scottb
62 posts
Nov 16, 2009
1:04 PM
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Hadn't seen this on the site, sorry if its here. I found these reviews on the Musicians Friend website about the Hohner Crossover. Lots of big names giving it thumbs up.
"This Crossover is an exceptional harmonica. I have to say that this is without any doubt the best playing out of the box harmonica that I've ever had my hands on and my mouth around." Joe Filisko
"It's a notable substantial upgrade to the diatonics I have played. It played very well. That's a big deal, because I trusted it. Tuning is superb. Responsiveness is excellent." Joe Filisko
"Very responsive. The tuning is fabulous. Fabulous tuning, fabulous response. The bends are right there." Joe Filisko
"These are a step up in basic quality out of the box. They are very close to customized harps that I've played." Howard Levy
"I love the playing feel of bamboo combs. The Crossover is exactly what I feel a modern Marine Band ought to be." Steve Baker
"As a Marine Band player for 40 years I really love the Crossover and am proud to have been closely involved in its development from the very beginning. The first time I played the very first prototype with a bamboo comb I was blown away by the sound, volume, response and playing feel and thought "this is it!" I own a lot of custom harps, but this is what I use on stage because it's tough, reliable and both plays and sounds great." Steve Baker
"Love the Crossover!" Mickey Raphael
"Great job on those Crossovers!!!!" Rick Estrin
"The new Marine Band Crossover is a terrific harp in every aspect: beautiful sealed bamboo comb, strong attractive cover plates and, most importantly, well tuned, with good volume and projection, and smooth responsive playability from bottom to top. It also comes in a handy and unique zippered case. I've made it my personal harp of choice. Another winner from Hohner!" Jerry Portnoy
"It's beautiful. It is nice right out of the box. Great tone. Great feel. I'm loving it." Phil Wiggins
"I tell you what— that's great! I really dug it." John Nemeth
"I like the comb a lot, how it felt, how it responded, how it sounded. The feel and response is closer to a custom Marine Band." Dennis Gruenling
"The new Crossover is a great instrument! I've been playing professionally since 1979 and have tried all the models and this is the best out of the box harp yet." R.J. Mischo
"The Crossover is Hohner's best harmonica to date . . . great feel, playability and most importantly sound!" David Barrett
"For those who want the great sound of our forefathers, but the playability of a modern designed harmonica, then put Hohner's new Crossover harmonica at the top of your shopping list." David Barrett
"I needed a five overblow, and it was there. To get a rack-mounted five overblow right out of the box—I was happy with that." James Conway
Last Edited by on Nov 16, 2009 1:06 PM
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Bluzdude46
275 posts
Nov 16, 2009
1:27 PM
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You have to check which of these guys is a paid endorser, But I was at a Jam with Phil Wiggins 3 weeks ago and yes he had a couple crossovers in his box and was playing them. He likes them. But I think he could make a dime store harp sound good
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scottb
63 posts
Nov 16, 2009
1:51 PM
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I don't know if RJ Mischo is using them full time but he had one with him the other day (I assume Hohner sent him one to try) and he seemed genuinely impressed. He is a DIE HARD Marine Band guy but I got the impression he would use them if they weren't so expensive.
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mickil
628 posts
Nov 16, 2009
2:49 PM
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I've got one and it's true that they are very tasty harps. Nevertheless, I sometimes wonder whether part of the MB appeal is an historical one.
I think I read on elk river's site - might have been elswhere - that had it not been for Seydel being on the Communist side of Germany after WWII then their Bandmaster might well have occupied the historical position that MBs do.
Doesn't an awful lot of the MB thing seem to play on historical hype and marketing? Don't Big River covers on a Blues Harp comb - if the comb is flat - or a Seydel Soloist sound just as good and play as well as a standard MB?
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
Last Edited by on Nov 16, 2009 2:51 PM
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HarpNinja
20 posts
Nov 16, 2009
7:01 PM
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If they are comparing the crossover with the typical MB from the store...
I know some of those guys refer to custom harps, but a lot of custom harps can suck.
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Mike Fugazzi
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Buddha
1164 posts
Nov 17, 2009
4:12 AM
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I know almost all of the people quoted are/were Joe Filisko customers so they know what a good harp is.
I have a Crossover and I'm not as impressed as those guys. It's a good harp out of the box but nowhere near a good custom harp.
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"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are." - Joseph Campbell
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nick67
30 posts
Nov 17, 2009
6:59 AM
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Well that said Buddha ill take your word for it as i am one of the unfortunates never to have graced a custom harp.Mind you have seen one of yours and must admit in love with at first sight.
Never tried a crossover also and i recon i prob will never just stick to the trad harps as if you cannot make it with them then give up.
