I recorded this vid a year ago. Until about 3 months ago merely played hohner bluesbands. However, my favorite harp for more than a years (Bluesband in A) went sour. So I started switching to other harps.
The Bluesbands are not very loud and kinda breathy in sound but I loved to play them. Especially, because the lower harps are mostly very easy to bend.
However, the rule: the further you go up in key the worse they play. I bought three of these sets and the F harp was ALWAYS impossible to play. A nightmare of an harp.
Help me understand. You are a big fan of Bluesband that cost about $3 a pop and play like they are full of molasses (as seen in your video) and last week you are banging on a $30 Blues harp because the wood comb was rough when you removed the reeds?
The only Key I ever found in the US is C--I used to have about three or four of them and they were cheap and airy sounding--suitable for keeping in the car to throw under the tires for traction if I got stuck in the snow.
One of them, when I was learning to customize harps, I fixed up and tuned--put a new comb on it--embossed it--the works. It was pretty good for about a week--then it went into the traction set. . .
Remember, you get what you pay for, and these are Chinese made harps, which doesn't say very much. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
scstrickland, in every box I bought there were 3,4 harps that played nicely. With the exception of this box the A harp always played very smoothly.
What I mean with 'smoothly' is that they were relatively responsive, but especially, that the bends were incredibly easy to play - much easier than all the 30€ harps that I had bought before.
Now when I say that the lower G harp played increadibly smoothe and the F harp (as can be seen in the vid) plays like a piece of shit harp. Well then the two 30€ Blues Harps play about as well as a C Bluesband with pretty stiff bends... (i.e. pretty bad).
---------- germanharpist on YT. =;-)
Last Edited by on Dec 04, 2009 1:16 PM
they just put the set on musicians friend about a month ago i was wondering how they were my harp teacher says for the money the C was not that bad and for the longest all they offered was the C now they have a set of blues bands and was wondering are they worth getting or not.
I have a bluesband in the key of C that someone gave me and for a cheap harp the one I have ain't bad. It overblows well on holes 5 N 6 and plays nice up and down the harp.
Sorry! I'll take a bad Blues Harp over a good Bluesband any day. I just bought a boatload of Bluesbands to give to m 5th graders as incentives for good behavior. I agree with your video, Bluesbands are of toy quality.
Let me bring this comparison to make it clear. The Bluesband is a toy as in being like a go-cart in comparison to let's say some military jeep (a little exaggerated but you get my point). The go-cart may be a toy, but with accurate and direct steering, a fast motor (compared to it's weight) which results in a fast little devil. In comparison to that you have the Blues Harp, which like these military jeeps needs a lot of effort to drive. The clutch is kinda fucked, steering is not accurate at all and needs a lot of force. Plus it is reacts very slowly.
Yeah, the go-cart is a toy. But this doesn't mean that it is of "toy-quality" - it is like one of these pro go-carts and you can rock the streets with it if you have the skill.
While the military jeep may be a "serious" vehicle it drives like a truck.
Bluesband vs. Blues Harp.
I hope that makes the seeming contradictions in my post clear.
However, to be fair I should post the one weakness of the Bluesbands that really made me wonna change to "serious" harps: they play a little differently. While they bend very easily you can't bend the notes down as far as on the 30€ instruments. I.e. the four hole draw on a Bluesband doesn't bend as close to the blow note. Consequently that means that you can bend it all the way down in your blues and it still sounds like a four hole half bend step instead of a four hole blow.
This made it very easy to play the blues, because I had to pay very little attention on intonation when bending to the max. However, it then needs getting used to playing "serious" instruments.
I primarily played the Bluesband during my two first years for specific reasons and I tried to make these clear.
I rest my case. ---------- germanharpist on YT. =;-)
Last Edited by on Dec 04, 2009 11:42 PM
I love the molasses sound of the low octave, but clearly they need those gaps closed right up on the upper octave. Where did you get them from, GH? I'd buy a set if they were cheap enough. ---------- Kinda hot in these rhinos!
I will always remember the harmonica as a toy. I will also offer it to kids as a toy. A toy you can make music with.
The toy aspect of the harmonica is part of its broad appeal. Those who choose to pursue it as a serious musical instrument and even make a living from it, don't need to be offended by the toy status of the harmonica in my opinion. It's reality. Most people see it as a toy. Those same people will sit in wide-eyed wonder when they hear it played as an instrument.
I remember grabbing a green and white plastic harmonica on summer vacation once in some tacky gift shop in South Carolina. I amused myself on and off for days with that thing.
It's possible the toy presents a challenge to some folks that makes them a better player. Not because of the poor harder-blowing technique required, but because of the challenge and the desire to get a better harmonica and progress, or even learn to adjust it.
