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Looking for the right harp
20 September 2007
[indent]I'm not a musician, I just hack away at it. I don't have any real musical talent, but I enjoy playing and learning. I used to play a lot - guitar, harmonica, some keyboards - lots of jams and even a few gigs. I used to jam weekly at the now-metamorphosed Pine Street café, back in the days when it had Sunday jams. I even managed to rise to a level of mere competence in my playing. But when I bought my business, my time evaporated. I sold my guitars, my amps, my keyboards, my pedals and effects equipment, even my motorcycle. I hung up my fishing rod. And I got even less time for playing music when I got elected to council.
But I never stopped wanting to play. Over the years I picked up flutes, native American flutes, shakuhachi, queena, and a didgeridoo. I wanted to try something different, explore something outside my experience. But I really haven't put the necessary time and effort into them to really master any one of them. I recently got a a Strumstick, a small stringed instrument. Of the lot, I can play the Strumstick best because it's like playing a guitar.
This Spring, Susan decided to give me a gift: a new guitar - a beautiful blue Takamine 540C. Wonderful guitar. Slowly I've been reacquainting myself with the instrument, relearning chords, trying to remember how to play songs and riffs. And I'm getting back into the groove. My fingers hurt like hell after I play, and my callouses still have a long way to go before they're back up to their old thickness, but I'm working at it, a little bit every day.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to add harmonica to my practice again. I used to play a bit of blues harp, mediocre caterwauling compared to masters like Carlos del Junco or John Nemeth to be sure. But fun for me and a nice counterpoint to guitar. I decided to put some more effort into it this time around. I started with getting new harps - diatonic, not chromatic which is probably well above my limited skills and talent.
My first purchase was a set of 12 Johnson Blues King harmonicas. Plastic comb, made in China, thin covers, inconsistent sound, low build quality, but hey, it was under $50 for the set AND case. Some of the set sounded great (to my tin ears), but others sounded thin, reedy and many reeds didn't bend much (some buzzing there, too). It was something to start practicing with, and a full set of all major keys and I can use the case later for better harps.
A month or two later I started to want more. Better sound, better bending, better feel. Something good, something that sounded punchy, and something that was more consistent in quality.
A good harmonica can cost as much - or more - than the entire set of Johnsons. I couldn't afford to purchase another 12 of the best (and frankly half the keys are never going to be used in jamming), so I cautiously started buying singles, trying different makes and models in various keys. Some were purchased online, others through the local store, Blue Mountain Music (always shop local when you can!).
The keys you need to own are: A (naturally - for blues in E), D, C, G, F and Bb. The Bb is for playing with horns. I'm talking cross harp style now - playing a fifth above the key the song is in. That's blues style. So an A is for playing cross harp in the key of E, D for A, C for G, F for C and Bb for F. Got that? Good, there's a test later...
After you have the Big Six, you can get the rest - E, B, and the flats. Frankly most of us will normally never play in these keys but if you get into a lot of jamming, especially with horns, you may need them if you get that good.
Everything I read recommends novices start with a C harp, but I like A because it's lower (G was always the lowest key, but now there are new extra-low harps from some manufacturers). A fits better with the blues I play. But if you want to play melodies and learn songs, start with C because most of the basic songs are in C. Doesn't really matter - the key may differ but the positions don't change - if you're learning a song, you blow or draw the same hole no matter what the key. But you may find starting with a higher key than C makes the song sound a bit too shrill.
My first purchase (through BMM) was a $45 Suzuki Promaster in A, an all-metal harmonica with an aluminum comb - much more expensive than my playing talents deserve. Wow. What a difference! Suddenly even my amateurish tooting sounded crisp, rich and full. The harp is satisfyingly heavy and solid. It bends wonderfully. Smooth case that slides easily on the lips. I love this harp. It's worth the cost.
I was so impressed I ordered a valved version of the same harp to compare it with. Valves are supposed to make overblow bends easier. We'll see. I spent a couple of weeks learning to bend draw reeds again - and can do so with a modicum of ease and ability, although I still need more practice - but I've never mastered blow bends. Maybe this harp will finally allow me to do so. But the reviews of it online are mixed, many even negative, so I'll have to see for myself.
Next came an old standby, a Hohner Marine Band in C. Good, solid tone, a bit more mellow than the Promaster, lighter (the Hohner uses the traditional wooden comb), but another good sound. Not quite as responsive as the Suzuki. I got this locally for about $35. Then I also got a Hohner Special 20 in D from the same store. The only real difference seems to be in the Special 20's plastic comb.
