I played Hohners for about seventeen years. I tried Marine Bands, Special 20's, and Blues Harps. I guess I'm a heavy player because they all broke way too frequently. Next, I ventured into playing Lee Oscars. They were more responsive than the Hohners and did not brea as frequently. Another big plus is that they were easy to get parts for from a number of music stores. After twenty-five years of primarily Lee Oscar harps, I graduated to Suzukis. The early Suzuki harps were inexpensive, but very inadequate, which turned me off for a few years, but by 2000 or so they began offering a fantastic variety of models. I still have some Lee Oskars, and some well-used Hohners, but Suzuki has served me well for twenty years. I broke the bank and finally tried Seydel 1847's about a year ago, and liked them so much that I am slowly adding one key at a time to my collection. They won't ever totally replace my Suzukis, but they present a challenge that is rewarding once you stand up to them. They invite me to play as hard as I can, and I welcome that.
Sounds like my progression. Just recently got some Promasters and wow! I am impressed!!! What a gorgeous, well made instrument. Also picked up a Suzuki Bluesmaster for under $28 and what a steal. Great sounding harp from top to bottom....bright and fun.
From my limited experience, I have a similar feel about how each brand responds. The Seydel sounds different. Less brittle? It sounds like my Rocket after I EQ out some of the high frequencies out. The more I advance, the better I appreciate the Hohners. I try to play as softly as I can, working on my breath control. The Hohners reward me in spades. My Seydel on the other hand doesn't like that kind of playing. Still requires breath control but at another level of intensity. I understand why they make sense for gigging. Adrenaline plays tricks on us. We play harder. The Suzuki are finicky instrements. I quite like the new 2024 Manji Sky for it requires so little air. Still it will force you to have excellent technique. I use my Suzuki as learning tools. All these words to say main axes are Hohner Special 20, Rocket Amp, MB Deluxe and Crossover. Lee Oskar for their special tunings at an afordable price, but they need at minimum a good gaping down to be playable for me with my little air way of playing.
I prefer the Seydel Blues Favorite line. I play with a loud rock band. The harps are loud and don't need as much breath to play. They cut right through the mix and they are easy to work on. However if you squeeze them to hard the metal case will bend and screws pop. I even have a few that are gold plated.
I could hear that the Seydel is warmer; less highs, the fundamental is emphasized. In real world, tho, it is more the ‘feel’ when you play than the tone of the particular harp. Most tone is embouchure, anyhow. I can get a good tone out of a Lee Oskar, I just hate the way they play.
Nice presentation Tomlin, I enjoyed your comparisons. These days I play Manji's and Bluesmaster's, they suit my playing. I started with Lee Oskars then my mate gave me a Hohner Blues Harp which I struggled with initially but when I found the Suzuki's my playing became more settled and my progress quickened.
This really should be testing three stock harps; tweaking can improve notes, even airtightness, and it confuses the question with two custom combs.The Special 20 has been maybe the dominant unit for more than 30 years among pros, from blues to country (see Charlie McCoy) perhaps because they are consistent, tunable, and the plastic is easy on the lips, never absorbs moisture nor warps. This is the one Seydel copied, and many use theirs now, like Charlie Musslewhite. The more open back and sides of MBs can sound more "folk bluesey" but technique can affect such to a degree, however amped the 20 has reigned. Modern MBs smartly have addressed the comb swell/warp with better sealing while striving to keep the wood sound; once sealed like most custom combs, the "wood" sound is debatable. The Rocket looks to blow the rest away, as it is louder, more consistent in bending easily, with little tweaking needed, but you have to back off it's so responsive. I still need to get a new SS cover for my 50 year old Blues Harp, though...
I've pretty much always liked Special 20s. I got a few Lee Oskar Natural Minor harmonicas to play some of the jazz standards and really like them too. I was a more aggressive player and did blow out the Hohners too quickly I found. It was because of your tutorials that I am learning to play softer. I can always turn up the volume on my mic if I want to be heard.
