Hollistonharper
30 posts
Mar 06, 2009
8:09 AM
|
Must be a full moon coming, I'm getting overwhelmed by a bad case of harpgear-itis, and I absolutely, as a biological necessity, HAVE TO BUY A LOW E-FLAT HARP RIGHT NOW!!!! Please help me.
I have given a lot of thought to buying a seydel 1847, but for that kind of money I will hold out and wait to buy my first custom harp.
So I'm thinking about a special 20, since I generally like them and they produce this key. My question then is if you have a low e-flat harp, what make is it and do you like it. Do you find it easy to bend. Please respond right away, I can't hold off ordering much longer!!!
|
Preston
174 posts
Mar 06, 2009
8:16 AM
|
I don't have a low E-flat so you can disregard my opinion or read on......
I do have a low D Big River. Just a semi-tone lower than an Eflat. I found that it is very different from even the low G I have. It takes alot of wind to get that sucker up to a decent volume, and that volume isn't very loud. It just feels and plays different. I'm not saying anything bad about it, because it is bad-ass for playing cords! But it definetely takes some getting used to for single notes and bending on the low end. When you move up to the upper register it does get a little easier.
Again, I am definetely not trying to talk you out of it. I'm very pleased with my D harp. Just letting you know what you could be in for with a low key.
|
oldwailer
544 posts
Mar 06, 2009
8:55 AM
|
I have a low D MB, 2 low C MB's, and a low F LO. I prefer the MB's--the low D is a favorite of mine to the point that I often carry it in my pocket.
Preston is right--the low harps aren't as loud--they seem to take more wind--they don't bend well at all--they are definitely "different" to play--and I just love them! I would buy a low E in a heart beat--and any other low harp I can possibly afford. . .
|
Oisin
134 posts
Mar 06, 2009
9:06 AM
|
The only other thing I would add is....how many songs do you actually play in Eb? I know in all my time playing at jams etc I have never had to use my Eb in anger. That said, I love the low notes so I would probably buy one too, if I had the spare money.
It's a bit stupid to try and talk rationally about buying harpgear..isn't it. Just buy it HH..you'll learn to love it.
Oisin
|
isaacullah
79 posts
Mar 06, 2009
9:10 AM
|
I have a Low E Special 20. It sounds great chugging on chords. I still can't get it to do the 1 draw half step bend. I have to try with all my might to get the 2 draw bends. I still don't think I'm getting it all the way down on the 2 draw whole step. Still, it definately an interesting harp to own.
----------
--------------
The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
|
oldwailer
546 posts
Mar 06, 2009
9:16 AM
|
I don't have any E-flat harps--but I would respectfully disagree with Oisin here--I could use an Eb--it just depends on your voice range. . .
|
Oisin
135 posts
Mar 06, 2009
9:52 AM
|
Hey Oldwailer...I love those low harps too and I also have a Special 20 Eb which I love playing ....I just don't get a chance to cos no-one ever plays in Ab at my jam.
That wouldn't stop me buying one of these though as I'd still play it in the woodshed.
You don't need to be respectful to me wailer...just tell it like it is...I can take it!!
By the way I'm gonna borrow a webcam and post a video of that little amp I spoke to you and Geordie about...you'll love it.
All the best
Oisin
|
Tuckster
111 posts
Mar 06, 2009
9:56 AM
|
I've got Big Rivers in low D & F. Definitely takes a different technique.You're not gonna do any fast runs on the low end. I can't remember the last time I used an E harp to play blues. From a practical point of view,I'd choose an F first and then D. Especially since its your first low harp.
|
harmonicanick
170 posts
Mar 06, 2009
10:35 AM
|
@ holliston
I have a Hohner Pro-Harp in low Eb
It is excellent with a full rich sound and has lasted years with just regular cleaning.
It is one of my favorites and I would strongly endorse this type
Hope this helps
|
Hollistonharper
31 posts
Mar 06, 2009
11:51 AM
|
Thanks for the advice all-I was aware of the difference between low and regular, which I'd why I asked.
I love my regular Eb and wanted a low to play with the horn section and hopefully wail like a sax...!
Since there wasn't a groundswell for one make I've placed an order for a special 20 (because I also wanted to try a Hering 1923 and the one website that had a special price for that harp only had low harps in special 20).
