Just go a my new Bb Manji today paid $45 and free shipping. http://www.rockinronsmusic4less.com It looks cool and seems to be louder than my Hohner Blues Harps. The cover is very sleek looking. It is completely open on the back and is open both sides. The numbers on the top are printed very small and are hard to read in dim light but are almost undetectable when you rub your finger across them (No Lee Oscar speed bumps here). The covers are a bit fat on the front of the harp, much like a Hohner Big River. I think I read that the comb was some kind of resin. It looks and feels like plastic (just not black) I believe the comb is solid. It does not have a key marking on the end of the comb, Its on the back where it says M.Suzuki. The marking paint appears to be more durable than that used by Hohner, But time will tell. I don't know what the reeds are made of, but they are silver in color. I hope they last a long time because Suzuki does not sell replacement reeds.
So how does it play? Well...Like a harmonica. I suppose I'm not skilled enough to play it and go OMG it is so awesome! It is louder than my Hohners. I can't over blow so I cant attest for that. As for its tone. It buzzes. It buzzed a lot. Much more than my Hohners with the note ringing long after you are done playing it. Very noticeable on the 1 draw. As an intermediate player I don't notice a big difference in playability. I'll let those that are more experienced give more knowledgeable feedback in this area.
Overall it is a really cool Harmonica. But, I think that in the future I will probably stick the Hohner Blues Harp. I like their look and feel and the fact that I can get replacement reeds. I don't like the Buzzing sound the Manji makes and think it feels a bit "fat" in my mouth.
here is some more info on the Manji if you haven't sen it
Just thought you all might want to know.
Last Edited by on Oct 04, 2009 1:47 PM
No lousey was my word, just the impression I got from your review. I'm dissapointed because after all the hype and rave reports from those that are supposed to know your impression is quite neutral. Ho Hum. ----------
I read it as a totally downbeat review. I'm not surprised, because most of the hype seems to be the high expectations of beginners who are hoping someone will invent a harp that will play itself. And every couple of months I notice my Marine Bands improve, so count me out of wasting more money!
Last Edited by on Oct 05, 2009 3:04 AM
I received two Manji's Saturday from Rockin' Ron. I must admit to being a Suzuki fan as my favorite harps are the Fire Breath. I really like the Manji and intend to have a set of them compiled some day. I still need to compare to see if I can tell any difference in the tuning from my ear (I'm just an intermediate and have a lot to learn), but I can say that these harps are sweet. The bends are smooth as butter like any Suzuki and they are shaped more like a Marine Band versus the rounded corners of my Fire Breath's. The covers also have the side vents similar to a Marine Band and the back end of the harp is wide open. It is very responsive and nice and loud. I've purchased every Hohner model (some in various keys) and must say that with the Manji Suzuki has cemented my loyalty as a customer for their products. Oh yeah, not that it means anything, but I think it is cool that the back of the harp has M. Suzuki stamped on it versus the other models with just Suzuki. The case for the Manji is similar to the Fire Breath - a nice felt lined hard plastic rectangular case. Again my opinion is biased from already being a Suzuki fan, but if you like the Fire Breath and want a different shape and a lower price with the same playability. This harp may just fill the bill for ya.' I know these comments aren't as technical as some of you would like, but this is the level of my expertise.
Last Edited by on Oct 05, 2009 12:18 PM
I will say this much in reference to Hohner harps. They are hard to play compared to Suzuki's. Maybe I just got some duds, but bends are something I have to make a concerted effort to get my air right so that they happen with the Hohner's. With Suzuki's it just happens as a matter of course of serving the song. Something to be said about not having to get myself set to prepare for notes that should just happen. I've noticed this shortcoming with most of my Marine Bands, my Golden Melody, Big River, and the Pro Harp I own (for that matter to a lesser extent most of the Lee Oskar's I own take a lot of air). My Special 20's are admittedly better than the others, but still nowhere near as easy to play as the Suzuki's I own. If I didn't play Suzuki's I'd probably go with Seydel's. All three models I have tried of Seydel's are much like the Suzki's in their friendliness toward playability.
The two Manji's I received do not buzz.
Last Edited by on Oct 05, 2009 12:19 PM
I'm sure they'll have all of the keys available eventually, but this early in the game they seem to be limiting what keys are available for some reason.
Ron said "My rep tells me maybe November, which could mean end of Nov. hopefully D & more I will have them as soon as Suzuki USA has them. Same day. Then I start shipping!"
It seems that I heard that the Manji was JI tuned--like a MB rather than like all of the other Suzukis. Is this true? I played one at SPAH and I thought the chords sounded just a little sour--otherwise, I liked it a lot for an OOTB harp. . .
Hmmm! Now I'm confused. Does that mean they made an ET batch for early released versions then decided to retune to JI for subsequent releases due to feedback or is there a chance you may get the odd ET version still in stock somewhere? Hell, how we gonna know what we get till we get it? I'd hate to order with the intention of getting JI only to find it's ET. ----------
@Snakes and anyone who's played a Manji--I'm concerned about scstrickland's comments that it feels fat, can anyone give any feedback on thickness compared to a marine band or suzuki harpmaster? I'm planning to try a manji, but I don't like fat harps. Thanks for any info.
@Tooka--I think harpwrench = Joe Spiers = he modified his OOB manji from ET to JI....