Just started playing, purchased a honer special 20 in the key of "c" and so far it's been great, after 1 year i would like to get the special 20 pack that has all keys, thanks for the great video 👍
I have tried all three. It's the Seydel 1847 for me. Honorable mention to Lee Oskar. Great to have your technical explanation about how and why they perform like they do.
I've been playing for 40 plus years. Born in the delta in Northern Mississippi and cut my teeth on Bourbon street in the French Quarters when I was 19. Trust me, nothing compares to a Lee Oskar Blister Pack and you can order all of the Lee Oscar replacement parts from Guitar Center and completely rebuild your Lee Oskar if needed. Seydel will sell you a 14 piece harmonica tool kit but you have to acquire loose parts from Germany. www.guitarcenter.com/search?typeAheadSuggestion=true&typeAheadRedirect=true&fromRecentHistory=false&Ntt=lee+oskar
@@drewmiller3462 thanks Drew. 40 years, respect. Im living in Ireland so getting parts shipped is easy, probably a 2 day wait. Get a channel, I'll subscribe.
I started on a Suzuki Bluesmaster, moved to the Manji. Still learning and evolving. Just a huge fan of a more durable reed, and the durability of a composite/plastic comb
Thanks Tomlin ~ I have all three, but I find the Hohner MB Deluxe and the Crossover easier to play and more responsive. The Seydel is ok, but nothing special. I have two Suzuki's: the Manji and the Pro Master. The Pro Master reed blew out fairly early on and the Manji , like the Seydel, is okay, but not at the same playing quality as the Hohner. Comparing the Crossover and the MB Deluxe is more tricky. Although my MB Deluxe has been customized by Richard Sleigh so it bends easily, what I like most about it is that it is slightly bigger and heavier in my hand. So, it has a more substantial feel in my hand. What I like about the Crossover is the bamboo comb. I do not like the pear wood comb of the original Marine Band. It swells up when it get wet and it tastes funny to me. So, that's my take on the different harmonicas.
I have three Seydels as well as many others like LOs and Crossovers, as well as a selection of Horners, but I love the Seydels for the way they can be played. When I got the Low D, I was "blown away" at the depth of it. And what a beautiful harp! But I am planning to get a Suzuki or two, now.
I’m a fan of the MBD too. My experience with Seydel is similar as well. I just got a Suzuki Olive and a Manji. I’ll use your review as a framework. Thanks.
Good video. I have tried all three but changed to Lee Oskar because l can take covers off and back on easily if a reed gets stuck at a gig. Also l can interchange parts from broken spares, new reed plates are readily available and easy to replace and they “imbed” into the comb for air tightness. I file the 5 draw for what is called country tuning because l play melodically and the notes flow along well with the country tuning. Sometimes the numbers are embossed too deeply into the covers but l just sand over them a bit with a fingernail file. A couple of times l called about a problem and Lee Oskar was the responding tech. Harmonica playing is a great hobby.
I'm a novice with a Suzuki Harpmaster and while I love the sound and the stiffness of the reeds, I definitely run into that choke issue. It's nice to hear that's not just an isolated problem with me or my particular harp, and I'm now more motivated to improve my technique to really master the harmonica.
I use a Suzuki Promaster for my everyday practice harp, and it is odd that every once and a while I start choking as well. The Suzuki forces me to good technique so I don't choke. The Suzuki, even in this video, you can hear has a louder clean sound with less air than the Horner. It is harder to bend on the Suzuki, so if you are still trying to bend half and full or even one and half, to get it right is easier on a Horner.
Technique and perhaps less air on those tricky draws. Been playing the same Lee Oskars HARD for the past 10 years and they have held up very well despite the continued abuse. I blow medium but love to draw hard and bend/growl like mad. Recently bought some Suzuki Promasters (D, C, B flat) and one Bluesmaster in G and am in love. The Promaster is incredible. Just infreakingcredible. The Stradivarius of harmonicas.
My dad was a Hohner fan and inheriting his collection I found myself leaning toward Hohner. I like the sound and feel of them. I have played cheaper brands and they were ok but you do get what you pay for. There are more expensive brands that I don't have much experience with. Dad's favorite was the Marine Band which I like but have recently turned on to the Big River Harp.
