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beginner forum: for novice and developing blues harp players >
Special 20 v's Marine Band Which do You Prefer
Special 20 v's Marine Band Which do You Prefer
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New but determined
15 posts
Dec 01, 2015
3:31 PM
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I'm six weeks into playing a harmonica and I play several hours every day.
I started with a C Sp20 and a G and I thought they were kind of off. Later I found it was that I was inexperienced.
I studied and bought a pack of 3 Manji's in a really cool case from RockinRons
I studied a whole lot and I learned about adjusting the gap.
I bought a Honner Crossover in the Key of C.
At this point, I've probably adjusted every reed in every one of those harps at least twice, as I grew, except for the Crossover- I haven't touch that one. I learned more and adjusted (I thought ) accordingly.
My verdict at this point:
Sp20's - seriously easy, mellow sweet sound, is reccoment them to anyone and might get a few more.
Manji- Well I've got them to where I love them except I'm way better at hitting single notes consistently on the Honers. The Manji's are a dream to take apart, solidly built and really comfortable to hold and maneuver.
Crossover in C- Wow, easy to play, louder and at first I thought a bit bright but felt I'd get used to it. Now regarding the sound, I can hardly tell it from the C Manji and recorded the play back of both harps using my iPhone to record- they are identical. In one week of playing every day I'd swear the Crossover has broken in and sounds more mellow and doesn't seem to have that extra bright sound.
The SP 20's still are nicer to actually play than the Manji's
The Crossover is the way it came out of the box, I haven't adjusted the gap or even taken it apart. It's the easiest to play and the easiest to bend and it's the first harp I always prefer.
My only complaint about the Crossover would apply to the Marine Band classic and Marine Band Deluxe because they are all the same size is that they are narrower front to back (mouthpiece to back) and I find I wish it was bigger like the SP 20 and Manji.
I expected I would be gapping th reeds on the Crossover (actually it says Crossover Marine Band on the covers) and it didn't look like the cover screws were Phillips and I asked here. I just found out that a Phillips #0 fits perfectly about an hour ago but expect to only open this one up when I clean it.
And I'll buy more Crossovers simply because when all the analyzing and intellectual sorting out- I want to play the Crossover - period! But as others have shared, much of the difference between harmonicas is the way different companies tune them and the rest when going from one model to another is just what you get used to. I learned as a photographer, the best camera and the best lenses are the ones you find you love to youse and the ones you have the most confidence using.
You know what's really fun to do when practicing with this harp (remember I'm a beginner) ? To practice the 2 draw by going immediately to the 2 bend and then slowly bend it up to the 2 draw all in an 8 count and then switch to a 2 blow for 7 of an 8 count and blow over the top of the harp the excess air and then do it again until I've done it 50 times. I don't do it perfectly but compared to a week ago before I got the Crossover, I couldn't bend through a bend at all.
So since I've got the C, I'm wondering if I should get the A or D crossover next. A with my Manji's is so mellow but the D is really neat, except on that harp the 8,9 and 10 holes are a lot of work, even on the Manji C compared to the Crossover.
Last Edited by New but determined on Dec 01, 2015 3:39 PM
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SuperBee
3012 posts
Dec 01, 2015
4:39 PM
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A is good. D is good too, but I would recommend A. I believe you will learn more with an A harp at this stage. The D harp is actually quite different to a C. This applies to the hohner harps in the 'marine band' and 'progressive' product lines. The harps in keys C and below are built with a different template than those from Db up. The higher range have shorter and narrower reeds than the lower range, relative to the same chamber. A reed from chamber 1 of a D harp (say blow 1, note D) is the same as a reed taken from chamber 3 of a harp in the lower range (say a G harp, blow 3, note D).
This means that in a way, those harps from Db up are actually different harps and they respond accordingly. There is more difference between a marine band C and D than there is between a C and Bb, even though the pitch difference is the equivalent.
An A harp and a D harp are roughly equivalent I think in terms of usefulness. They are both harps which will be very useful to play along with popular recordings. But I think you will find the A more rewarding in terms of your development as a player, early stages.
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ME.HarpDoc
49 posts
Dec 02, 2015
8:34 AM
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@NBT
Beyond playability and tone, do you find one model more comfortable in mouth than others? E.G. SP20 has recessed reed plates, Manji and Crossover are more sandwich construction while Crossover has more rounded corners. If you tongue block, how are reed plates/combs against tongue?
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FastFourier
2 posts
Dec 09, 2017
7:13 PM
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SP20 for me. I started out playing Marine Bands, but the swelling comb and shredded lips turned me off to them. Glad to hear that problem has been fixed, but I have moved on. Plus, the SP20's sealed comb sounds better - and I don't have to experiment with melting wax to seal the Marine Band's wooden combs. I don't really get this anyway: when a guitar player or a violinist doesn't like the way their instrument sounds, they just pay more money and get a better instrument. But then, they probably paid more than $50 for the instrument in the first place.
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FastFourier
11 posts
Dec 29, 2017
10:05 PM
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Any recommendations on the best screwdriver to take apart a Special 20? I can just go to the hardware store an try some out, but I thought maybe someone could recommend a good model. Thanks.
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PichuwithaHarmonica
2 posts
Mar 09, 2019
8:05 PM
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In my opinion, I know some people might get angry with me, but I have to say that the Special 20's better. Don't get me wrong, I love the original Marine Band's trumpet-like, bright sound, but I don't think wooden comb harps are made for me (until I maybe get a Suzuki Manji in the future with the hybrid comb). I prefer the raspy and mournful sound of the Special 20 for playing blues. It's also easier to maintain.
Last Edited by PichuwithaHarmonica on Mar 09, 2019 8:06 PM
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