Scstrickland: Frankly, If I felt a harmonica was unplayable, and truly JUST a toy, the LAST thing i would do is hand them out to kids as a reward. Surely these play well enough to give a couple first position lessons.
I know, I have one in C and it is widely gapped but otherwise plenty playable. So as a reward, they would be fine, even if you don't think they are worth a crap...I'm just a little confused on the motivation to give them out if you personally feel they are junk.
Germanharpist, i hear what you are saying..lower volume, plenty of tone within its limits, maybe a little inconsistently gapped, but a dirt cheap starter set with potential. I have piedmont blues...i use the case for spare tubes, tools and a couple spare harps in weird keys. I have also given a couple of them away AFTER giving a short lesson and demonstration on a peidmont harp.
Let's face it, for the average person, it's a fun toy that will get occasional usage. With a little practice they will trade up if they feel like it.
My wife tried again to do the 10 hole half- step bend on her folkmaster in A last night...no go. I was demo-ing it on a marine band in A. I gave her a special 20 to try. Nope. She said..make this folkmaster bend (thinking the "toy" was at fault.) I did it and said "you realize it isn't going to stay bent for you....." LOL.
Point is, the beginner will learn as much as they want on whatever is available...you can't teach "want to" and equipment doesn't affect it for the person who really wants to.
Last Edited by on Dec 05, 2009 9:27 AM
Well, it's the very perception of the instrument as being a toy and the way many people fo about it is also what gives the instrument a bad name, and it's also why musicians who play other instruments often have total disrespect for the instrument and the really good players have to fight this terrible image all the time. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Well, it's the very perception of the instrument as being a toy and the way many people fo about it is also what gives the instrument a bad name, and it's also why musicians who play other instruments often have total disrespect for the instrument and the really good players have to fight this terrible image all the time. Frankly, any instrument is not much better than a toy in the hands of someone poorly skilled, but the harmonica as a toy has stigmaatized the instrument for over 150 years and from a pro's standpoint, it just makes me puke. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I think we are violently in agreement here Bob. I am simply admitting the reality of it (150 years vs. my 9 months playing time) and have seen the positive reactions of folks when they hear music come out of a harmonica, that's all.
Like you said, even a custom harp would be like a toy to a beginner...
I am no pro, But if I were, i wouldn't care what people think of the harmonica any more than I care what they think about the guitar (everybody plays this), trumpet (silly fill instrument), mandolin (some folks don't like these...along with bluegrass and banjo stereotypes), congas (I love lucy comedy and survivor sounding fill instrument), bass (most people take this for granted altogether), Keyboard (many pianists look down on these).
Stigma is always overcome by musicianship....there are some physically unattractive humans proving this every single day. Maybe Uncharismatic at first glance is a better way to put it...look at Susan Boyle. Simon Cowell has nothing but praise for her..he has graciously eaten public crow over his initial reaction to her appearance.
I play all of the above instruments in my band or in anther band or even at a jam night. I can make any one of them sound as silly as I want or as serious as I want. I can play wrong notes or right notes or make a wrong note sound like it was an intentional excursion outside the box. I can substitute a short wort after forgeting the right word in a lyric and not fall off the groove, as rarely as this happens.
I think anyone who loves music will be impressed or not by the musician playing any of these instruments...not the instrument itself. I'm sure you can play anything you want to or need to if somebody hands you a bluesband at the beach. If some reed sticks or leaks, you'll just do something that doesn't need that one until you get your own harps out and Jam.
Stigma...Not to me. Nobody stigmatizes a good musician. What are they going to say? "Man, not another good musican..." Who cares if they stigmatize what you play it on. If I started caring about that, I'll have to replace many of my instruments with better brand names i can't afford and simply stop playing.
Last Edited by on Dec 05, 2009 10:13 AM
@congaron I use them as motivators and incentives for children. I, unfortunately can not afford to hand out MB's. It's not a matter of weather I like them or not. The question is wether my students like them, and in fact they love them. Think of them as the stickers or a pencil you received in school for a job well done. Would you value that sticker very much now as an adult? But you did as a student. So, because of their inferior quality, they have no place in my kit, but make a perfect, economical gift for a student. And as you said " for the average person, it's a fun toy that will get occasional usage. With a little practice they will trade up if they feel like it."
I never said they were unplayable. I just have trouble understanding How GH could find the quality of a Bluesharp lesser than that of a Bluesband.