Thanks for the responses all!
|
Oisin
136 posts
Mar 06, 2009
12:40 PM
|
I did of course mean Bb in my previous post.
I am very disappointed not to have been corrected by one of my fellow harpnerds.
Oisin
|
KingoBad
28 posts
Mar 06, 2009
2:01 PM
|
I have a Big River Low Eb. I love the thing. Beautiful freight train chords. Takes a LOT of air. I haven't done anything to it(surprisingly since i barely play a new harp before opening it up). I'm sure it would be better if i embossed it. Everything in pretty easy to bend if you are using good technique - get sloppy and you'll have a stroke trying to power it down. The only thing i have to worry about is going back to my regular harps after playing it because I just about suck the higher reeds down my throat.
|
Steve Harvell
21 posts
Mar 06, 2009
2:03 PM
|
I really like the Turbo Twenty low key harps (which are Special 20 harmonicas with Turbo Lids on them).I am going to post a YouTube in a few days with a low E Flat but here I am playing a low E Turbo Harp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Bs0OrhiiQM&feature=channel_page
and here I am playing a low d
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58F00cEWo4k&feature=channel_page
I was a bit more inspired on the low d tho.
Best
Steve Harvell
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SteveHarvell&view=videos
|
bluzlvr
132 posts
Mar 06, 2009
3:18 PM
|
I have a low Eb Special 20, and I enjoy playing it.
We were doing a medium tempo swing tune in Bb at a jam a while ago and I was playing through a friends original '59 Bassman with my Astatic JT30 and getting some really saxy tones out of the low harp.
You do kinda have to slow things down on the low harps.
|
Preston
175 posts
Mar 06, 2009
7:18 PM
|
Hey Oisin! I was gonna log in and correct you, but then I thought maybe you were a 12th position player and I should keep my mouth shut!
|
oldwailer
549 posts
Mar 06, 2009
7:47 PM
|
Yeah--I saw it too--but then I thought "ignernce is bliss!"
|
Aussiesucker
170 posts
Mar 06, 2009
8:41 PM
|
Oisin> No one would have twigged!
The only low keys I have are MBs in a low E and F and a 12 hole MB in C. The low E is great for train chugging sounds. I like the low F for playing Bridge over Troubled water in 1st pos. F is the key for Simon & Garfunkels great song but playing it on a normal F to me sounds like it is being played on a tin whistle!
|
Andrew
139 posts
Mar 07, 2009
2:53 AM
|
I have low F, low D and 14-hole C MBs.
I find the 3-hole bends are easy, except on the 14-hole, which is the only one I haven't gapped.
On the low D the 2-hole takes practise, and be prepared for a painful throat until you are accustomed to it (yoga for the throat!). And I'm not even going to attempt the 1-hole bend!
Whilst I'm here though, it's a good place, I think, to ask you about the Steve Baker Specials. Could someone explicitly list all the keys and which standard MB the SECOND octave corresponds to? e.g. in the key of G, I can see the second octave corresponding either to the standard G (a mean machine that would be!) or the high G MB.
|
oldwailer
554 posts
Mar 07, 2009
9:07 AM
|
@Andrew,
I don't have a G SB MB--just F--but the first four holes are low F (one octave below regular F) and tuned just like the low end of a low F. The second octave starts over and is tuned like a regular F harp. I assume the G would be the same--but that would make the low end very low--which would probably be cool, but I have this feeling that the second octave might be a high G--which might also be cool. Damn--I just need to own one each of all possible harps!
It would probably be better to google it and find out from sure before ordering.
|
Andrew
141 posts
Mar 07, 2009
9:24 AM
|
Oldwailer says: "It would probably be better to google it and find out from sure before ordering."
That's what I was thinking - it's why I asked. I hadn't thought of Googling yet. Harmonicasdirect.com isn't informative, and I haven't checked the Hohner website yet.
Thanks for pointing out that, although I specified the second octave of the SBS's, I should also have specified the first octave of the regular MBs!
|
Stank Breath
12 posts
Mar 07, 2009
6:33 PM
|
I have never owned a special 20, but I have a low E Blues Harp and it is a wonderful instrument, it has a fantastic sound and it is great for the blues(duh) and it sounds divine with saxes.It bends quite well, but the higher keys can be a bit tinny before you get used to it. I normally play a Hering 1923 normal F harp but I would still recommend it.
