The Beatles27
1 post
Feb 13, 2010
2:25 PM
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Hey, my name is Matthew aka The Beatles27. Despite the username, I'm actually more of a blues person.I'm 15 and mostly focus on guitar, but play a little harp on the side. I have a marine band in C and a lee oskar in D, but I prefer the marine band because it's a bit smaller and feels better. After about 9 months, I think the marine band is on it's last legs, and I'd rather not replace reeds etc, so I'm looking to get a new C harp. I've looked at the special 20, and it looks like it's a marine band with a plastic comb, which is perfect except I've read that it has some durability issues and I really don't want to get a new harp every 3 months or so.
thanks
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RyanMortos
641 posts
Feb 13, 2010
2:39 PM
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Why do you want to move away from the marine band? If you were happy with it for 9 months & don't want to bring it back to form with modification why not get another marine band? As you get better at playing you won't be as hard on your harmonica and it'll last longer.
Special 20s don't have more durability issues then any other harmonica. Don't believe'em!
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Contact:
My youtube account
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jonsparrow
2256 posts
Feb 13, 2010
2:43 PM
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get anouther marine band.
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eharp
513 posts
Feb 13, 2010
2:47 PM
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try bushman's delta frost. 90 blow out warranty and replaceable reed plates.
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The Beatles27
2 posts
Feb 13, 2010
2:59 PM
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I don't like the comb swelling, sorry about not mentioning that.
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Oxharp
146 posts
Feb 13, 2010
4:03 PM
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Go Get your self a West Weston Customized Harp.
They play brilliantly have great tuning, last forever and can be sent back for repair.
At about £40 each they are a bargain.
Have a listen.
if you go for one say hello from Russ
http://www.myspace.com/westwestonscustommarinebandharmonicas
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Oxharp
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javajoe
77 posts
Feb 13, 2010
4:17 PM
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I'm a MB man mysef but have owned a few Lee Oscars in the past... From my experience and that of other's I've read, the LO's are some of the mose durable harps on the market. I realize what you wrote about the size if them annd I would go for the Marine Band, too. I have only owned 2 MB's out of around 100 that I had swelling problems with. Just my 2 cents.
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nacoran
1114 posts
Feb 13, 2010
4:54 PM
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I like my SP20 a lot. Seydel and Suzuki also get good reviews. I love my Seydel Blues Favorite with its aluminum comb. Like plastic, there are no swelling issues. It feel more substantial than a plastic comb. I also like the cover shape more than the standard harp covers.
You can get custom wood combs that are sealed so swelling is a lot less of an issue. The Marine Band Crossover is sealed bamboo.
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The Beatles27
3 posts
Feb 13, 2010
5:35 PM
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So what is the general consensus of the Special 20? Good, Bad, fragile reeds, etc?
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LeeEdwards
19 posts
Feb 13, 2010
6:08 PM
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I have Special 20s which I play regularly that I've had for 3 or 4 years. The only maintenance performed is some cleaning and some light retuning every once in a while. If you are really hard on your harps and you don't look after them it stands to reason that they will deteriorate more quickly. Special 20s aren't any less reliable or durable than other of the shelf harps in my opinion.
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"You will never get every possible thing out of an instrument, but the instrument will get every possible thing out of you" - Ray Charles.
Last Edited by on Feb 13, 2010 6:09 PM
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nacoran
1117 posts
Feb 13, 2010
6:08 PM
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Beatles- I think it's the same reeds as the Marine Band. The cover is good. From what I've heard, Lee Oskars take the most abuse, but they are harder to do some of the advanced techniques on. If your harps are going bad, you might want to mic yourself up a little louder and play a little softer.
If you want a Marine Band without major swelling issues the SP20 is a good choice, or you can spend a bit more and get a Marine Band Crossover with sealed combs, or buy a custom comb and put it on a Marine Band. (I have one custom comb and it is worlds beyond other wood combs I've tried, but a custom comb will probably run you $25 just for the comb, and if you are swapping out the reeds with a regular MB you will have to deal with the nails.
My suggestion would be buy a Special 20 if you like the size of a MB. If you decide you aren't happy with the plastic comb, get a custom comb and swap the Special 20 reed plates onto it, and you probably will still have only spent about as much as you would have for a Crossover.
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geordiebluesman
254 posts
Feb 14, 2010
5:29 AM
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Hi Beatles, i recon you should listen to Oxharp, i mean how can you do better than a custom marine band at such a great price? and lets face it NOTHING sounds quite like a MB, The spetial 20 is a nice harp but it does not have the volume and edgy rasp that a MB has, the only harp that i have played that comes close in those departments IMHO is the suzuki 350 promaster, top quality harp and lovely to play, but for that authentic chicago sound just do like Adam does and stick with the MB (with a little help from Mr Weston, cos thats what i plan on doing from now on!)
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eharp
515 posts
Feb 14, 2010
5:46 AM
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did we fail to mention any standard harps in the replies?
do you see what happens, beatles? everyone has an opinion and all you get is their favorites.
my advice, since you aint too thrilled with the marine band, is to get a harp you can easily obtain that is in your price range. dont worry too much on which it is. if you are like most of us, you will be trying multiple brands eventually.
unless you find one that really rocks your world. i would then suggest you stick with it.
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6SN7
10 posts
Feb 14, 2010
8:49 AM
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I've played Special 20 for years and never had any durabilty issues.
I found it was easier to learn and play tongue blocked scales then wooden combs. That's why the MB's have stayed on the shelf with me. I have tried a metal comb over the years and a composite comb, but I come back to the 20's. I do own one custom MB,given to me, in the key of Ab (now you know it was given to me!) Our band play one Eb song, so it gets used.
I like playing the 20's more than the Lee Oskars. I find the LO brighter in tone. Though the LO are easier to tune and work on. They don't have that plastic support in the comb that 20's have. If you work on harps, you know what I mean.
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