Oisin
632 posts
Aug 08, 2010
3:08 PM
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I have a really nice Db Pre-MS Pro Harp which I've had for years and it is one of my favorite harps.
I also have an MS Pro Harp Db and it's like playing a completely different harp. Not keen on it at all.
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Oisin
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Joe_L
521 posts
Aug 08, 2010
4:51 PM
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I have been told that the MS reedplates were of higher quality than the Big River plates. It's been my experience that they last as long or longer than the stock plates. I've never really had any problems with them. I've probably bought a dozen set of replacement plates in the past couple of years. I usually keep about twenty harps in my case, plus another dozen laying the house and/or car. Most of those harps are MS harps with a mix of Marine Bands, Marine Band Deluxes and Bushman Delta Frosts.
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MP
756 posts
Aug 08, 2010
6:45 PM
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i found a big river in my junk box. i cleaned it up, and gave it a wood bluesharp comb. i sealed surfaces of the comb with strawberry chapstick. ....it's loud...and tastes good..and plays smooth.. it's a good harp.
EDIT, i'd never buy one though. i gave the river back to the guy who gave it to me. now he likes it with a wood comb and a little adjusting done.
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MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
Last Edited by on Aug 08, 2010 9:44 PM
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groyster1
308 posts
Aug 08, 2010
10:48 PM
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@barbeque bob
a local harp player heard me play and said I used too much wind so I am concious of that and using less-it sounds logical enough to me that it must be true
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Littoral
28 posts
Aug 09, 2010
4:54 AM
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Wow. I've been playing ms blues harp for 10 years so I must be in the dark ages. I can get over blows, but not very well. They are responsive enough to do a lot of jason ricci stuff and they can handle big walter tone. That said, I need to get into my big crusty 35 year old box of old harps and resurrect my MBs.
...Big Rivers? Always too loose for me.
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Tuckster
701 posts
Aug 09, 2010
7:40 PM
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When I started playing I used MB's. I hated the comb swelling. Then I found Blues Harps(BH). They had a wooden comb and hell, they said blues harp right on the cover-just what I wanted. I've been playing them ever since. They're just like when you've been married a long time-they feel comfortable to be around,not real exiting,but dependable and you usually know what to expect of them. I've tried other harps and I do like their playability better, but I usually don't like their sound. Am I playing junk? What other Hohners might be similar sounding to a BH? Sp20 Crossover? I ain't sealing combs or drilling & tapping. I'd rather just play. Is my harp selection keeping me from being the next Jason Ricci? LOL That's kind of a "Will I be able to play the violin" joke.
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Tuckster
706 posts
Aug 10, 2010
12:27 PM
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I'm bumping this in the hope someone will answer my question.
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isaacullah
1128 posts
Aug 10, 2010
12:58 PM
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BH don't sound like a Marine Band or a Special 20. I've just built a harp using BH wood combs and Spec20 reedplates and coverplates. IMO, it sounds like a slightly ballsyier Spec 20, and nothing at all like a Blues Harp.
I didn't mind the tone of the BH's when they played. They were quite loud, and agressive. I just couldn't do as much with them. In the end, I like Marine Band tone the best, especially after I replace the combs with dymondwood ones I get from Buddha. The Spec 20's come in second, and everything a distant third. I DID love the tone of my Seydels, but they are too expensive to keep buying if I'm going to bust 'em flat as often as I seem to be doing. I've never played a harp that had even a similar tone to the Blues Harps though...
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MrVerylongusername
1170 posts
Aug 10, 2010
1:11 PM
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@Oisin - I hear ya!
The Pre-MS Pro harp was my favourite model, I preferred them to my workhorse Lee Oskars and until recently was the only Hohner diatonic I'd touch. One sad day in the 90s I went down to my music shop to replace one and all could get was the horrible 'new and improved' MS version. Gutted! it was horrible. Never bought an MS harp since.
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bluesharper
79 posts
Aug 12, 2010
4:18 AM
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Got my three big rivers today in the post and man all I gotta say is they are great little harps!
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Joe_L
532 posts
Aug 12, 2010
8:07 AM
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@isaac - If you're blowing them out at a high rate, you're probably blowing too hard. In fact, if you're blowing them out at a high rate, you're developing bad playing habits and are throwing good money away playing more expensive harps.
@bluesharper - Enjoy them. They are very usable harps.
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groyster1
314 posts
Aug 12, 2010
8:17 AM
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@bluesharper
glad you are happy with them-its your money thats what matters-regardless of what others say I think they are a good value-myself I have recently tried suzuki manjis and love them but they are twice the price of big rivers
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