Me, I'm not sure about wooden combs any more. Plastic is lighter, more sanitary, won't warp or swell, and is easier to clean. I have a couple of older (20 or so years) Hohner Blues Harps that have swollen combs that catch the lips and tongue when playing. From everything I've read online by far better harp players than I will ever be, the comb material doesn't make a lot of difference to the sound. The covers, however, do - material and design both playing a part. Of course, the reeds make a difference. Most companies use brass, but Bushman Delta Frost uses phosphor bronze (the same material used for some better guitar stings).
Okay, then on to a Lee Oskar in F, locally again for about $40. This one's a bit brighter than the Hohner, and seems to bend a tiny bit more easily. Plastic comb, and I like the way it feels on the lips better than the Hohner (wooden combs swell and can protrude, catching the lips uncomfortably as you play). A lot of musicians seem sold on Lee Oskar's harps. It has a modular system that lets you replace worn out reed plates. And the quality is certainly good.
I also got a Lee Oskar Am Natural. Minor harps are a whole other adventure and I really shouldn't wander down that road until I've got the majors worked out more. But it sounds hauntingly good - good enough for me to want to get one of their harmonic minors to compare - this harmonic tuning boasts an 'ethnic' sound. Hmmm...
This week I got a package from an eBay seller with Suzuki Bluesmaster in G and three inexpensive Merano harps (A, Eb and Bb). the Bluesmaster is as stunning as the Promaster, but at a lower cost for the same rich sound. It seems to use the same reed plates but has a plastic comb. I'd easily buy a set of these - they're far more affordable than the Promaster.
The Meranos - well, to be charitable, are mediocre. A Merano looks identical to the Johnsons right down to the type and size of the key stamped on the cover and the crews and nuts used to hold the case together. Except, of course for the name stamped in the cover, and the colour of the plastic comb. However, compared one-on-one, the Johnsons actually play and sound a little better despite the similarities (different metals? reed thicknesses? quality control?). But it's a $6 harmonica and you get what you pay for (I should have tried just one!).
In future, I won't waste my money trying out inexpensive harps. Caveat emptor! eBay descriptions may be more artistic than factual. I'm not even sure I'd recommend these for a novice just learning, because I found them far less responsive and harder to bend than a better harp. And the sound - well, it's simply not up to the sound produced by a more expensive product.
So far, the Suzukis have impressed me the most - sound, comfort, bending and looks are all top notch. Then the Lee Oskars, but I have more yet to come.
I have a few others on order or bidding on eBay: A Suzuki Overdrive - which has a new design with rear air holes in the cover aimed at making bending easier - a Suzuki Pipe Humming harmonica (just purchased one from BMM - very intriguing design that is either totally off the wall or the cutting edge of harp design, I'm not sure which), a couple of Bushman Delta Frost harps (not apparently available locally) and a couple of Hering Vintage 1923 harps which use a slight different method of tuning the reeds (ditto with local sources).
As they arrive and I have enough to make fair comparisons, I'll post my opinions on them - opinions based on my limited skill, tone-deaf hearing, and my vast experience of course. Dut coming from a neophyte's perspective they may help others in a smilar situation decide what to get.
And I'll also write up my review of the Bottle o' Blues harmonica mic I also bought on eBay. The latter suggests I plan to buy an amplifier (my guitar has its own pre-amp, too). So I've been borrowing and testing several small amps through Blue Mountain Music and I'll write them up as well. So far I've tried three Roland amps - Micro Cube, Cube 20X and 30X. More to come!
[/indent]
But I never stopped wanting to play. Over the years I picked up flutes, native American flutes, shakuhachi, queena, and a didgeridoo. I wanted to try something different, explore something outside my experience. But I really haven't put the necessary time and effort into them to really master any one of them. I recently got a a Strumstick, a small stringed instrument. Of the lot, I can play the Strumstick best because it's like playing a guitar.
This Spring, Susan decided to give me a gift: a new guitar - a beautiful blue Takamine 540C. Wonderful guitar. Slowly I've been reacquainting myself with the instrument, relearning chords, trying to remember how to play songs and riffs. And I'm getting back into the groove. My fingers hurt like hell after I play, and my callouses still have a long way to go before they're back up to their old thickness, but I'm working at it, a little bit every day.
