Aussiesucker
431 posts
Nov 14, 2009
2:48 PM
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Initial comments and criticisms of the Manji aside it would be now interesting to hear how users are now rating them?
I have had a C Manji a few weeks now and whilst my initial comments re it being louder, brighter and looking and feeling nice in the hands remain unchanged; I do find it is not the most comfortable for me to play.
Comfort rates highly for me and my Harpmasters, Bluesmasters, Promasters, SP20s & LO's are for me comfortable. I understand that the tone and sound of a Marine Band is hard to beat but I find they are an uncomfortable beast.
Interestingly I roughly ran a tape over the mouthpiece to check hole spacings and apart from a Puck the Manji has the smallest distance between holes 1 & 10.
Manji - 7cm
Harpmaster, Bluesmaster, Promaster, Lee Oskar, - 7.3cm
Marine Band - 7.2cm
Very small differences but I would be interested to know if these variances can and do make any difference to ease of playing? I don't have one but I understand the Seydel Silver has spacings even further apart?
I'm going to get another Manji in key of Ab when available.
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eharp
351 posts
Nov 14, 2009
5:08 PM
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tell me, aussie. if this "is not the most comfortable" harp for you to play, and you rate that aspect so highly.....why are you going to buy another?
you got GAS bad, dont you?
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nacoran
394 posts
Nov 14, 2009
5:16 PM
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Lee Oskars are spaced wide. I've heard the Seydels are too. I think that makes it easier to isolate the note, but I don't know if that changes the comfort level. The things I've noticed that seem to effect comfort are (at least for me):
Plastic combs seem to be more comfortable than wood.
(But the cheap ones taste nasty.) I haven't tried a metal one yet or a wooden one that's been customized.
Plates that stick out make the harp uncomfortable. (That's my only complaint about the Puck actually. The Golden Melodies bother me that way too.) Plates that stick out don't seem to catch on my lips though, maybe because there is less lip in contact with the harp. It might be a slight edge for fast playing.
The lip, where the cover and the comb meet in the front, is most comfortable if the cover comes down almost parallel to the comb, but unless you get it just perfect it's better to have it back farther.
With metal covers, a thicker cover is less likely to be sharp in that little corner where the lip folds down away from the rest of the cover. Blues Harps seem to seal that spot and L.O.s fold in more precisely than some cheapo harps.
The large print on the L.O.s seems to be easier on my lips than the fine print on a Golden Melody.
As for hand comfort, the Golden Melodies win hands down for me, although I haven't tried a Turbo Harp.
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jbone
192 posts
Nov 14, 2009
5:31 PM
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i am still thrilled with the manji. and i think the suzuki pure has similar closer spaces but neither is a problem for me as yet.
i have hardly gotten out with a band lately but i expect to soon and this will be a better test then the duo stuff.
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Aussiesucker
432 posts
Nov 14, 2009
7:53 PM
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eharp . good response ie I was really asking for it wasn't I? Not sure I understand exactly what was meant by your last quip re gas ? Not a term that is used here!
A C harp is not amongst my favourites ie I much prefer playing lower keys. My favourite harp for the past 6 months or more has been an A Harpmaster.It still is my favourite. I play on my own so I don't have to be in key with anyone.
That said my Manji C compared with a Bluesmaster, LO, Sp20 in C plays louder, crisper and cleaner particularly on the higher holes. Always hitting some of those notes cleanly is a 'me' problem that I find more prevalent when I use the Manji!
Comfort might not have been 100% correct ie awkward might be more appropriate . I agree that harps with protruding reed plates can be less comfortable than plastic harps with recessed plates. This is not for me a real problem.
I was wondering if hole spacings did have an impact?
In summation I'm not yet comfortable using the Manji. But, I know it's a good harp & will persist. I will still buy an Ab as I know it will get used.
Last Edited by on Nov 14, 2009 7:58 PM
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Oisin
388 posts
Nov 15, 2009
1:18 AM
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Aussie I think eharp means Gear Acquistion Syndrome, not the state of your bowels!!
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scstrickland
302 posts
Nov 15, 2009
5:04 AM
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I've had my Manji for about a month and my impression hasn't changed much. I think It is a really cool harp, and initially did not like the "feel". It got better over time as I became accustom to its shape. I still don't like how much the reeds buzz (Bb). I find that I rarely play it. when I grab a Bb I usually go for my Blues Harp without even thinking about it. So I suppose that tell me I prefer my Blues Harp over my Manji.
