The oldest harmonica company in the world, predating Hohner by 10 years they tell me! Great harps, and amazing guys - I've visited the factory Klingenthal twice, and they come to the Bristol Harmonica festival every year, so we know them quite well.
Got hooked on Big Rivers about two years ago, and I play them almost exclusively in my shows. You're right. They're good work horse reed harps. -- Shaun -- KelticDead Music
@aishdamn Well 'Harp' is the slang name, 'harmonica' is the usual name for the instrument, and diatonic means it contains only the notes of the major scale.
ACE! Just ordered this model. Thought it was apt as I will be moving only a 5 minute walk from the Mighty Mississippi river soon. ;-) Looking forward to viewing the tutorials and seeing what i can do with the instrument.
Hohner is hohner and that's it. When I was a little kid I destroy daddy old Hohner harmonica which is very similar to Hohner Koch Chromatic Harp. A few years ago I bought him SIlvestar and no matter what it has plastic body, It sounds great. :)
Thanks for the video. I would suggest people look to estate sales and antique stores to find amazing bargains. I have found some incredible (almost new) harmonicas this way. So often they are just considered toys by the bidders and store owners.
I've had the same one for years now, except in 590 A. I remember asking for one that was not so cheap, he gave me this, it was at the Hollywood Guitar Center I hope one day to play like the guy in this vid... but I doubt it, hehe
@Thesixthgoon Maybe 9 months is too long to wait for the answer, but anyway. Personally I think that Big River is the best harp for beginners out of all Hohner harmonicas because it's slightly bigger than other Hohner harps, its holes are wider, and it's pretty easy to bend notes on it. I hope this helped.
I just started playing the harmonica, and hearing people complain about their prices sounds just funny to me. I usually play the drums and compared to those beasts the harmonicas are heavenly cheap. I wouldn't even get the chair I'm sitting on for the money I pay for a Marine Band Deluxe ;)
@MakingVideosIsFun I think big rivers sound good, some take a lot of air to blow (maybe not as consistent manufacturing? just a guess) and are a little tougher to bend until broken in. Special 20's are great beginner to pro harps, and if I was recommending to a beginner who had the dough, would say spend the extra 10 bucks or so. Someone mentioned Suzuki, they play excellent and bend real easy, and are quite a bit cheeper ... though I kind of like the sound of a wood comb, and not plastic.
big THUMB UP for your videos man, I really appreciated them. Just a question, is that model as easy to bend as just "out of the box" or am I supposed to use it during some time before trying to bend notes like this? thanks from Italy
@Samgold1993 Hi, I just bought the Big River today, I compared it to the Special 20. The Special is pretty good and needs less air, but I prefered the price and looks of the Big River Harp. Though the Special 20 is a good beginner harp (meaning it is easy to play and sounds good)
Hello! I'm a beginner harmonica player. I can't decide whether to buy Special 20 or Big river harp. Both of these harps seem to be good but i think big river sounds better. What would you suggest? Which one is easier to bend? Thank you very much in advance!
hey man you really did great.maybe you got some tipps for me cauze i been playin' for two month a big river in G hohner (of course) wuold be glad to her from you and thanks
i have a big river harp in G and my 5 hole blow is a bit muffled and a bit and less clear than it should be. do you know what the problem might be? Thanks in advance
Thank you. This Hohner is one of my favourites to buy. I'm a beginner and I just got a cheap harp which is terrible :-( Are there other harps which are better for beginners?
As someone who has never played a harp before, would this one be kind to beginners? I found this one (key of c) on amazon for £16 and I'd like your opinion.
hello, I have the same harmonica in G and I'm still learning to play it but I got a question. Does the big river harp is a good harmonica to play blues or Do I have to buy a special harmonica to play blues?