HI Tomlin I've blown my 4bend on one of my Hohner. I find the Lee Oscar more comfortable but I will get a Seydel 1847 as a teaching aid train hard play easy
Thirty plus years ago I started out playing the Marine Band 1896. They sounded pretty good, but they would fall apart on me because of the nails. At that time I knew nothing about bending or second position. Later on I came upon the Suzuki Blues Master and fell in love. For me they were or are easier to play than the Marine Band. I have a few Seydels. They're good, but I prefer the Suzukis. In the past ten years I have acquire Special 20s, Crossovers, and Marine Band Deluxes all very good harmonicas, but I still prefer the Suzukis.
Very informative video. I am a dedicated Hohner Blues Harp player-- recently ordered my first Special 20 (as a starter with Country Tuning). My primary playing is brass (Bass Trombone and Tuba)-- and so I come by your comment on aggressive playing honestly. I am admiring the Seydel models-- and I really love the sound you get out of them. By training I am a composer-- and am beginning to experiment with tuning options for an opera orchestration I will be starting in a year or so. My impression is the Seydel has the market on that flexibility as well.
As an intermediate player, I find the Hohner Special 20's (and Crossovers) more consistently easier to bend draw notes on, right out of the box, especially in the lower keys (G, Ab, A), with the Seidel 1847's being second easiest, and the few Suzuki's I have gotten (and Lee Oskars) least easy for bends. I used to play several Hohner Marine Bands, but I didn't like the feel of its wood reed on my tongue when tongue blocking. I prefer the feel of the plastic combs of the Special 20's and Seidels, the smoother wood of the Crossovers, and the metal Suzuki combs. I can't tell much difference in the tone/timber of the various brands and models--seems to me that's more player-dependent than harp-dependent.
Nah there’s is a different felling to playing them all. The slightly differnt reeds create a slightly different feel to how each bends or plays. Honers really do bend a bit easier than Suzuki’s. But Suzuki’s reeds have a little more durability
Me too I have 12 Bluesmaster's in different keys. I can vouch for there durability and there is a unique quality about them. Nothing to touch them in sound durability and quality.
i have been learning for just over a year, i have hohners, marine band, proffessional. special 20 blues and big river harp, i am learning to breathe lightly but can get aggressive if im in the zone. am looking for a deeper sounding harp. i like the sound of the seydel thanks. also heard a low d seydel and to me wow! this was helpful thank you
Many thanks for the video, Tomlin! Seydel has been my primary choice, mainly because of their online custom configurator. You can get half-valved and custom tuned harps at a reasonable price.
Great vid Tomlin, thank you. I've been playing Lee Oskars but just bought a Seydel and absolutely love it. Easy to make airtight and most hole bends are easier (apart from 4!). Probably technique!
Cheers Tomlin, that was probably the most informative comparison I've seen. Incidentally, I prefer the tone of the Marine Band out of the three. However, I've given up on Hohner and I'm now using Seydel Session Steels. I'm an 'aggressive' player (rubbish might be closer to the truth), and I'm sick of Hohners giving up on me. They also seem to have really poor quality control. Some last a long time, others blow out really quickly. For instance, I had a Blues Harp in Bb which I played all the time, and it lasted forever. I left it in a taxi recently, so I got a new one, which didn't last 2 weeks! :)
Of all the harps I own (20), the one Blues Harp I bought in A was the only disappointment. I had one in my early 20s and it was great, pl;ayed it to death over five years. But this one was so leaky when I got it that I hardly pick it up at all. Every time I do, I feel like I was scammed on a sale. Too bad Hohner doesn't seem to care about quality as much as they used to. The weird thing is that the six new Hohners I own are fine. (I own two very old Chromatic and ECHO models that are wonderful).
Hi Tomlin, very interesting and very useful. I bought at the beginning of my journey a Hohner Special 20 in the key of C and later a Lee Oskar in the key of D. A few days ago I put in the shopping cart of the online shop I usually visit a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe in the key of A. After watching your video I think this a proper choice for me. Thanks again.