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jbone
195 posts
Nov 15, 2009
5:49 AM
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that brings to mind a sort of problem: this harp is so responsive you have to consciously remember to play it softer. compared to other harps i have the manji is like a supercharged smallblock v8 engine where i'm used to a stock 4-banger. if you can ease up on breath force and maybe turn your amp up a bit i think you'll find less buzzing or none at all from the manji. this is just a theory but i have yet to get any buzz from my manji in A.
some years ago i got 2 custom mb's from richard sleigh. invariably i'd blow too hard because they sounded so dam good! i blew out a reed on one and the other mysteriously walked away at a jam one night. but the point is, with reeds that perform so much better you have to fight the tendency to overdo it. those reeds WILL fail with hard use.
i have a hohner 365 which has extra low end reeds. if i play the low end softly it sounds really fine. play too hard and it sounds like my blender had a bolt dropped in it. this sort of thing is what has brought me to try playing softer and using the amp or p.a. to get the sound out. it's also why i seldom play with very loud bands- unless i drag the bassman out and in that case i can keep up nicely.
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eharp
352 posts
Nov 15, 2009
5:51 AM
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oisin got the GAS thing correct.
i guess the point i am trying to figure out, aussie, is why folks buy other brands of harps when they seem very satisfied with another. i have always felt if you like something- stick with it until circumstances present themselves which make switching a viable option.
you say, "compared with a Bluesmaster, LO, Sp20 in C plays louder, crisper and cleaner ". this is the only positive quality you have for the harp. but you dont compare it to your harp of choice: harpmaster. so i assume you dont think the manji sounds better than the harpmaster.
you describe the manji as not comfortable/awkward. and i assume you mean this over all the other brands (or at least most of them, including the harpmaster.)
so my question to you, and others if the want to chime in, is why do you buy other harp brands after you have found one that you like? and do you do this with other things such as cars, ketchup, underwear...? it seems to me as though you make a gamble with every purchase of a different harp of @$30.
strickland- will you ever buy another manji?
jbone- you are "thrilled" with the manji. i consider that a strong word. will you buy another? is it your harp of choice now?
Last Edited by on Nov 15, 2009 5:57 AM
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Jaybird
102 posts
Nov 15, 2009
11:01 AM
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I ordered my Manji in A from Rockin' Ron on a Friday. I received it the following Monday. I am in South Florida, Ron is in California. Way to go Rockin' Ron and USPS! That's great service!
My first impressions of this harp is about the same as other people have noted. It is loud, bright or brassy sounding, and if you're not careful you'll crush the covers if you squeeze too hard. It is also very responsive and easy to bend notes with. I noticed right away that breath control is a must... not much force is required to sound a note. It is so easy, I fear that without restrained breath control I may blow it out.
Generally, I don't like the "mouthfeel" of harps that have protruding reed plates and a recessed comb. I have played the Suzuki Promaster, Suzuki Folkmaster, Hohner Marine Band, and Hohner Golden Melody, and I find all of those to be uncomfortable in the mouth. With that said, I must admit that at first I found the Manji to be a bit more comfortable than those just mentioned. So I decided to give the Manji serious consideration as a replacement for the Bluesmasters that I love so much.
After using my Manji for about two weeks I finally gave up on trying to adapt to the recessed comb. I am basically a single note player with some octaves and double stops thrown in, and some occasional tongue blocking. With the Manji and it's recessed comb, I found I was missing some notes on fast runs, and after a while of playing, the upper reed plate was wearing out my upper lip. I gave it a long and fair trial and ultimately decided that I like the sound and response of this harp, but not the "mouthfeel".
So, a few days ago, I took the reedplates out of the Manji and put them into a Bluesmaster comb and coverplates. WOW! Now that is one sweet harmonica! Effortless and accurate to play, and smooth as silk in the mouth. The best of both worlds!
I think I may have found my ultimate harmonica. It's a Bluesmaster with Manji reedplates. Just yesterday I was playing "AfroInspiration", a tune with lots of fast runs. I closed my eyes and imagined myself skiing down a mountain, going over those bumps (moguls?) effortlessly. What pleasure to play!
