ZeppoValve
3 posts
Dec 16, 2009
9:03 PM
|
Howdy everyone
I have been playing harp since about mid-last summer. In that time I have bought two harmonicas, both Hohners, a Marine band, and a Golden Melody. The latter I quite like, as I have found its playability (in contrast to the MB & a Pro Harp I tried) to be very good, it is both loud, and VERY airtight. However as the Golden Melody is in equal temperament tuning, and chords are a must for the kind of harp I desire to play I am inclined to give them a pass as I continue to build my harmonica arsenal. Being, as I am a student, I am on a limited budget and therefor would like to keep the trial and error portion of my hunt to a minimum...I am also likely to cheap to invest in so called custom harps.
Does anyone perhaps have a recommendation for something with similar or better performance then Golden Melody? Thanks very much.
-PWJ
|
jonsparrow
1436 posts
Dec 16, 2009
9:10 PM
|
i would have to say special 20. they play pretty smooth. but im a marine band guy.
|
Ant138
220 posts
Dec 17, 2009
1:12 AM
|
Try a Seydel Soloist pro or the slightly cheaper Soloist.
----------
|
ricanefan
40 posts
Dec 17, 2009
1:25 AM
|
Suzuki BluesMaster
|
Hoolines
30 posts
Dec 17, 2009
1:38 AM
|
I suggest Suzuki Bluesmaster or Harpmaster. I asked some basic questions about the first harp and someone suggested Suzuki harps and I bought one. Harpmaster is my first and I love it. Loud and very nice. It doesn't let you skip practicing. They are very cheap comparing with other brands. I am planning on getting a seydel 1847 but till then Suzuki works just fine.
Hoolines
|
tookatooka
882 posts
Dec 17, 2009
2:19 AM
|
Special 20 ZeppoValve. Careful here - All lower priced Suzukis are Equal Temperament Tuning and you've stated you didn't want that.
As you have a limited budget, the Special 20 would be ideal. It has compromised tuning, ideal for chord work plus you can buy replacement reedplates.
----------
|
DaDoom
149 posts
Dec 17, 2009
2:30 AM
|
The special 20 is really nice. What I like the most about them is the consistent manufacturing quality. I bought a bunch of them and never picked a bad one so far.
Alternatively you could retune a Golden Melody to compromised tuning if that's the harp you prefer the most.
|
mickil
722 posts
Dec 17, 2009
8:14 AM
|
As the others have said, Special 20. You might also want to try a Hering 1923; it's JI tuned, is easy on the lips, but has a funny taste at first, which some people don't like. Or there's the Hering Black Blues. Harponline's website claims that Hering claim that they're just tuned, but they don't sound too sure.
----------
YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2009 8:15 AM
|
MrVerylongusername
710 posts
Dec 17, 2009
8:39 AM
|
They aren't - it's a compromise tuning. I think they used to be though.
|
nacoran
552 posts
Dec 17, 2009
10:10 AM
|
Hering 1923 is their MB model, right? How about some of the other moon shaped harps? What tuning are they in?
|
jawbone
188 posts
Dec 17, 2009
10:10 AM
|
Special 20, Big River, if you don't mind exposed reed plates and use a bit more air, Black Blues take A LOT of extra air. I didn't like mine.
----------
If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
|
mickil
723 posts
Dec 17, 2009
10:22 AM
|
jawbone,
I've got a few Hering Blues, which are almost identical, and they're all fine. Maybe you got a duff one.
I think the only two differences are: chrome plated brass covers versus (oxidized?) stainless steel covers; and, ABS comb versus plastic polymer comb on the Black. I think I read that the polymer is supposed to be more air tight, but that memory is a bit vague.
----------
YouTube SlimHarpMick a.k.a. HarmonicaMick
|
nineveh_harp
22 posts
Dec 17, 2009
10:36 AM
|
Try a Seydel Blues Session. Those are compromised tuning and they have the coverplates that extend over the whole harp, just like the Golden Melody. They cost about the same or maybe 2 dollars less then a Special 20. I own at least 5 of each of those harps. If you like Golden Melody, but you want your chords in tune... I think you'll love the Sessions.
-Sam
|
djm3801
278 posts
Dec 17, 2009
11:31 AM
|
If you like the somewhat larger size of the Golden meloday and hole size, the Seydel Soloist Pro is very similar. Nice harp. High quality wood comb if that matters.
Last Edited by on Dec 17, 2009 11:32 AM
|
barbequebob
231 posts
Dec 17, 2009
1:25 PM
|
The Hering 1923 Vintage Harp is tuned the same as a pre-1985 Marine Band, in 7 limit just intonation. If you have any questions on harp tunings other than ET, go to http://www.deltafrost.com, type in the search field, "Diatonic harmonica tunings - an update," and there you'll find the complete list that I posted there.
----------
Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
|
Shredder
74 posts
Dec 17, 2009
2:05 PM
|
My 2nd harp to go to is the S/P 20 and it's priced better than the G/M. Sized just right very air tight, plays well out of the box but I still gap them the way I like.
G/M's are my favorite. The big rivers and pro harps are to fat for my liking and I don't like wood combs either.
Mike
|
jawbone
190 posts
Dec 17, 2009
7:04 PM
|
@mickil, Yeah, I was surprised how much air it took - looks real nice - but very unresponsive, not leaky I don't think, just takes a lot of air to get it started. I've never looked inside, got too many others, I just set it aside. I'm gonna look in it now!!!
----------
If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
|
CJames
76 posts
Dec 17, 2009
8:29 PM
|
Definately a SP20 next, i advise to stay away from MS models like the big river harp and blues harp.
|
scrybe314
56 posts
Jan 13, 2010
7:17 PM
|
Special 20s are solid enough, though I find Golden Melodies can take a little better beating. IF you're looking for something a little more low-end, try Huang Star Performers.
|
LeonStagg
94 posts
Jan 13, 2010
8:33 PM
|
Special 20s have always been one of my favorites. I tounge-block almost exclusively, so the plastic comb is very forgiving for me.
|
congaron
432 posts
Jan 14, 2010
11:04 AM
|
Special 20 is pretty hard to beat. The tuning is a tad different than marine band or blues harp, but the chords are very smooth. I've been having this discussion with a friend who is die hard blues harp, but needs some new harps. He doesn't want the hassle of reed tweaking. I'd have to say harpmasters and special 20s take the prize for out of the box playability. If suzuki used JI or even compromise tuning on the harpmaster i'd buy those exculsively. The amoundt of air they need is miniscule, even compared to the special 20.
|