Hey Tomlin! Thanks for the good advice and explanation of the playing style for those three harps. I tend to reach for the Special 20 which I am most comfortable with, but, I have a motley collection of other harps in various states of playing condition...
Thanks Tomlin! I like Lee Oskars but I am enjoying immensely the Kongsheng TingHarps. They are Manjis look alike but far easier to play in my humble opinion. It would be interesting to hear you testing one of those...
I have two Kongsheng Solists that I really like as well, although my A used to have a really annoying rattle on the 2D, until I attacked it with some shims.
I had a seydel 1847 once. I absolutely loved it. The problem is that it kept chopping my beard to the point it was so annoying I sold it and bought a Rocket. My favorites are the Crossovers. Incredible instrument, though pretty expensive.
I've been playing for 51 years. Play all of these. The Seydels have the best response but don't hold up long before the reeds begin breaking off. Hohners don't hold up well either. I've found the Suzukis hold up the best and you can clean the reeds without damaging the cone. They feel nice while you play them. I really like the valved Pro Masters..I can get some pretty sounds out of them.
I know Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account? I stupidly forgot the login password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me!
@Mordechai Misael I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I myself, love the Seydel Blues Session Steel. It’s my go to. I use Lee Oscars for the folkier, more traditional sounding tunes. Have a couple Suzuki pro master valved that I liked for some bending, but as this video mentioned, too much force and your note goes away. Also, with the Suzuki, I find the spacing on the holes a little..”off”? It takes me a second to get acclimated to it. I gave up on Hohners a while ago, blew too many reeds, and the wood combs on MB’s and BH’s eventually bother me.... That’s just me, though. Other players I know prefer different, and that’s cool. Just PLAY. We’re all this together for the love of the music.
I do find that Seydels steel reeds last a long time. Recently, I bought a Kongsheng Solist and also a Kongsheng Bluebird. Gotta say, I’m impressed with both. The new Bushmans are nice too.
The Stainless Steel and longevity with the Seydel is intriguing. James Cotton Played those. My style so far is a cross of him and Junior Wells. I also dig Billy Branch. Looks like I may have to just start experimenting. I'm out on the Wood reeds though. Seems like there could be maintenance issues
After years of messing about with different harmonicas, I decided to save up and get a set of hohner meisterklasse diatonics and chromatic in C. Some don’t like the meisterklasse series, but I can say they have become my favorite among what hohner offers.
Very informative, Tomlin. I would be interested in hearing your opinion of Lee Oskar harmonicas and how they compare to the others. I prefer Hohners myself.
I would love to hear your opinion on where the Lee Oscar fits in there too. I primarily play Lee Oscar and don’t have experience with other brands. I actually like my Lee Oscar in the Key of C a lot.
Honer with a mist of water before I play gives me a deeper tone when sending it to my sound system . I only play with a tube amp ! Tube amps are high cost to maintain but well worth it !
Very beautiful video Interesting to hear what a music teacher says about the harmonicas. The Seydel Model SESSION STEEL are at the front of the corners up you stay with lips hanging. Hohner hohner marine band classic because the Holzkam quarrels on I suppose you have to paint after? I did not have Suzuki yet Play the Hohner Golden Melody for three years and have no problems playing. Yesterday I bought a modeling amp Fender Mustung GT 40 to play just modern sounds good and fun. Many thanks from Germany for your work on youtube
Great video Tomlin! Once again more reasons to have them all! Can never have too many. Agree, best to be non picky and play a variety! I have always done mb,s20,and bushman harps (which i think are a Suzuki in disguise). Will try Seydel now cause of this.
Thanks for a very helpful video. I've been playing mainly Hohner blues harps and some Lee Oskar special tuned harps for about 30 years. I love the tone of the blues harp and the durability of the Lee Oskars. Now I think I will give Seydel a try.