Big Rivers are good harmonicas, certainly a decent for beginnesr. But I do regard it as inferior to the Special 20 and/or the Golden Melody. Compared to a Special 20, the BR's tone is a little rougher. A Big River doesnt have that sharp, clean, crack that the Special 20 has. I dislike Honer harmonicas that have the metal rail along the holes. Marine Bands have that, as do Blues Harps and Pro Harps. So does the Big River. Use a BR as your "beater" harp, but perform with SP20 or Golden M
would anybody recommend one of these for somebody who hasn't played anything other than Marine Bands for the last 10 years (of 14 years playing)? suddenly found myself in need of some new harps thanks to handing out some of my MBs at jams and such, can't really afford to buy marine bands in quantity anymore, is the big river good enough for informal jams and a bit of low-fi home recording?
hi sorry for my english, im from costa rica and i'll buy a simple harmonica hohner,i think is the stand by "C", i want learn so if you can make a vid please, thanks a lot!
Well these harps work well for me and the bending is not an issue - didn't notice any problems myself. I've done a few videos on bending - subscribe to my channel and you will see them. No need for circular breathing on harmonica but try it for fun - you can even try it on the inhale, no other instrument can do this!
Nothing beats a Marine Band!
The oldest harmonica company in the world, predating Hohner by 10 years they tell me! Great harps, and amazing guys - I've visited the factory Klingenthal twice, and they come to the Bristol Harmonica festival every year, so we know them quite well.
Got hooked on Big Rivers about two years ago, and I play them almost exclusively in my shows. You're right. They're good work horse reed harps. -- Shaun -- KelticDead Music
@aishdamn Well 'Harp' is the slang name, 'harmonica' is the usual name for the instrument, and diatonic means it contains only the notes of the major scale.
Great bit of playing there. I have four harmonicas, three of which are hohner, one is a big river band. It's the pick of the bunch.
ACE!
Just ordered this model. Thought it was apt as I will be moving only a 5 minute walk from the Mighty Mississippi river soon. ;-)
Looking forward to viewing the tutorials and seeing what i can do with the instrument.
Most excellent demo--just brilliant!
Hohner is hohner and that's it. When I was a little kid I destroy daddy old Hohner harmonica which is very similar to Hohner Koch Chromatic Harp. A few years ago I bought him SIlvestar and no matter what it has plastic body, It sounds great. :)
@toagne85 Yes, should work straight away, but go easy to start with.
Thanks for the video. I would suggest people look to estate sales and antique stores to find amazing bargains. I have found some incredible (almost new) harmonicas this way. So often they are just considered toys by the bidders and store owners.
I just bought one then found your video, sounds amazing! :D
I've had the same one for years now, except in 590 A. I remember asking for one that was not so cheap, he gave me this, it was at the Hollywood Guitar Center
I hope one day to play like the guy in this vid... but I doubt it, hehe
@Thesixthgoon Maybe 9 months is too long to wait for the answer, but anyway. Personally I think that Big River is the best harp for beginners out of all Hohner harmonicas because it's slightly bigger than other Hohner harps, its holes are wider, and it's pretty easy to bend notes on it. I hope this helped.
@benhewlettuk "diatonic" is referred to a generic diatonic scale, wich isn't actually a major one. I've understood the need of simplyfying though ;)
I just started playing the harmonica, and hearing people complain about their prices sounds just funny to me. I usually play the drums and compared to those beasts the harmonicas are heavenly cheap. I wouldn't even get the chair I'm sitting on for the money I pay for a Marine Band Deluxe ;)
@MakingVideosIsFun I think big rivers sound good, some take a lot of air to blow (maybe not as consistent manufacturing? just a guess) and are a little tougher to bend until broken in. Special 20's are great beginner to pro harps, and if I was recommending to a beginner who had the dough, would say spend the extra 10 bucks or so. Someone mentioned Suzuki, they play excellent and bend real easy, and are quite a bit cheeper ... though I kind of like the sound of a wood comb, and not plastic.