As soon as Rockin' Ron comes up with the Manji's in D, I'm gonna get one, switch out the reedplates, and make a video of a really fast bluegrass/country tune I have been working on.
BTW.... AfroInspiration is one of the videos on my Youtube channel. It is played with a Bluesmaster however.
Jaybird
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www.Youtube.com/Jaybird33066
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tookatooka
776 posts
Nov 15, 2009
11:53 AM
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Thanks for that Jaybird, I was convinced the Manji reedplates would fit the BluesMaster, HarpMaster, Delta Etc and you've confirmed it for me. Just waiting for my dealer to stock up now. YeeHaa! What do chords sound like? Much difference from the BlueMaster?
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Last Edited by on Nov 15, 2009 11:56 AM
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Aussiesucker
433 posts
Nov 15, 2009
12:19 PM
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Thanks eharp & Oisin for the GAS explanation. You hit the nail on the head there. Guess its akin to the search for the holy grail ie only read 'the perfect harp'.
Mind you sites like this really feed this habit. But I dont mind.
I don't think there is a retailer in Australia that seriously stocks harps. If there is one then in my travels I have not found one.If you wanted to buy a harp they never had it and had to order it in taking weeks or longer. Or settle for something they might have had like a Silver Star which was junk but cost more than something decent out of the US. Best by far would be Mandoharp an online store that I have started to deal with.
Well prior to the financial crisis & when I discovered this site I started to purchase harps from a US online store. Parity in our dollars plus prices that by our standards were ridiculously low led me into getting quite a few (too many) harps. For example I was paying $18 for a Bluesmaster which here sells for $40. Harpmasters were $15 and are not available here. Freight was $12, very fast, and covered an order of ca 5 harps. LOs were $23 but sell here fo $60. There are no taxes or duties to pay on this type of import. It's all now changed but was real good for the short time it lasted.
I also had had some dreadful experiences with Hohner harps ie poor quality out of the box enough to steer clear of them however I have and use some low keys which were unavailable from Suzuki. My expectations, because of my Hohner experiences, and in reading on sites like this reports of harps having a short life led me into having spares to fall back on. The bloody Suzukis though never break down!
Gas I certainly have. But I will buy a Manji in Ab not because of gas but because the only Ab I have is a little Folkmaster which I also think is a great little harp for it's very low price ie under $10.
Jaybird> I might try switching the Manji plates into a Bluesmaster. A lot of what I am now learning and playing is Bluegrass & Irish Fiddle tunes which involves a lot of fast work on the high holes. I like the Manji sound but the Bluesmaster is as you say better in the mouth. However, I would have thought that the differences in hole spacings would make the fit not possible?
Is it possible to obtain replacement plates for the Manji and if so what do they cost?
Last Edited by on Nov 15, 2009 12:26 PM
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scstrickland
303 posts
Nov 15, 2009
1:51 PM
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eharp asked "strickland- will you ever buy another manji?"
probably not. Its a cool harp just not my favorite.
and "so my question to you, and others if the want to chime in, is why do you buy other harp brands after you have found one that you like? and do you do this with other things such as cars, ketchup, underwear...?"
why not? you never try anything new? How do you know if something is best for you if you don't try other things. I have never owned the same brand of car twice. Recently tried unsalted Ketchup a switched back and after looking around for a while settled on Under-Armour boxer-briefs but will probably try their boxers for a change. Do you drive the same car you did twenty ears ago? Eat the same Ketchup? Wear the same underwear? (Gross) 8^D
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eharp
354 posts
Nov 15, 2009
2:27 PM
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i usually buy the same tried and true item. if there is a good deal on another brand, i'll try it, but only if i need it.
i dont change what i buy just for the sake of changing. to me, if it works dont fix it. sure, there might be better ketchup, underwear or harps out there but ignorance is bliss, as the saying goes.
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Aussiesucker
434 posts
Nov 15, 2009
3:16 PM
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eharp > I hear what you say but don't necessarily agree. I have never ever tried Ketchup ie isn't this what Americans call tomato sauce? Underwear, I certainly do change brands ie price, quality etc are major considerations. Yes, I like to try new things & if I see something called Ketchup I might even give it a try. With cars I was for many years a staunch fan of the local made GM product then switched to the equivalent local Ford product. After switching to Japanese and German made cars 6 years ago it opened my mind to products that were just so much better.