I've had sets of all these harps, and finally settled on the Seydel for the stainless steel reeds which were louder than the Hohner special 20's. However around 5 years ago I stumbled across the Yonberg Harmonicas out of France. At the time Seydel was making their reeds. They have the benefit of replaceable reeds, easily done, choice of either brass or stainless reed plates, air tight design, designed to be disassembled for tuning or cleaning, arrive tuned. Have only blown out one set of reeds in 5 years. I've learned to let the amplifier and the mic do the loud playing and appreciate not having to spend so much on new harps. I own two sets and replacement parts, could do repairs on stage if necessary, although with two sets have never had to. Depending on the schedule clean them weekly or monthly. The prices change a bit in relation to the value of the currency exchange rate but are in the ballpark with the harps compared in these demonstrations and I actually think I've saved a whole lot of cash by buying a set that will last me a lifetime. They have a slightly wider hole spacing that takes a little getting used to, but which once I was used to it gave me more control. The big difference in my playing came from buying a quality instrument, and practice of course, but I can't emphasize enough how a better quality instrument can make a person a better player. Look them up online. Jamy Lasell
Interesting discusssion. Being a player of long experience I was brought up on Hohner Echo Vampers and Marine Bands. I agree completely about Hohners and the softness of the brass reeds. I play a lot of Hohners both MB and Crossover (which I find slightly faster). I have never wrecked a single reed. What I do is I carry 3 or 4 each of the most popular keys to gigs and swap frequently. This seems to avoid stressing individual harps by sharing the workload. I also have a number of customised MBs and I think customising means they work better and probably last longer (a fact I have never seen mentioned). Technique control helps too of course. You seem to have a very controlled technique. Of the others I like Seydels and disagree that they are harder than Manjis. I would put them the othe way round. Still that's just me. Thanks again Tomlin.
All great harps for sure though! All I had was a SP20 and a Rocket in A. I’m a beginner about 5 months in and decided to try a Suzuki. I didn’t get the Manji but went with the Promaster instead. Probably not the best choice being a beginner. At first I was blaming the harp. But of course I know it’s me. But as I’m using it more it’s really growing on me. It’s definitely a nice harmonica. Glad I bought it!
I love all 3, and I use them for purposes identical to yours. MBDs and Crossovers for trad stuff, (I dislike Classics), Manjis for accuracy, 1847s for durability. Sometimes I play Blues Harps, Hohner Rockets, Fender Midnight Specials (totally underrated), and Lee Oskars for alt tunings, and Lucky 13s for bassier stuff, but the the big 3 are my favs, probably with 1847s topping the list for their toughness and durability. MBDs are my 2nd choice, followed by Manjis. That being said, Easttop harps are the best for money, and Kongshengs are very good. Easttops, however, are my fav, particularly their green and wood harps. I also have 2 Pure Harps, but the wood coverplates are tough to play, though they do sound good.
Tomlin, I think your review is spot on! All 3 are excellent harps. I started out 40 yrs ago paying $10 for Hohner Marine Bands. Being an aggressive player, I started blowing them out (4 draw - 9 blow) very quickly. I tried a few different brands, but Rockin' Ron (Music4less) turned me on to the Seydel Blues Sessions w/steel reeds. I find them almost INDESTRUCTABLE! The cost is around $45, which makes them very affordable. I usually play the HMBs when going for the acoustic sound, & use the Seydels for amped blues/rock (through a Bulletini). It's also advantageous for players to learn to tune the reeds (using a chromatic tuner), & how to set up the reeds for good, responsive playing (videos on both available on YT). It is worth learning . Thanks (from Upstate NY) for doing this video brother, God bless! =[][][][]=
Thank you for your detailed explanation of the differences between these three brands! With my lung capacity at a third of normal, the Hohner is better suited. I'm just learning now. I use Special 20, which is independently customized so that it responds with minimal breathing. I.e., you can play very quietly!:) And thanks to your video, I understand that Crossover will be ideal as the next one.
The Crossover is the most responsive harmonica you can buy (my opinion of course). I have tried a lot of harmonicas since I began playing and just last night I took my Crossover apart to see why it was so responsive .The reed gaps and alignment of the reeds in the slots were the best I have ever seen. I have been fascinated by the harmonica and have taken apart many. I was very impressed with the Crossover.