I love the big river harp
@theschoolofmusic Well they are different designs so are very different. Why don't you try one of each and see which you prefer?
big THUMB UP for your videos man, I really appreciated them. Just a question, is that model as easy to bend as just "out of the box" or am I supposed to use it during some time before trying to bend notes like this? thanks from Italy
@Samgold1993
Hi, I just bought the Big River today, I compared it to the Special 20. The Special is pretty good and needs less air, but I prefered the price and looks of the Big River Harp. Though the Special 20 is a good beginner harp (meaning it is easy to play and sounds good)
@Graemebomac Jesu Joy!
@crabcore44 Probably best to google it, I don't know any personally - or check with the NHL - they know everything to do with harmonica!
Hello! I'm a beginner harmonica player. I can't decide whether to buy Special 20 or Big river harp. Both of these harps seem to be good but i think big river sounds better. What would you suggest? Which one is easier to bend? Thank you very much in advance!
Wow, you can really play!
hey man you really did great.maybe you got some tipps for me cauze i been playin' for two month a big river in G hohner (of course)
wuold be glad to her from you and thanks
@felipebaratafelipe Just improvising on the blues Felipe, with Bach's Jesu Joy thrown in at the end.
@nobunagahehe Both good harps, probably go for the Blues Bender or the Sonnyboy Special even better.
i have a big river harp in G and my 5 hole blow is a bit muffled and a bit and less clear than it should be. do you know what the problem might be? Thanks in advance
Thank you.
This Hohner is one of my favourites to buy. I'm a beginner and I just got a cheap harp which is terrible :-(
Are there other harps which are better for beginners?
Hi Ben. Great videos. I do have a question, though. What characteristics would you say distinguish the Big River from a Marine Band? Much thanks!
hye what is differences between harp harmonica and diatonic harmonica . i'm new to it
So how do you compare the big river to a special 20. Which one is better?
As someone who has never played a harp before, would this one be kind to beginners? I found this one (key of c) on amazon for £16 and I'd like your opinion.
what is the differences between harp harmonica and diatonic harmonica ?
hello, I have the same harmonica in G and I'm still learning to play it but I got a question. Does the big river harp is a good harmonica to play blues or Do I have to buy a special harmonica to play blues?
All diatonic harmonicas play blues - and any other music as well!
Big Rivers are good harmonicas, certainly a decent for beginnesr. But I do regard it as inferior to the Special 20 and/or the Golden Melody. Compared to a Special 20, the BR's tone is a little rougher. A Big River doesnt have that sharp, clean, crack that the Special 20 has.
I dislike Honer harmonicas that have the metal rail along the holes. Marine Bands have that, as do Blues Harps and Pro Harps. So does the Big River. Use a BR as your "beater" harp, but perform with SP20 or Golden M
would anybody recommend one of these for somebody who hasn't played anything other than Marine Bands for the last 10 years (of 14 years playing)? suddenly found myself in need of some new harps thanks to handing out some of my MBs at jams and such, can't really afford to buy marine bands in quantity anymore, is the big river good enough for informal jams and a bit of low-fi home recording?
@benhewlettuk
Thanks, I already bought 2 harps. Hohner Pro Harp MS and Sydel Session. Both are great compared to the china-harp ;-)
Hi, can you tell the name of the song that you play in big river?
Which song did played on big river?
hi sorry for my english, im from costa rica and i'll buy a simple harmonica hohner,i think is the stand by "C", i want learn so if you can make a vid please, thanks a lot!
What is the name of the Bach Tune?
Make a video of what Adrian?
@JohnnyBazooka Sure, I recommend the Sonnyboy's Special from SonnyboysMusicStore dot co dot uk.
Well these harps work well for me and the bending is not an issue - didn't notice any problems myself. I've done a few videos on bending - subscribe to my channel and you will see them. No need for circular breathing on harmonica but try it for fun - you can even try it on the inhale, no other instrument can do this!
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - I'm still trying to get that down smoothly. LOL
If you were alive in the 40's, Muddy Waters would pay you 42 dollars a week to be his harmonica player... that was a lot of money back then ;-)
suzuki manji.
No, dude, golden melody can beat it totally!