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congaron
270 posts
Nov 17, 2009
12:30 PM
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I put big river covers on a fine-playing blues harp. The tone was definitely improved..but there is a difference in the marine band tone. Long reeds, maybe?
I prefer the marine band, but don't really think for a second the average audience member gives one hoot. They want to hear right notes, soulfully played. They aren't making any A-B comparisons at the gig. The wireless has to work without dropouts and any effects have to not interfere with that. The harp has to function correctly. The music has to be good.
I wish I could afford one of every harp made...glad to hear people like the new improved ones. Also glad to hear the custom market is not threatened.
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barbequebob
91 posts
Nov 17, 2009
12:49 PM
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The Big River covers are the exact same thing as the MS Marine Band that was only issued in Europe and so what you did was turn that into the MS Marine Band. I was one of the players who tested the prototype here in the US and it was almost unanimous that we all hated it with a passion and a few of the people who tested it and had endorsement deals threatened to ditch those and switch to another manufacturer., and so the MS Marine Band was never issued here in the US.
I'm the first to agree that any stock harp, no matter how well made it is, just doesn't compare to a custom harp at all.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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scottb
65 posts
Nov 17, 2009
1:33 PM
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I guess what suprised me the most was the multiple and most supportive statements from Filisko. The others are more typical of what I'd expect from Hohner endorsers but his seem to go a step further and knowing he is THE customizer of harps I find that suprising
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blogward
4 posts
Nov 18, 2009
11:55 AM
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The Xover is a much better harp; Hohner give you what you pay for. The question is whether you can customize an MB or GM to be better than an OOB Xover. Not getting into any Hohner/Seydel debates thank you;)
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blogward
8 posts
Nov 19, 2009
11:17 AM
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Nothing wrong with Hohner reeds either. I did think the Xover case was overdesigned compared to the harp. But the three or four I've got seem to be more airtight all round.
Last Edited by on Nov 19, 2009 11:17 AM
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Delta Dirt
45 posts
Nov 20, 2009
11:07 AM
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Just got a D. Its definitely better than the Deluxe. Not so sure if it beats the Manji......too early....ill take it on stage and report later.
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harmonicanick
468 posts
Nov 20, 2009
11:48 AM
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@barbequebob
Which harps do you use Bob?
Do you have any endorsements?
If custom is your answer who makes 'em please?
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barbequebob
110 posts
Nov 20, 2009
2:01 PM
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I mainly use custom Marine Bands. They were done by Tim Northcutt of Hot Rod Harps, but he's been out of commission for a few years. for the record, I don't have endorsement deals of any kind at all with any customizer, retailer, manufacturer, etc.
Even after mainly playing customs, with better playing technique, I can do well with practically anything.
The customizers work they're doing now is far better than what was done as little as 5-10 years ago and some of the manufacturers are still trying to keep up with those.
Richard Sleigh's Marine Band Kits are far better than the Marine Band Deluxes are. He has the backs wide open, the combs are sanded and, unlike the MBD, the comb is FULLY sealed, as oppossed to being just sealed around the outer edges with the MBD, Hering 1923 Vintage Harp, Hering Master Blues, and hering Delta Blues, but at $50 each, the single most important ingredient that you DON'T get on these for that price is the single most important part of the custom harp, and that's the reed work.
The Marine Band Crossover, Bends Juke, and the Seydel 1847 Classic (wood combed version) are the only stock diatonics that actually have a fully sealed wooden comb.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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mickil
633 posts
Nov 20, 2009
3:00 PM
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bbqbob,
Also, there's the Seydel Soloist (new version) and the Soloist Pro. Same comb as the 1847 on the latter, I think.
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
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barbequebob
111 posts
Nov 20, 2009
4:41 PM
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Those are basically 12 hole diatonics that are
tuned using the same layout as a chromatic but without the slide and what this thread is the standard 10 hole Richter tuned layout. I`m well aware of those, but please don`t take this as snapping at you as this is clearly not my intention at all.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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mickil
634 posts
Nov 20, 2009
4:52 PM
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No offence taken Bob. Still, I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Those Seydels are 10 hole JI - more or less - tuned diatonics. The only difference between them and most others is the slightly wider hole spacing from end to end. Have I missed some point in the discussion here?
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YouTube SlimHarpMick
Last Edited by on Nov 20, 2009 4:53 PM
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barbequebob
112 posts
Nov 21, 2009
10:16 AM
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Mickl, thank you, I do stand corrected here. They do have the Solist Pro 12 that is available with the solo tuning. Now that makes it only 4 models with fully sealed combs.
With every brand/make/model of harp, there are always going to be different quirks one has to learn to deal with and if hole spacing or anything else is a bit difficult, having a rigid embouchure or a rigid approach to everything can make things a problem and one needs to shed with them for a bit to adapt to it, which something many players often fail to do.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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