@@jimmydowis8238 How long did yer reeds last? Do you do a lot of note bending? From what info I read here is very helpful from others! I haven't bought any harmonicas since the 1980's. .. till now. I bought 2 Lee Oscar's (A and G) and have 2 old Hohner Marines from the early 1980's...cheaper back then ( C and F) ..and a Hohner Chromatic harmonica key A with the button on the end for In-between notes..... 3 notes don't make sound no more... played it to death! I love playing " Midnight Cowboy "...I want to buy a new one but not sure what brand to buy......I hear Seydel harmonicas reeds are made out of stainless steel and someone here on UA-cam said not to blow hard at first but to warm up the steel reeds.......one can Crack the reeds! ......yer thoughts and comments are welcome Jimmy Dowis......
Thank you Tomlin for another great video and it’s always great to share knowledge with others. I prefer to play my Hohner Master Class harps on amp/mic jamming and my Lee Oskar harps without amp/mic. Cheers... Graeme 🤙
Great summary. I am used to Hohner (Special 20 and Rocket) and just got Manji - and suddenly I am really STRUGGLING - good to know that is is normal and expected. And will make me a better player.
I use Bluesmasters and Marine Band Deluxes, Suzuki Promaster (my regular) and a few Seydel Blues session - I find the Bluesmaster "sloppy" the Promaster makes me pay attention and the Seydel one I can relax on. The Promaster is my practice and everyday harmonica. The Horners I stick in my pocket and the Seydel is for special performance.
Thank you for your content. Very useful and informative. I’m just getting started and it’s very helpful to have comparisons that make clear sense of the available market... With that in mind do you have any thoughts on Lee Oskars brand at all? Cheers...
I found the 1847's were no better lasting than the Hohner Crossover harps I tried 4 or 5 years ago. I love my Manjis. I think you should have included the Lee Oskar harps too. Very much underrated, sympathetic and exspressive reeds and far less fragile than either the Hohner Crossover or Seydel 1847 silver's I've had. A great value for money harmonica
Agree with you totally. I went with Lee Oskar thirty plus years ago. I just bought another seven! I may have been a Manji user if more available at the time.
Hi Tomlin. I'm a beginner and took your advice from another of your videos (which harmonica to start with) and bought a Hohner Special 20. I'm wondering why in this one you went with the Marine Band and what the difference is. Thanks! Much appreciate your approach to teaching and all your videos.
Hi Tomlin, thxs for the info, I am interested in all three harmonica's. I have 8 Hohner MB Crossovers, 1Hohner blues harp, 1 Fender. I love the crossover for using sparingly my breath, as my lungs are a bit damaged because of radiation. I would like to buy the Manji Low C and E, because they are half the price of the Hohner and Seydel (the low keys). )
Hi Tomlin. Thanks for this - great video! I have been playing Hohner's pretty much since I started. I recently bought a Seydel. The change was good, because it forced me to be more precise with my bends. The extra effort to make the bends meant that I needed to be better targeted. I think this has helped my playing. I guess you could argue the other way too - maybe it really is about making sure - as you say - that you can move from one to another.
Interesting video Tomlin -cool way to approach comparing those harps. I have been using the Seydel 1847 classics for my gigging harps (primarily) for three or four years now, and I can attest to the fact that they do last a long time. They also seem to stay in tune, although when they go out of tune I've had a difficult time taking enough off the reed to raise or lower the pitch without ruining it. The stainless steel definitely makes this harder (not that I am all that good with brass reeds either). The other harps I use are the Marine Band 1896 model. My ear isn't that good but, to me, these harps help me sound more like the Chicago blues guys. Of course, they don't last as long, and sometimes aren't in tune or playable out of the box. The last couple I've gotten have been fine, though. In the past, I have gone to the trouble of drilling holes for screws for the cover plates and reed plates and flat sanding the combs (I like the wood combs). The bottom line is that almost any brand has decent harps that a player of your caliber can make sound great, and that could work for a guy like me if use good technique.
It's good to know that the Seydels have lasted you that long. I'm going to be experimenting with reconditioning harmonicas as I'm trying to reduce waste in my life so will be experimenting with replacing reeds etc in Seydels and Hohners.