A couple of weeks ago I decided to add harmonica to my practice again. I used to play a bit of blues harp, mediocre caterwauling compared to masters like Carlos del Junco or John Nemeth to be sure. But fun for me and a nice counterpoint to guitar. I decided to put some more effort into it this time around. I started with getting new harps - diatonic, not chromatic which is probably well above my limited skills and talent.
My first purchase was a set of 12 Johnson Blues King harmonicas. Plastic comb, made in China, thin covers, inconsistent sound, low build quality, but hey, it was under $50 for the set AND case. Some of the set sounded great (to my tin ears), but others sounded thin, reedy and many reeds didn't bend much (some buzzing there, too). It was something to start practicing with, and a full set of all major keys and I can use the case later for better harps.
A month or two later I started to want more. Better sound, better bending, better feel. Something good, something that sounded punchy, and something that was more consistent in quality.
A good harmonica can cost as much - or more - than the entire set of Johnsons. I couldn't afford to purchase another 12 of the best (and frankly half the keys are never going to be used in jamming), so I cautiously started buying singles, trying different makes and models in various keys. Some were purchased online, others through the local store, Blue Mountain Music (always shop local when you can!).
The keys you need to own are: A (naturally - for blues in E), D, C, G, F and Bb. The Bb is for playing with horns. I'm talking cross harp style now - playing a fifth above the key the song is in. That's blues style. So an A is for playing cross harp in the key of E, D for A, C for G, F for C and Bb for F. Got that? Good, there's a test later...
After you have the Big Six, you can get the rest - E, B, and the flats. Frankly most of us will normally never play in these keys but if you get into a lot of jamming, especially with horns, you may need them if you get that good.
Everything I read recommends novices start with a C harp, but I like A because it's lower (G was always the lowest key, but now there are new extra-low harps from some manufacturers). A fits better with the blues I play. But if you want to play melodies and learn songs, start with C because most of the basic songs are in C. Doesn't really matter - the key may differ but the positions don't change - if you're learning a song, you blow or draw the same hole no matter what the key. But you may find starting with a higher key than C makes the song sound a bit too shrill.
My first purchase (through BMM) was a $45 Suzuki Promaster in A, an all-metal harmonica with an aluminum comb - much more expensive than my playing talents deserve. Wow. What a difference! Suddenly even my amateurish tooting sounded crisp, rich and full. The harp is satisfyingly heavy and solid. It bends wonderfully. Smooth case that slides easily on the lips. I love this harp. It's worth the cost.
I was so impressed I ordered a valved version of the same harp to compare it with. Valves are supposed to make overblow bends easier. We'll see. I spent a couple of weeks learning to bend draw reeds again - and can do so with a modicum of ease and ability, although I still need more practice - but I've never mastered blow bends. Maybe this harp will finally allow me to do so. But the reviews of it online are mixed, many even negative, so I'll have to see for myself.
Next came an old standby, a Hohner Marine Band in C. Good, solid tone, a bit more mellow than the Promaster, lighter (the Hohner uses the traditional wooden comb), but another good sound. Not quite as responsive as the Suzuki. I got this locally for about $35. Then I also got a Hohner Special 20 in D from the same store. The only real difference seems to be in the Special 20's plastic comb.
Me, I'm not sure about wooden combs any more. Plastic is lighter, more sanitary, won't warp or swell, and is easier to clean. I have a couple of older (20 or so years) Hohner Blues Harps that have swollen combs that catch the lips and tongue when playing. From everything I've read online by far better harp players than I will ever be, the comb material doesn't make a lot of difference to the sound. The covers, however, do - material and design both playing a part. Of course, the reeds make a difference. Most companies use brass, but Bushman Delta Frost uses phosphor bronze (the same material used for some better guitar stings).
Okay, then on to a Lee Oskar in F, locally again for about $40. This one's a bit brighter than the Hohner, and seems to bend a tiny bit more easily. Plastic comb, and I like the way it feels on the lips better than the Hohner (wooden combs swell and can protrude, catching the lips uncomfortably as you play). A lot of musicians seem sold on Lee Oskar's harps. It has a modular system that lets you replace worn out reed plates. And the quality is certainly good.
