 8:49 PM
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