Warbleman
38 posts
Dec 31, 2008
12:51 PM
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I was thinking that since there is a thread for the top blues harp players, there might as well be one for the top blues harps. Here are my top five harps for blues playing...
1.)Seydel 1847- The Seydel 1847 is my number one harp because it has the best combination of playability and sound and is aesthetically pleasing. It's also very durable because of the stainless steel reeds. I also ranked it number one out of respect for the Seydel company which is the oldest harmonica company in existence. All their harps are still handmade and hand tuned in Klingenthal, Germany and they are the most in tune harps I've ever played. Also the fantastic finish on the comb make it comfortable to the player and completely moisture sealed.
2.)Hohner Marine Band- I believe the Marine Band deserves the number two spot for a couple of reasons, and one of those reasons is certainly NOT consistency of playability. Most of the "big names" in the harmonica world play or at least at one time played Marine Bands (Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, James Cotton, etc). And they may possibly have the best bluesy crunch of any harp on the market (David Payne of Elk River Harmonicas has a fantastic video on youtube explaining why Marine Bands sound so darn good). My collection of harps consists of mostly marine bands because they have a great sound and because I don't have the money to spend on a whole set of Seydels. If only they played better, had a sealed comb, and weren't so prone to out of the box defects I'd have ranked them number one.
3.) Hohner Special 20- The Special 20 comes in at my number three spot because of the fantastic cover plates (I believe they are comfortable and sound warmer) and because of the addition of screws instead of nails. A special 20 doesn't sound quite like a Marine Band (at least in my opinion) but it is normally a better playing harp and is much more airtight. I'm not particularly fond of plastic combs either but it does completely eliminate the threat of a swelling comb.
4.) Hohner Blues Harp MS- This is where I'll probably get thrashed. I understand that many people don't like the Blues Harp, and to be honest I've never understood why. I think they play a thousand times better than a Marine Band, have a sealed comb, and don't sound half bad either. I also think they're louder and much more responsive then a Marine Band or even a Special 20 for that matter. The only reason I didn't rank the Blues Harp at number three was because I feel that they have a tendency to cut the player after an extended playing session. Ouch...
5.) Hohner Golden Melody- I'm absolutely positive that many of you will disagree with me on this one and I completely understand where you're coming from. I know that Golden Melody's are in equal temperament tuning making it unpractical to play very many chords. And I understand that for many people, this may render them almost completely unusable. But I believe that the Golden Melody is a fantastic playing harp with a little brighter sound (something that I occasionally find myself preferring). It's also (in my personal experiences) the most out of the box overblow-friendly Hohner harmonica on the market. Just stay away from chugging while playing Golden Melody's and you'll be fine.
So anyway, those are my top 5 blues harmonicas and the reasons why.
Last Edited by on Jan 01, 2009 3:33 PM
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tookatooka
65 posts
Dec 31, 2008
12:59 PM
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Great post Warbleman. I was wondering if it would be possible to construct a hybrid harp with the best of all the features you mention. I'm a Suzuki player but would love to try a Marine Band but I've heard so many horror stories, I'm reluctant to try them.
What I would like to do though is find out if it's possible to fit say marine band plates to a Suzuki Promaster comb and cover plates. Maybe I'll try and get some old harps off eBay and do a little experimentation.
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Warbleman
39 posts
Dec 31, 2008
1:15 PM
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I've never tried Suzuki harps but I've been meaning to try a couple models. And as for your hybrid harp theory, I seriously doubt that Marine Band parts are compatible with Suzuki parts. But hey, maybe you could try it out and strike gold. Might take a little mechanical know how but I say go for it.
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snakes
65 posts
Dec 31, 2008
1:54 PM
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I'll have to admit to liking Suzukis myself. Both the Bluesmaster and Promaster. But out of a sense of conformity I've been trying to give Marine Bands and Special 20's a chance. I've purchased 3 MB's and two SP20's. I generally start with a key of A, then a G, then C or B flat for the third purchase when testing harp brands. So I have an A & G in SP20 and an A, G, & C in a MB. No problems with the SP20's (and I do prefer a plastic comb), but my key of C MB is harder than Hades to get all three draw bends out of. Unfortunately this was not evident from testing it with the bellows in the shop I purchased it at. I'll admit to being quite enamored with the tone of the MB, but what a discouraging event to have the MB fail after only the third purchase (this failure was out of the box). Personally I have a three hour commute and lots of lawn to mow, so I have not the time nor the manual dexterity to take on nor enjoy tweaking my own harps. I am also not so well to do that I can throw away about $30 out of every $90 spent. I guess this has turned into a bit of a rant and that wasn't my intent, but I thought it worth sharing.
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Preston
76 posts
Dec 31, 2008
2:44 PM
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Warbleman,
I think you did a great job picking out the top 5. I've never played a Seydel, so I can't say on authority, but I've heard alot of good things about it.