It's all about keeping an open mind.
Coincidently, I checked back and in the past 12 months I have only purchased 2 Harps ie Sp20 in Low D & a Manji in C ie a total outlay of $100. Hardly a terrible GAS problem ie I hope I have now beaten it! There probably is one US online retailer who really misses me ?
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scstrickland
304 posts
Nov 15, 2009
3:45 PM
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Ketchup = Tomato Sauce? DIZZASTER! Spaghetti with tomato sauce anyone?
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jbone
197 posts
Nov 15, 2009
3:47 PM
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e-
i WILL buy more as i can afford to. it would be great to just order a whole set but us pore boys gotta go the long way around. i am convinced at present that this is the best production harp ever offered.
funny but i decided to try a bluesmaster and got one recently. this is every bit as good as a delta frost but i did change the covers. now you can't tell soundwise which is the df and which is the bluesmaster. so it's a serviceable harp for 60% of the cost of a manji. so in a pinch, with fast shipping, i can have a decent harp for about what i've been paying all along for other comparable brands. but sorry, it's just not at the quality level of the manji. if i can afford "great", i'll choose it over "decent" any time.
as i mentioned above, the volume difference and improved response of the manjii put it in a class of its own. i have yet to spend $50 on a hohner that "should" compete with it. why bother if this is the harp i really like, and it has the best reeds out there short of customized?
better quality harp can theoretically lead to better quality playing. nuff said.
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Delta Dirt
35 posts
Nov 15, 2009
4:12 PM
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First of all i own at least one of everything made. Sad but true. Customs included. Two divorces later.....not entirely over money.....i recently bought a Manji. Best out of the box i have ever played.Now own four. And i started playing in the 50's. Oh yeah Rockin Rons will definitely get my money from here on. Great service very fast!
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Aussiesucker
436 posts
Nov 15, 2009
4:31 PM
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>scstrickland
Wikepedia> Ketchup is a term for tomato sauce. Although initially Ketchup referred to any sauce.
I think I will stick with having my 'dogs eye' liberally covered with 'dead horse'. And, thank you very much I will have my Kangaroo steak only with a liberal serving of chips ie not fancy fries.
Delta Dirt>
You got GAS worse than me.
jbone>
don't disagree with you. I would / should venture down the custom track but most have order books extending out for yonks. Here customisers charge like $400!! One day.
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scstrickland
306 posts
Nov 15, 2009
6:02 PM
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LOL Aussiesucker. Although Ketchup and tomato sauce are 99% alike, that 1% difference is a big difference. Ketchup is for hot dogs, hamburgers, fries (I believe you call them chips and eat them with vinegar, which is quite delicious IMO) and we put lots of Ketchup on Aunt Glenda's dry and flavorless meatloaf. We would never, ever, ever put Ketchup on our pizza or spaghetti. Only the finest tomato sauces for those delicacies please. 8^)
Last Edited by on Nov 15, 2009 6:06 PM
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chopper
16 posts
Nov 15, 2009
8:21 PM
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hey aussiesucker just recieved my manji Bb and promaster A ce to hold thru mandoharp great bloke to deal with he even threw in 2 harp sacks the manji to me feels very free flowing loud bright a pleasure to play the pro has a nice indentation on the plates which makes it nice tito hold in playing it feels tight maybe requires some breaking in? ive only ever played hohners all in all im stoked and cheers for putting me on to mandoharp hope you can understand this my computer is giving me grief
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Aussiesucker
437 posts
Nov 15, 2009
9:18 PM
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chopper>
Yeah I have found Dane a great guy to deal with.
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jbone
199 posts
Nov 16, 2009
4:41 AM
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hey aussie, got any hot peppers there? habanero, thai, ghost? great way to dress up either ketchup or tomato based garnishes, let alone what a cut-up pepper will do for some vinegar. eggs, potatoes, mexican or cuban food. they must be used with caution but in moderate or small concentrations they will open your taste buds right up.
i have tried many harps over many years. most have had some flaw or other. my bad habits caused many a harp to end up getting dusty on a shelf with a bad reed or 2. since my breath control has improved a lot in recent years, i have coe to realize that i can make a "lesser" harp work well. but if i can spend a few extra bucks and get so much better quality, why not do it! to me suzuki is the latest great maker of harmonicas. nobody is perfect and i have heard of issues with some manjis' ie badly tuned reeds etc. but for my $$ they are who i am giving my business to.
