DATE: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 01:17:21 CST From: Jeffrey T Pinzino Subject: choosing a harp
Here's as comprehensive a list as I can muster about which harp to choose and why(from what I know).
1) WOOD VS. PLASTIC VS. METAL -- This is probably the biggest difference between harmonicas. The material that the comb is made out of really determines the tone. Wooden comb harmonicas include Hohner Marine Bands and Blues Harps, and the Suzuki Folkmaster. Wooden comb harmonicas give a breathy, downhome kind of sound. They are relatively inexpensive, but are also the most tempermental of the three materials to play with (I'd say they wear out the fastest, but usually the reeds wear out before the comb does). Plastic comb harmonicas are the most common, and include Hohner Pocket Pal, Special 20, Golden Melodies, and Pro Harp, and anything made by Huang or Lee Oskar. These have a clearer, more solid tone than wooden comb harmonicas. They are range in price from $6 to $26. Whether you like these or wooden ones better is a matter of personal preference (see Jeff& Ollie's New Harp Theory below). Metal comb harmonicas have really come into fashion in the last few years. They have a bright sound that sounds great, but they're very expensive($40-$100). These include Hohner Cross Harp and Meisterklasse, Suzuki pro master(see warning about valved harps below) and Joe Filisko custom specials. Joe Filisko is a harp god who lives near Chicago who customizes harps for the likes of Howard Levy, Junior Wells, Charlie Musselwhite, and Peter Madcat Ruth. The comb and cover plates are solid brass. These are instruments to be proud of. I don't know offhand how to get in touch with him, for those of you that might be interested, but I'll try to find out. Anyway, metal harps sound great, but don't fit into the budget of most harp players.
2) HOHNER VS. LEE OSKAR VS. HUANG VS. SUZUKI -- There are differences, though this again is personal preference(see New Harp Theory). Hohner harps have a dark tone compared to the Asian models. They are durable, and are good for overblows(another story for another time). They are comparable in price ($17-$22 for most of them). Lee Oskars have a brighter tone than Hohners, but are still solid harps. They run $26 for a new harp, but after you've bought it, you don't have to replace it when it goes bad -- you can buy a new set of reed plates for about $12. Huangs (Pocket Pal's fall into this category too) are mass produced. Silvertones run $8.25. They have a very bright tone, but the reeds are very thin, so they aren't as durable as Hohners. Some of the favorite harps that I've owned have been Huangs, and some of the least favorite have been Huangs. Suzukis are interesting. I know people that love the folkmasters, and the pro masters without valves are excellent(see valved harp warning below). They just don't make plastic harps. Tone like Lee Oskar, bright but reliable.
3) WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL THE HOHNER MODELS? -- Not much. The biggest distinction is in the comb. Blues Harp/Marine Band -- Wood, Special 20/Golden Melody/Pro Harp -- plastic, Cross Harp/Meisterklass -- metal. Also the Golden Melody is banana shaped. What's inside is virtually the same for all of them. The only real difference that I'm aware of is where the action is set. ie., it's easier to bend notes on a blues harp than a marine band when you buy it from the store. You can set the action yourself with a bent paper clip(another story for another time).
4)VALVED HARPS -- Don't ever buy one. Suzuki charges $60 for a pro master with valves that allow you to bend blow notes. It's really a waste of money. No one bends blow notes anyway. If you're to the point where you need more notes, learn how to overblow. You can't overblow on a valved harp.
5)JEFF & OLLIE'S NEW HARP THEORY OR THE THEORY OF HARMONICA RELATIVITY
Whatever kind of harp you've been playing on, the next harp you pick up will sound better than the one you've been playing on. This happens pretty much without fail, and there's no good explanation why. I guess when you get used to the sound of your harp, anything different sounds better because you're not used to it. I've forsaked marine bands for pocket pals and vice versa. Lee Oskars for Hohners for Huangs. There's no real rhyme or reason to it. Once again, it's only a theory, but I don't think I'm alone on this one.
6)DON'T STAY UP LATE AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT IT -- You can't go wrong with any of these harps. If you feed it through an amp, it'll all be distorted anyway. It's great to experiment. Just remember that it's not the harp so much as who's playing it. Jeff