----------
All the best music has already been written by guys in wigs and stuff.
-Frank Zappa
|
Andrew
145 posts
Mar 08, 2009
4:09 PM
|
Re SBS, this Hohner page implies that C,D,F are low and G and A are high, but I'm not 100% convinced: The G I can believe, but High A?. Yeah, maybe, since low A is perhaps the realm of a more specialised harmonica?
http://www.hohnerusa.com/index.php?29
So if you could choose between a SBS in High G or one in High A, which would you choose? I'm thinking High G is high enough!
Last Edited by on Mar 08, 2009 4:12 PM
|
oldwailer
557 posts
Mar 08, 2009
5:33 PM
|
Well, it's a personal decision at this point--I'd choose a low C, D, or F (which I have). I don't think I'd want a harp in high G or A--F is my highest harp, and it is pretty high--unless of course I had a special reason to want a higher harp--haven't thought of one yet though. . .
|
Andrew
146 posts
Mar 09, 2009
1:59 AM
|
OK, except that I've got low Cs, low Ds and low Fs coming out of my ears already! I've got a high F, so maybe I'll begin a process of elimination.
F and A are out, so that leaves C, D and G.
High G is the only one I haven't got, but my MB in G is just about my favourite, so it would be a shame to have an SBS in G supplant it. I love my Low D, but my normal D is not a good harp. That might be a reason to get a D. I guess C is out - my normal C is good and I have a 14-hole in C if I want to go lower than low D.
So now it's a coin-toss between G and D - that'll give me something to think about at work whilst I'm running that nuclear power station!
Last Edited by on Mar 09, 2009 2:00 AM
|
harmonicanick
173 posts
Mar 09, 2009
2:00 AM
|
I use High G quite a bit for contrast against the normal G major
Octaves sound good on a high G
|
genesis
13 posts
Mar 09, 2009
2:32 AM
|
Be warned, the low draw reeds will rattle like mad against the cover plates on a Marine Band in low Eb. I just built one for a customer and had to open the bottom cover ridiculously far. Not easy to re-bend well and quite the mouthful when done. The special 20 covers aren't that much deeper.
|
Andrew
148 posts
Mar 09, 2009
2:49 AM
|
"the low draw reeds will rattle like mad against the cover plates on a Marine Band in low Eb"
I found that on my Low D, so I Emailed Adam and he suggested I join this forum and ask, but the answer was probably to play quieter. He was right!
|
Hollistonharper
44 posts
Mar 13, 2009
6:18 PM
|
Ok update--after standing patiently by my mailbox 24/7 through rain, sleet, snow and freezing temperatures, I came home from work to find my little brown package had arrived.
First impression is I'm really happy with my Special 20 Low Eb harp--I'm surprised by how easily it plays-- out of the box everything bends easily except the 1 draw. No surprise from earlier posts, but I find that the low draw reeds rattle a bit against the cover plates, guess I'll play soft too.
But the real reason I'm posting is because I also got a Hering Vintage 1923 in Bb and need to ask a question. It smells funny--kind of moldy, anybody have that experience and can anyone make a suggestion for a fix?
I took it apart, it seems to be the wood comb--maybe the sealant, I'm not sure. I'm thinking of sealing over it because I obviously don't want to wash it.
I bought it because after doing my researching I was hoping that I would basically be buying a MB Deluxe for $24.95 on sale. It's just about exactly the same size as a regular MB, but with a sealed wooden comb with smooth rounded teeth, and screw construction. The reed plates also seem to be smoother and more recessed. A few wheezes into the harp indicates it is tuned similarly (JI variation?) and has the same sound.
So hopefully I can get over the smell issue and enjoy this harp.
|
Ant138
69 posts
Mar 14, 2009
1:04 PM
|
I have a Hering 1923 and get a very funny taste when i play it. I think its the cover plates, they coat them with something to get that vintage look. It slowly subsides the more you play it. Its pretty much dissapeared from my Bb 1923 now.
|
