lumpy wafflesquirt
3 posts
Feb 04, 2009
10:47 AM
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Are Hohner Blues Dand harps any good? There's a set on fleabay and I was thinkng of getting a 'short set' of 7 so that I know I have a spare on a gig if one of the 'decent' ones goes down. I could also use the case from the set for the better harps.
Any thoughts?
Cheers all
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Preston
115 posts
Feb 04, 2009
12:23 PM
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Lump,
Not a bad harp for $5.00. I've heard it called the "Poor Man's Special 20". I bought one for my son and it plays pretty decent.
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GermanHarpist
68 posts
Feb 04, 2009
1:41 PM
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I love em for practicing. They don't play so loud. And the lower harps (G,A,Bb) are mostly very easy to bend. I bought two of the Bluesband boxes and I use the lower harps all the time. The higher harps (D,E,F) are crap though.
Plus you can easily modify the box so that you can put eleven harps in there.
I used it a lot in jams. Indoors it was mostly loud enough. Outdoors (when there were people talking etc.) it was often too silent. I can't really say how good it would be for a gig (no gig yet).
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http://www.youtube.com/germanharpist
Last Edited by on Feb 04, 2009 1:52 PM
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SilasJackson
38 posts
Feb 04, 2009
11:01 PM
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Lumpy,
Do you mean the "Bluesband" or the "Blues Harp". The Bluesband only comes in the key of "C", unless Hohner just started making them in other keys. The Blues Harp comes in several different keys. It plays pretty decently if you tweak it a little and tighten up all the screws. Don't over-tighten. If you saw a SET on ebay, it's something besides a Bluesband, or they don't know what the F*** they are selling!! Preston is right about the price--about $5. Somebody said you can buy them at Cracker Barrel. Good for practice and practicing customizing. If you want a cheap set of harps, you might consider the Piedmont Blues set. 7 harps from G,A,B,C,D,E,F--low to high. Be aware though, many people think these are CRAP! They have textured, black plastic covers, and my set smelled a little musty for a while till they aired out--so to speak. I have a set that play OK. I think you can get the set for about $30. They come in a zippered, padded case thats great for your high dollar harps for later.
SJ
Last Edited by on Feb 04, 2009 11:17 PM
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GermanHarpist
70 posts
Feb 05, 2009
2:08 AM
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@SilasJackson: Set HOHNER Bluesband at ebay.de
It's possible that you can only get them in Europe (or maybe only Germany).
Edit: I know why you can only get them in Germany: The shipping fee is 18,50€ for Europe and 32€ for the US. The box in Germany costs 42€ over the counter.
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http://www.youtube.com/germanharpist
Last Edited by on Feb 05, 2009 2:17 AM
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DutchBones
71 posts
Feb 05, 2009
2:21 AM
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The Bluesband also comes in a 7 key set with a small case, I know because I've got a set ( I wanted the case for my Deltas)
When I got them, about 3 years ago, I though they where crappy. But after spending more time with my other harps, I recently pulled out the Bluesbands and to my pleasant surprise, they weren't so bad after all... it was me.. my playing improved and I was able to play (and bend) those cheap buggers....
I still wouldn't recommend them to a beginner though...
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DutchBones Tube
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GermanHarpist
71 posts
Feb 05, 2009
2:44 AM
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@DutchBones: "I still wouldn't recommend them to a beginner though...". Why? I did actually always recommend them when somebody asked me. But then I'm a big fan and the harp-choice is definitely a taste thing.
btw. where did you buy the box and how much did you pay for it. It seems that they are not that easy to get to in some areas.
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http://www.youtube.com/germanharpist
Last Edited by on Feb 05, 2009 3:27 PM
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lumpy wafflesquirt
4 posts
Feb 05, 2009
3:08 PM
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thanks all, the set was defntely bluesband as it showed in the picture, there is another set on fleabay which don't say what they are but the seller says they have plastic covers so they must be the piedmont. From the above, soem like the piedmont, some like the bluesband, seems like it is horses for courses and personal preference.
I'm not a complete beginner, had harps for around 25 years, but only got serious in the last 2 years.
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DutchBones
72 posts
Feb 05, 2009
5:44 PM
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@GermanHarpist: I had a problem with several of them, especially with bending. I could bend my other harps (Delta Frosts and SP20's) but not the BB's. Now however, I have no problem with them (BB'S) because I can control my bends much better.
So for a person who can't bend or can bend just a little, it might be discouraging to use a BB, because they might spend a lot of time trying to bend unsuccesfully thinking it's their own "fault" whereas the problem very well may be their BB.
If you can control your harps(clean notes and bending), they do actually make a good practice/backup set AND it comes with a handy case (which I use for my Deltas)
I bought them at the Hohner Harmonica contest in Tokyo afew years ago, I think I paid approx 30$ for a 7 key set
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DutchBones Tube
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SilasJackson
39 posts
Feb 05, 2009
9:59 PM
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Lumpy,
Sorry about my ignorance. GermanHarpist is quite right about the Bluesband set on ebay. I just looked it up, and there she was. Damn Hohner! I quess they don't sell em' here in the States. I wouldn't mind a set of them myself--especially for the price. The set I saw WAS offered from Germany. I still stand by my good ol' reliable Bluesband in C. I have a couple I've modded a little. I rolled over the back of the covers and embossed the reed plate, and tweaked the reeds on one of mine, and it is louder and plays bends more easily. I think a set of Bluesband would be better than a set of Piedmont Blues anyway.
Sorry for my confusion in the deal.
SJ
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DutchBones
73 posts
Feb 06, 2009
2:21 AM
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@GermanHarpist "Plus you can easily modify the box so that you can put eleven harps in there."
How did you do that? Would like to try that too.. maybe show it in your next video?
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DutchBones Tube
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GermanHarpist
72 posts
Feb 06, 2009
7:03 AM
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@Dutchbones:
Good idea. I will upload that vid on harpfriends in the next couple of days.
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http://www.youtube.com/germanharpist
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SilasJackson
40 posts
Feb 08, 2009
9:27 PM
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GermanHarpist,
I'd like to see the harp box mod too. I see where the Piedmont Blues box can be modded to hold TEN harps, by changing the bottom to horizontal rows opposite the way they are laid out now--in seven vertical row lay out. Maybe the box is a little larger.
I wonder how many intermediate/advanced/pro level players either play a few, or have recomendations concerning the BluesbanD. Just think it't sometning to cogitate on. I still think a Bluesband set would be better for the metal covers vs. matt plastic on the Piedmonts.
Giggity, Giggity,
SJ
Last Edited by on Feb 08, 2009 9:30 PM
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