I also got a Lee Oskar Am Natural. Minor harps are a whole other adventure and I really shouldn't wander down that road until I've got the majors worked out more. But it sounds hauntingly good - good enough for me to want to get one of their harmonic minors to compare - this harmonic tuning boasts an 'ethnic' sound. Hmmm...
This week I got a package from an eBay seller with Suzuki Bluesmaster in G and three inexpensive Merano harps (A, Eb and Bb). the Bluesmaster is as stunning as the Promaster, but at a lower cost for the same rich sound. It seems to use the same reed plates but has a plastic comb. I'd easily buy a set of these - they're far more affordable than the Promaster.
The Meranos - well, to be charitable, are mediocre. A Merano looks identical to the Johnsons right down to the type and size of the key stamped on the cover and the crews and nuts used to hold the case together. Except, of course for the name stamped in the cover, and the colour of the plastic comb. However, compared one-on-one, the Johnsons actually play and sound a little better despite the similarities (different metals? reed thicknesses? quality control?). But it's a $6 harmonica and you get what you pay for (I should have tried just one!).
In future, I won't waste my money trying out inexpensive harps. Caveat emptor! eBay descriptions may be more artistic than factual. I'm not even sure I'd recommend these for a novice just learning, because I found them far less responsive and harder to bend than a better harp. And the sound - well, it's simply not up to the sound produced by a more expensive product.
So far, the Suzukis have impressed me the most - sound, comfort, bending and looks are all top notch. Then the Lee Oskars, but I have more yet to come.
I have a few others on order or bidding on eBay: A Suzuki Overdrive - which has a new design with rear air holes in the cover aimed at making bending easier - a Suzuki Pipe Humming harmonica (just purchased one from BMM - very intriguing design that is either totally off the wall or the cutting edge of harp design, I'm not sure which), a couple of Bushman Delta Frost harps (not apparently available locally) and a couple of Hering Vintage 1923 harps which use a slight different method of tuning the reeds (ditto with local sources).
As they arrive and I have enough to make fair comparisons, I'll post my opinions on them - opinions based on my limited skill, tone-deaf hearing, and my vast experience of course. Dut coming from a neophyte's perspective they may help others in a smilar situation decide what to get.
And I'll also write up my review of the Bottle o' Blues harmonica mic I also bought on eBay. The latter suggests I plan to buy an amplifier (my guitar has its own pre-amp, too). So I've been borrowing and testing several small amps through Blue Mountain Music and I'll write them up as well. So far I've tried three Roland amps - Micro Cube, Cube 20X and 30X. More to come!
[/indent]
More problematic is the design. When you cup one end as recommended, you restrict the air. This means the harp has to breathe through the other end of the pipe. If you also cup this end and flutter your fingers for vibrato effects, you even more seriously restrict the airflow. Draw or blow too hard and the air rushing over the other reeds (those outside your embouchure) causes them to vibrate. This air being drawn through the reeds produces 'ghost notes' as you play. This is not a good thing. I'm not sure if this can be cleaned up by improving my technique, or is insurmountable. It strikes me that small holes drilled into the case on the far side of the harp face would alleviate some of the ghost notes, without seriously affecting the vibrato effect.
I haven't figured out if the reeds can be replaced - on a $60 harp you would assume so, but I cannot see how the case can be removed. Have to ask Suzuki. If it can be, I might drill some holes in the case and experiment.
When played well, the sound is as good as any Suzuki I've ever tried, but volume seems to be lower because the chrome pipe case cuts off the sound's travel. I haven't tried putting it to a microphone either, but the mic would have to stick out the side, because there's no other place for the sound to exit. Might be awkward.
The neatest thing is the style. It simply looks sweet - a shiny chrome pipe. I suppose that's the biker in me, easily bedazzled by chrome. But it gets second looks for sure.
The latest to arrive is the Bushman Delta Frost Low F. I've only played it for a few seconds to test it, but it seems to have the same sort of responsiveness as the Suzukis. Light reeds, easily bent, plenty of volume - on first impressions, I liked it.
Most harp manufacturers offer keys starting from G as the lowest note. Several, however, are making lower keys including F, E and D. This Bushman is the low F. I really like those low sounds.
Bushman even offers extra-low keys in their Soul's Voice harps. The physics of harmonicas means larger, longer reeds are used for lower notes. But those longer reeds provide some design challenges, as well as some playing challenges. I've ordered one of the Soul's Voice low D harps to see how they handle it.
I really have to try out a Hohner XB 40...