ortrigger
25 posts
Jun 12, 2009
4:59 PM
|
So, I think it's almost time to upgrade from my beginner harp and figured this would be the best place to ask on a new one that is the best bang for the buck. Any suggestions? And please try to keep it under 30-35 USD.
----------
Beginning harpist and possibly the only LDS person on this forum. :P
|
djm3801
143 posts
Jun 12, 2009
5:15 PM
|
WOW, you are going to get a lot of responses here. I find my favorites in this price range are Delta Frosts and Hohner Special 20's. I just did try a Seydel Solist Pro ($40) and it is a pretty amazing harp out of the box. However, in the $30 range, I like the Special 20 and they are easy to find. Many people like the Seydel Blues session -I have one and it seems to require a lot of air. Suzuki Bluesmasters are also Very popular in that range, but I got one and was not particularly impressed with it. May have been a fluke.
Good luck.
Dan M
Last Edited by on Jun 12, 2009 5:16 PM
|
Patrick Barker
324 posts
Jun 12, 2009
5:19 PM
|
I'd pretty much agree with djm that the best harps in that price range are probably the sp 20 and the delta frosts
----------
"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
|
nacoran
55 posts
Jun 12, 2009
6:20 PM
|
I've tried Hohner Blues Harps, Golden Melodies and Special 20's. I like the Special 20's best. I also like Lee Oskars.
|
scstrickland
85 posts
Jun 12, 2009
6:37 PM
|
l like the look, feel, sound and hand of Hohner Blues Harp. I replace the reeds as soon as I can, which jacks up the price, Recently I have been sealing them with bees wax. Other people hate them. I know this; you pay for quality. You want the best, then fork out some $. Though in my opinion why Pay $1000 for a set of ping golf clubs before you have corrected your slice, A set of Dunlop starter clubs slice as well as Pings.
|
JoshTheMagish
41 posts
Jun 12, 2009
6:40 PM
|
Personally Id go with a suzuki promaster, or firebreath.
|
ortrigger
26 posts
Jun 12, 2009
7:24 PM
|
The Firebreath certainly looks nice but I don't have money to blow on a 100 dollar harmonica. Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I'm gonna look into the Special 20 and maybe a Lee Oskar.
----------
Beginning harpist and possibly the only LDS person on this forum. :P
|
JoshTheMagish
43 posts
Jun 12, 2009
7:51 PM
|
you can get them for about 60 =)
|
ness
27 posts
Jun 12, 2009
9:04 PM
|
Suzuki Promaster $43 shipped from
http://rockinronsmusic4less.com/index.html
Their Bluesmaster is in your price range and a nice harp too.
|
Kingley
33 posts
Jun 12, 2009
9:40 PM
|
Marine Band.
|
jonsparrow
436 posts
Jun 12, 2009
9:41 PM
|
Marine Band.
|
oldwailer
773 posts
Jun 12, 2009
9:48 PM
|
IMHO, Marine Band, Blues Harp, and Special 20's offer the best future upgradability. What I mean is, as you get to be a better player and you find that these harps aren't making it for you, you can learn to upgrade them into better harps. That's not impossible on other harps, it's just easier to start with the Hohner's.
For example, if you blow a reed on a Delta Frost (one of my favorites), you have to replace the reed plates. On a Hohner, you can just replace the reed.
For the record, I wouldn't recommend a Marine Band to any beginner--it happens to be my favorite harp now--but they are for either more advanced players or people who can afford to have them customized--or know how to customize them themselves. . .
Your mileage may vary. . .
|
ZackPomerleau
192 posts
Jun 12, 2009
10:08 PM
|
Special 20's, I agree with OldWailer. EASY to maintain.
|
Kingley
34 posts
Jun 12, 2009
11:18 PM
|
Over the years I have played many different brands of harps, Lee Oskars, Huang, Hering, Suzuki, Hohner, Tombo, Delta Frost, Seydel.
In my opinion the Marine Band is the best harp by miles for tone. I now customise my own Marine Bands and they are by far the best harps I have ever played in my life. I have a set of Marine Band Deluxe which are great harps, but to me they still lack something in the tone department when compared to a Marine Band Classic.
|
sopwithcamels266
109 posts
Jun 13, 2009
2:17 AM
|
It is totally subjective right
It's your jeourney and really you should be making your own discoveries. Because if youre not doing that at this early stage your going to struggle to be creative later on for sure.
If it is anything to go by and again it is all subjective, Iv'e been a jazz saxophonist for a long long time.
SO I spend my life constantly developing sound it is a life long affair.
Yea I play blues harp for sure and like others I have experimented with a few makes.
My view, for the money you have to spend not that this is a factor really, basic standard Marine band to me wipes the floor with the rest.It is an excellent harp.
Yea I agree with Kingley, Kudzurunner and others Marine band.
As for Ob's when you get to work on them or wish to. Most Marine Bands out the box would you believe will Over Blow no problem on 4'5'6.which is not bad without any adjustment.
Last Edited by on Jun 13, 2009 2:22 AM
|
Harpist
1 post
Jun 13, 2009
5:19 AM
|
I prefer to use the Special 20.
|
ortrigger
27 posts
Jun 13, 2009
9:44 AM
|
Okay, thanks everybody. The main reason I'm asking you guys is because I'm going to have to order online. Right now, I'm thinking that the Special 20 looks good or I'm also debating on a Lee Oskar. I'm kinda leaning more towards the LO because of the easily accessible replacement parts. I'm not sure what key but I'm thinking that Bb would be a good one. (Bb has a special place in my heart anyway)
----------
Beginning harpist and possibly the only LDS person on this forum. :P
Last Edited by on Jun 13, 2009 9:48 AM
|
mickil
250 posts
Jun 13, 2009
10:28 AM
|
You can order replacement reedplates for the SP20 from:
http://www.harmonicas-direct.com/?gclid=CIX44KLT5JkCFQEEZgodKz9HRA
I think they cost £12.95. The guy who runs it is prompt and helpful.
----------
'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
http://www.youtube.com/user/SlimHarpMick
|
ortrigger
29 posts
Jun 13, 2009
2:26 PM
|
mickil, I live in the middle of the US. With the currency conversion I would be spending more money to get SP20 reedplates than Lee Oskar.
----------
Trumpeter, beginning harpist, and possibly the only LDS person on this forum.
|
Patrick Barker
327 posts
Jun 13, 2009
2:32 PM
|
I have a promaster hammond and I think they're overrated... I actually personally like the feel of my sp 20's better, but I've only tried one promaster so I may have gotten a slightly lower than average one. I haven't tried a firebreath though.
----------
"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
|
ortrigger
31 posts
Jun 13, 2009
7:49 PM
|
I think I've finally decided on a Lee Oskar in Bb. Then maybe a little later I'll pick up a SP20 in G or some other key.
----------
Trumpeter, beginning harpist, and possibly the only LDS person on this forum.
|