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nick67
28 posts
Nov 16, 2009
5:28 AM
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Each to their own
I have sp20s LO marine bands blues harps mb delux promaster plus others and each have their own special quality.
Even got a blues bender for hohner the other day and it plays fine not as nice as the promaster mind you but they are much more expensive.
Hey aussie ive got a promaster valved in ab and its sounds fantastic.
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congaron
260 posts
Nov 16, 2009
9:58 AM
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Harpmasters are pretty hard to beat. I have 5. For me, though...i have to nip my own GAS in the bud and say i am about to go all marine band as time requires me to purchase backups or new primaries. They marine bands will be the new primaries. i only have one in D and one in A, but they are my harps of choice hands down. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I think the smaller size, the classic tone, the playability are just right for me. I started harp in very late february, but really got into it in early march of this year. I filed my lips down with a c blues harp and a d blues harp that has a warped reed plate and huge scratches in the comb. I played for hours on end until my lips were raw and occasionally bleeding at work (12 hour swing shift). I guess the scar tissue protects me from the discomfort issues. My marine bands are the only ones that overblow on holes 4-6 either out of the box or after 5 minutes work. The tone is undeniably more to my liking and my wife's. If the manji is basically this with a slight step backwards in tuning....I'm going to finally say i'll have to pass, especially since i can't get one locally...that makes it easier to pass on, believe me. I would already have one if not for that...lol...it would be in D, just like the marine band i recently bought, but wouldn't have. See, the men in the white coats are really scratching their heads over this one...!
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Aussiesucker
439 posts
Nov 16, 2009
1:09 PM
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jbone> yeah like the taste of those herbs and spices. My favourite food by far is Thai. Also I love Indian. Not much on Mexican and am not familiar with Cuban food. On a US trip yonks ago I loved the food in New Orleans + the music! Aussie food is fairly uninteresting ie meat & 3 vegs + tomato sauce, salt & pepper. The influence of other cultures through immigration has opened up our taste for the better. But, there are mistakes & exceptions as I draw the line at eating McMuck which probably fits well with Rap music, litter, pollution and poor health!
Nearly another topic here ie the strong link between good food and great music? All about having a good time.
Last Edited by on Nov 16, 2009 1:11 PM
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Philosofy
284 posts
Nov 16, 2009
7:32 PM
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eharp, responding to why people try new harps. We're kind of like golfers. Always wanting to try new clubs to improve our game. Now, we all know its the indian, not the arrow, and Jason Ricci on a $5.00 harp bought at Cracker Barrel will make better music than I can on a customized Joe Filisko. But having new toys to play with makes playing the harp more exciting to some of us. It can also reveal some of our limitations. I have one customized harp, and I call it my "no excuses" harp. If I can't do it on that harp, I know its me, and not a leaky harp. BTW, we need to get together next time I'm in Novi.
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clarksdale
16 posts
Nov 18, 2009
11:00 PM
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I pretty much agree with JAYBIRD up there.
I'm a big HarpMaster fan. I bought a Manji in the key of A, also from rockin'rons GREAT GUY.
I had the same problem adjusting to the "FEEL" so i took my MANJI reedplates and stuck them in a HarpMaster Body. Now i'm ready to rock.
Not sure that i'd buy anymore Manji reedplates or not, the HarpMaster is sufficient to me as it is.
peace,
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$Daddy Rich$
"The Blues is Ok!"
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ness
115 posts
Nov 19, 2009
5:35 AM
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I just buy whatever you guys say is the best harp 'out of the box'. So, I've got at least one of everything. :^)
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harpinonfire
22 posts
Nov 19, 2009
9:18 AM
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ness, you the man. Kind of expensive philosophy, though. So which one did you find was best out of the box? Kinda like buying a set of darts. Let's see there are about 10,000 styles out there, which one is the panacia one? There are expensive ones and cheaper ones and custom ones and of course all the pros don't use the same ones. What a mind delema. Pick it up, put it into your mouth, if it feels good and sounds good, baby you got the right one for you. Or maybe not. The never ending Story...
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eharp
357 posts
Nov 19, 2009
5:48 PM
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funny stuff, ness!!
phil-you still got my address, right?
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