BTW - I have tried teaching the kids how to play them but not very often (there is NO time in a modern elementary school schedule for anything non curricular)
Last Edited by on Dec 05, 2009 11:40 AM
I see what you meant. As for bluesharps...i only own two and one is great, the other is definitely worse than the one bluesband I have. My marine bands are 2 for 2 on the great side. The one big river I have is good now that i reworked it some...the covers are on the good bluesharp..lol . The reeds on the big river were way to widely gapped....but pretty consistently so. For me, hohner-wise, it's marine band hands down...with special 20 a very close second except for tone.
I am wishing our music curriculum had included some harmonica. it seems like this is an opportunity missed. We spent a lot of time on percussion in the grade school music classes. The rest was singing unless you could afford to take up an instrument. You'd think the harmonica would be an ideal curriculum addition for the music class.
Just as a note of interest; You do realize that the reeds in the Big River and the Bluesharp are the same? Also, I do agree that harmonica would be great in music class. The thing is I'm an art teacher.
Last Edited by on Dec 05, 2009 11:52 AM
Yes, I knew that. The ms series of harps has all those interchangeable parts...not my favorites, but I like the tone of the c bluesharp with big river covers. The big river works just fine now, but was hands-down the worst harp out of the box I ever bought..peidmont blues included.
Art teacher, very cool and one of my favorite classes in high school and college....how about harp in one hand, pencil in the other?
Just a note of interest, I was checking out amazon.com's "bestsellers" lists. Under musical instruments the Hohner 150th Anniversary Edition harmonica was #1. The next Harmonica on the list was the Bluesband at #12. Next harp on the list was way down at #60 (the Old Standby) followed at #61 by the Special 20. The Blues Harp and the Marine Band didn't even make the list!
I have one Isaacullah. It is my favorite harp. Same as all the other MS harps but with a solid plastic comb. by far the loudest harp I Have. Well...If you don't count my Manji. They say wood vs. plastic makes no difference in sound, but I wonder if solid vs. hollow does.
It's funny how many people do the Bluesharp with Big River covers. I thought that was MY invention. I do it because the Big river covers are easier to open the backs on.
I`ve mentioned this before but the MS version of the MB, which was only issued in Europe from 1992-2002, was basically the MS Blues Harp with MB covers that were the exact same thing as the BR`s with the only difference being the inscription on the top cover plate. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I've not followed this thread so, please forgive any incongruousness - that's hard to spell after a few wines - but why was the MS MB disliked so much by the pros?
I've bought 5 BHs and 2 of them have been crap, both on 3 draw. But, the others, woh! Shove on BR covers and they sound sexier than a porn flick with Brigit Bardot, Raquel Welsh and Gina Lollibrigita all in the same scene.
I know that some of it comes down to taste, but, I don't understand what might have been wrong with the prototypes that the pros tested. ---------- YouTube SlimHarpMick
They were disliked by the pros because when they first came out, they were using short slot reeds which gave off a very shrill souding tone, and it was especially noticeable on the prototype that was sent to a large number of pros and I had a chance to play it and it was an assement I had to agree with. Even worse, even when played really soft, getting a bend was often hard work plus they were often very unstable. In 1995-1996, they went back to using long slot reeds and a softer brass plus they also came out with the Cross Harp, which not only had the long slot, softer reeds, but also a thicker reed plate, and if they had the Cross Harp plates, it might`ve had more acceptance, but unfortunately, from Hohner`s initial blunder, the damage was done. Even to this day, these harps are lousy for OB`s and even with a regap, because the reeds are set so far away from the player. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
bbqBOB, the problem is, as far as I know the harp was designed as a toy and WAS one for very long. For the most part of the harmonicas history, everybody that could afford a better reed instrument, went for one. To loose this image isn't easy... Especially as the least people on this world know of the development that the harp has undergone (only) in the last 30 years or so. "Frankly, any instrument is not much better than a toy in the hands of someone poorly skilled" - obviously. And btw. also the other way around...
@ cangoran, I totally agree.
"what they think about the guitar (everybody plays this), trumpet (silly fill instrument), mandolin (some folks don't like these...along with bluegrass and banjo stereotypes), congas (I love lucy comedy and survivor sounding fill instrument), bass (most people take this for granted altogether), Keyboard (many pianists look down on these)." LOL, exactly!
scstrickland, it's stupid to argue what harp is better or whatever. These things have been argued million times over, we all know that harp preferences for multiple reasons are very subjective.
Thanks for that. Do you think that if they'd used long slot reeds and a softer brass in the first place, the MS MB might not have got such a thumbs down? The reason I ask is cos I can't understand what's wrong with the BH/BR combo - dodgy comb consistency aside. They are nice sounding harps. I understand that some of the pros like them, BRs, I mean. ---------- YouTube SlimHarpMick