I like the idea of a top 5 with floating numbers, because everybody is going to have their own favorites based on personal preferences.
I own at least one of all of the other 4 models you listed, and I think they all have pros and cons, that based on the individual player's tastes, makes them interchangeable on your list.
Good job, good thread.
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Scoltx
22 posts
Dec 31, 2008
3:44 PM
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I'm with ya on the Blues Harp. I've tried several different Hohner's including the MB, SP20, Pro Harp, as well as a Big River. I bought mostly SP20's and LO's early on as they seemed easier to play but now prefer the Blues Harp. I have replaced all my other harps with BH's except a MB 364, MB Low F and a MB Bb.
I haven't tried a MB Deluxe, Seydel, Bushman or any Suzuki's yet.
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oldwailer
409 posts
Jan 01, 2009
4:03 AM
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Warbleman,
You mention a video by Elkriver harmonicas on why the MB sounds so good--I can't find it--could you post a link?
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Violin Cat
4 posts
Jan 01, 2009
4:19 AM
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1.) Joe Spiers Custom Marine band with special 20 covers for all kinds of music.
2.) Brad Harrison Custom Marine Band with special 20 covers for all kinds of music.
Hey: As far as "Hybriding" harps DO IT. My fave stock hybrid is the Harp Master Coverplates(Suzuki) with the Suziki Fire breath plates and comb! They fit fine together... Suzuki really does have the best stock stuff out there...if I had all my Spiers and harrison harps stolen I would kill myself then buy suzuki's in hell.
For parts that won't fit on other/multiple brand combination hybrids ...Make 'em fit with a dremmel or something better!
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eharp
175 posts
Jan 01, 2009
6:35 AM
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until you folks try a bushman delta frost, your list will not be complete. it plays the best out-of-box on a consistent basis, bends easily and has a great fat sound.
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Preston
77 posts
Jan 01, 2009
6:40 AM
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You're right Eharp. I have two deltafrosts. I really like their gritty sound, but I'm just not a fan of Plastic combs. But it is a damn good harp. Which one does it bump off the list? This isn't a top six thread.
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eharp
178 posts
Jan 01, 2009
8:06 AM
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well, preston, since you have never played a seydel, i would think it is obvious.
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Philosofy
102 posts
Jan 01, 2009
10:43 AM
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eharp, I have found out of the box Bushman's to be the worst: I have never had to gap a new harp just to get missing notes, but I did with the Delta Frost A harp I got this summer.
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eharp
180 posts
Jan 01, 2009
12:40 PM
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wow! i hope you sent it back, as bushman has a warranty.
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oldwailer
410 posts
Jan 01, 2009
1:44 PM
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Well, the Delta Frost would be my number 4 on the list above--to replace the Blues Harp. I don't know about Seydel yet--so I reserve judgement there. I don't think a GM would make my list unless it was tuned like a MB.
I think a real dream machine harp might be a Delta Frost tuned like an MB by a real pro--but I've never tried that yet, so I don't know for sure. . .
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Warbleman
40 posts
Jan 01, 2009
3:32 PM
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Oldwailer-
I'm sorry but I think the video that I was referring to has been removed. It was actually a video that's main point of focus was the Seydel Bandmaster but the Marine Band was also discussed. Anyway, the reason that a Marine Band sounds like it does is because of the vents on either side of the cover plate. What it does is allow the cover plates to vibrate just a little bit more and that's how the Marine Band gets it's amazing crunch. I have a theory that the nails played a part also because they didn't hold the cover plates as tight as screws and also allowed them to vibrate more freely. That's the only positive thing I can find about nails though.
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oldwailer
411 posts
Jan 02, 2009
5:44 AM
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Warbleman,
Thanks for the info--that is interesting. I read an article somewhere about venting a SP20 the same way--I think most any harp could be vented like a MB--I'm going to give that a try next time I get a chance to dick around with harps. It would be nice to put some of that MB crunch into a Plastic combed harp with screws.
I know Dave has mentioned before that the nails in a MB are just fine with him--he had a bit of an argument on this subject with Jason Ricci. I have put screws into a few of them, but I have honestly never been able to tell if that, in itself, was an improvement. . .
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Warbleman
41 posts
Jan 02, 2009
7:54 AM
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Oldwailer-
I think I may have read the same article about venting a Special 20 and think it's a fantastic idea. As for the screws, I'd say they're are an improvement as far as playability goes, but not in the category of sound.
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RyanMortos
26 posts
Jan 02, 2009
8:07 AM
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Im too un-experienced to take part in the main topic (only have tried 2 harmonicas (Hohner bluesharp - G & special C - C)!).
Though, I was looking at the Bushman Delta Frost & I must say to the naked/untrained eye it seems like theres only asthetic difference between that and Suzuki Bluesmaster? Trying to decide what I'd like to try when I get my key of A (I think thats the next important key I need) in the next month or so.
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~Ryan
PA
Ryan's Tube
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