grownupboy
1 post
Jan 07, 2010
10:58 AM
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hey everyone...
advanced beginner here - first time posting!
i've been playing a manji for a couple of months and really enjoy the build quality and sound of that harp. but i thought i'd give one of these new hohner crossover's a try. finally got one today!
in terms of sound quality here's my initial impressions:
the manjis have a little "rattle" on the lower registers - hard to describe, but almost like the reeds echo a bit on the 1 blow/draw. it's almost like a drone after you finish playing the note - gives it character and in no way a problem (i have a manji in c and Bb and both have the same characteristic - gotta just be the sound of the manji!)
the crossover has that slightly "boxey" sound that i hear in all hohners. the qaulity of the notes are there but it just has that little bit of extra hohner disposition that gives it the edge - sounds great!
build quality on both is excellent but i gotta give the nod to he manji on build quality. just seems to have that little bit of extra "finish quality" that shows it's a premium harp. the hohner has some slightly thick varnish in spots and the way the bamboo is laminated leave some odd dark spots on the ends of the harp. not a problem in any way but i'm being picky for the sake of comparison...
which will i play? well both probably... they really appeal to me as being interchangable but the hohner gets a slight edge in sound quality from me for having that "hohner trademark sound quality"
now back to the music...
g
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scrybe314
37 posts
Jan 07, 2010
11:17 AM
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Welcome, grownupboy!
I've heard a lot of good things about the Crossover, and it's pretty high up on my "harps I can't afford but getting anyway" list. What's your normal harp of choice?
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LeonStagg
81 posts
Jan 07, 2010
11:22 AM
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Welcome grownupboy!
Thanks for the input.
I just got my first Manji last week, (Bb) and I echo your feeling of the slight rattle on some of the lower notes. Overall though, I like it a lot.
Almost got the Crossover at the same time, but decided to wait. Gonna order a Crossover in G soon.
Glad you joined us.
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barbequebob
305 posts
Jan 07, 2010
11:24 AM
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If you're hearing a rattle on the lower keys on the low notes, you're playing them with way too much breath force.
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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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LeonStagg
82 posts
Jan 07, 2010
11:35 AM
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Thanks Bob,
You're right about the breath force thing, at least in my case.The interesting thing is that, all things being equal with my playing, the Manji is the only harp that does this. Maybe it's just a little more responsive than my other models. (I don't own any customs)
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barbequebob
307 posts
Jan 07, 2010
11:39 AM
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The Manji has a far tighter reed slot tolerance than 98% of the stock harmonicas on the market, which means you need to use LESS breath force to play them, and expensive customs ar MUCH tighter and need even LESS to breath force to play them. Unfortunately, for the average player, this advice too often goes in one ear and out the other, and when they blow those harps out, the guilty players are always gonna be the first to bitch and moan about blowing them out too fast.
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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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grownupboy
2 posts
Jan 07, 2010
12:25 PM
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thanks for the replies guys!
bbq - this seems to be a characteristic of the manjis and the ehco/rattle is present even with the tiniest amount of breath. i agree with you breath control is important with this harp - it's like stepping on the gas in a ferrari! But i don't see that as what's causing this particular sound characteristic.
to be specific this isn't something that is happening when you're playing a note - it's an "after-note" effect that sounds like the reed is still vibrating a bit even after you've put the choke on it. almost like a spring reverb in a fender amp.
it really seems to me to just be the character of the manjis.
g
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congaron
390 posts
Jan 07, 2010
12:36 PM
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My lower keyed harpmasters do this as well.. a spring reverb sound that lingers after you stop the note. Could be a suzuki thing..I like it, because it comes through my amp too for a cool change of pace when playing my G or Bb harpmaster.
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grownupboy
3 posts
Jan 07, 2010
2:43 PM
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oh, one other thing i forgot to mention.
the crossover totally tastes like bamboo! hehe...
g
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grownupboy
4 posts
Jan 15, 2010
6:03 AM
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Quick update - after about a week of monkeying around with both the manji and the crossover and i gotta say... i'm a fan of the crossover.
one issue is the sound quality - it just sounds better to me. another issue is that my manji in particular has always suffered from a 3 draw that's impossible to bend without sounding "squelched". i know, technique always help but i don't have a problem with getting 3 solid notes from a 3 bend on the crossover, or my special 20 so i gotta think something's up on the manji.
reading some of the posts on the board it seems that this is a common problem with early production manjis - too bad!
all in all i gotta say - get the production ramped up on these things, hohner! we wants us some crossovers!
g
p.s. can hohner please stop with the rack mount cardboard backed packaging? makes every harp look like a cheap toy - and it's a huge waste of packaging materials!
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2010 6:04 AM
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