4 replies to this topic

[Mad_Hatter]

i was interested in getting a special 20....is it the marine band one everyone likes? i noticed there was a few different ones.

[FatJim]

Hohner harps are good, although I prefer my Lee Oskars. Hohner make lots of different models, the Special 20 and the Marine Band being the two most popular. Personally I don't like Marine Bands. I play by tongue blocking and I find the rougher edges of the wooden comb and the fact that the reed plates stick out slightly both make playing uncomfortable for me. The Hohner Harps I like are the old style Pro harp (not the new MS version which has the same protruding reed plate problem) and the Special 20 which feels and plays very like a Lee Oskar (although it has a slightly different tuning and tone). Both these harps have plastic combs and reedplates which are covered by the comb. Another Hohner harp that players speak very highly of is the Golden Melody - again it is a plastic combed harp.

Of course this is just one opinion and there are players who will swear that brand 'x' or harp 'y' is the best. My reckoning is 'best' is what works for you, but that means a fair bit of trial and error and investment.

Harps don't last forever - they eventually go flat. What you're doing is the best thing, since stores won't generally let you play a harp before you buy it. Try a few brands and different models as you build up your set. When you work out which you like best then you can slowly replace the others with that type as they need replacing.

[Mad_Hatter]

it seems the secound hole is flat on draw notes on my lee oskar... any ideas on how to fix it?

it seems like i have to inhale alot harder to get a note to come out and it still dont sound right

[Syd-Blues]

There's a whole chapter on this in The Complete Idiots Guide. Unfortunatly I don't have it with me.

[Mad_Hatter]

i took it apart....not exactly sure what i was doing. and i cleaned it, the best i knew how.

and now its working like a champ again!

GO Lee OSKAR!