I must have hit the wrong button when editing my other post.......anyway was going to say that to be honest I never thought to put the Manji on a tuner before tuning it to JI. Could have been a compromised tuning but seemed "too ET" for me, so it's JI now. Much better for what I like to do.
Thicknesses of the Manji and MB are nearly identical.
Holiston, it's very much like a Marine Band. It's obvious that it incorporates many of Filisko's ideas and what probably introduced to Suzuki via Brad Harrison who studied with Filisko originally.
I like my Manji and now that I've tweaked it out, it's part of my gigging set of harps. It was some kind of "harmony tuning" as Kit Gamble calls it. Not ET but not Hohner's compromised tuning either. I made mine ET. ----------
got mine today.. it is bad ass thus far.. i dont overblow really yet so not much i can say there.. it is brighter than my bluesmasters, but is hard for me to hear much differance between it and my pro master.. i like it, but i have to get used to playing that MB-like comb again, and cupping a harp with the sides cut out is new to me.. i will get it im sure..
i like it, and a thanks to Ron for the fast (3 day) FREE shipping..
@ Hollistonharper I've not seen a Harpmaster in person, but the Manji is a little thicker in profile than the Bluesmaster. It is closer to a Promaster in thickness.
Forgive my ignorance,but why are the prices so much higher in UK and Europe? You guys are getting screwed! $45-$50 here in the states. That's what? $75 US in UK? What do you pay for German made Hohners and Seydels?
Last Edited by on Oct 08, 2009 2:36 PM
I wish we knew. We get screwed left right and centre. Gasoline is about $8.40 per gallon. Small Toyota Yaris $16,000. Crown (Tooth) $562 20 Cigarettes $9.60
That's why we always plead poverty
Marine Band $38.50 Special 20 $40.00 Seydel 1847 Classic $104.00 Seydel Soloist Pro £53.00
@tookaX2 What if you ordered them from the states? I know there's that dreaded import duty,but I don't know how much it is. It's truly ironic that a harp made in Germany is cheaper here than in Europe.
Just today I went into a Guitar Center and looked at the harps--the MD's were $27.50 in a bubble pack--but there were only two keys. I selected two MB's and a Big River (I love the cover shape of them) for $17.50.
While I was paying, I asked the kid at the register if they had more keys of MB's--he said--oh, yeah--there's another display box over here. The harps there weren't in the bubble packs--just the cases--but some of the MB's were $17.50! I never saw them that cheap before--online or anywhere.
Just thought I'd throw that in for you UK guys--you get to live over there in a cool place, close to Europe and a million years of history surrounding you--while I have to live over here in a country stolen from the Indians about 15 minutes ago--where everybody eats too much and obsesses on getting more kitchen gadgets--but at least I can get harps cheaper sometimes!! NA NA NA NA NA! (LOL!)
Last Edited by on Oct 08, 2009 9:49 PM
I read on Harponline site that the Manji has nickel plated reed plates. I hope it's not true as no other site mentions it and it's not in Brendans videos.
My understanding was that manufacturers were going away from using nickel ie I have had it confirmed from Hohner that their diatonic harps no longer use any nickel.
Nickel can be a real nasty ie if one has or develops an allergic reaction. It is estimated that ca 10% of the population has a nickel allergy.
If indeed the Manji has a nickel content in the plates which are in direct contact with skin then problems for some people can be expected.
Personally I would find it extremely unlikely that they would now go back to using nickel as it is no longer allowed in many countries to eg have nickel in jewellery which is in contact with the skin.
hey dont feel bad all these killer new harps comming out and i havent worked in over a year.half my harps are swans.but hey i got plenty of time to practice i guess.1st rule for the blues is make due with what you got.B.B King at least thats what i heard on a satilite radio show lol
I will be offering overbend optimization, simple gapping, repairs and JI tuning for the Manji. I've been working with a set of them for myself and so far I like how they respond to my strategies.
I'm very busy and not currently accepting orders, but hope to have completed harps for sale early next year. I need to do a larger number of them to get an average build time and establish pricing.
Joe Spiers www.spiersharmonicas.com
Last Edited by on Oct 09, 2009 7:52 PM
What am I missing? Can't a private party in the US send a personal package to a friend in the UK for cheaper than $35.50? Seriously, a dozen harps fits in a pretty small box. It's not like they've got harp sniffing dogs yet.
Don't know Buzadero. I think someone in the US can send a gift to the UK as long as it is under something like £36 in value (I think). If it's value is more than that we have to pay Import Duty, VAT at 15% and £8.00 Royal Mail handling charge. It all gets too complicated to consider doing in my opinion.
What could a small box of screws and coverplates actually be worth? "This old junk?" "It's from my cousin". "Value?" "Oh, I don't know.....it's mostly sentimental" "Certainly not much more than the box of combs and reedplates that he's mailing me next week"
One problem though.....a package sent from the USA to UK can disappear forever unless you use more expensive shipping options. I've had it happen, and it sucked bad for both me and the guy waiting on his shiny new custom harp. I'm a good guy and built another one, but he had to wait longer and I took one for the team on the custom. Now I don't send them the cheap way.
If one of you guys send Tooka some harps and they get lost, you'd better agree ahead of time who'll accept responsibility.