@@TomlinHarmonica I am sure you will be better at it than me - patience isn't my strong suit, although I did get pretty good at setting up the Marine Bands. Now that the Marine Bands come with sealed combs and don't swell, it doesn't seem as necessary to take them apart as long as they stay in tune.
Funny, about 3 months ago I commented on this video, when getting my 1st harmonica(Suzuki Bluesmaster in C). Then, as I got more harps, I thought of adding on to that, to give an experience of a noob on those different harmonica's. Lastly, I thought of the Manji lowD as the best(IMHO). NOW, ~2 weeks later: It's all for naught... after getting really comfortable on the Manji lowD, that sensation started to spread among all of my harmonica's. 😅🤦♂️🤷♂️who would have thought.. All I can say now with confidence, is the effort you put in is all that matters! I got the following keys: C, G, A, lowD and low C. Of all the 'big 3' manufacturers and now I don't see a better or worse anymore... and to be honest, I even feel annoyed by the fact that some differences will only show when using bending and stuff. As a beginner totally useless. If I had known it would come to this, I could have gotten a big set of an entry level harp like the Bluesmaster instead and still pay less... But enough nagging, I will get to a point where I won't want to miss out on any harp. In time. What I can say is that exposed reed plates, on some instruments, have brought a problem I would never have considered: tiny cuts on my lips after long playing, not visible, but should you eat the wrong food or get a strong drink, you will feel them...😓 Another thing was that I had to shave my beard off, as it got stuck on the instrument again and again. Next I will try lee oskars, over here the price is almost half of a manji low tune. And I've seen some awesome examples - Moses Concas for example.
Thanks for another cool video! I’m huge fan of Seydel 1847 Classic, sounds awesome, loooot of tunings, very comfortable for lips and extremely durable. Keep harping!
Love them all. I like my Olives, Session Steels, GOlden Melodies and Lee Oskars. I primarily play 1st position with my Lee Oskar Harmonic Minors. love that gyspy sound and surprising people with Star Wars themes (Imperial March, Binary Sunset). I just got some Rockets and Pentaharps.
I definitely can agree that Suzukis are not for a beginner! I had all sorts of trouble with it at first, and immediately started improving on my playing when I went with a Special20.
You can’t go wrong with any of these but I say - I’ve had the most luck with the special 20 and the Suzuki pro master valved. 2 very different harps but both are very good. Well worth every penny. Trust my words.
I used to play hohner harmonicas (marine band, blues harps, special 20, Golden Melody) and i was very comfortable with them. Recently, I received as a gift a Suzuki Promaster valved and it was so hard to adapt my playing to this kind of harps. It needs more delicacy to get the bends needed.
Another point is that the Marine Band starts tasting a bit woody and leaves the mouth dry after playing a bit. The Suzuki is very nice to touch and also easy on the lips
hey, love the content. I have been playing for about a year now and I always go to your sites for help and just something new to work on. The more I get in to playing the harmonica the more in am seeing the Hohner CX12, what are your thoughts on it?? Thanks
Very good compassion - Thank you Tomlin. I been using nothing but Suzuki Promaster MR350's in all keys. I'm a little aggressive and Yep! Blew that number 4 reed into the next state one night. Haha! Gonna try a Seydel 1847 to see if I feel a difference. You mentioned that the holes are larger on the Seydel. Very much or not noticeable?
The fatigue curves for steel and brass actually intersect if you play hard enough. From what I've read about metallurgy steel has a range where it doesn't fatigue at all, but once you get beyond that threshold the fatigue curve is quite steep. I've found, by surveying people who blew out a Seydel they say they didn't last as long as their Hohners and they described themselves as really hard players. It would be interesting to see what the deflection range is for reeds during their swing.
I’ve tried a few different brands, but the Honer special 20 is my baby. The only thing I don’t like about them is they’re basically the default beginner harmonica so I feel like I should be playing something more advanced if that makes sense.
Hey Tomlin!Thank you for the video!I wanted to ask-what type of the harmonica would you recommend for the very beginners?(apart from those you showed in the video) I really liked the tune you played in the end-is it just a random one or its a song?:)
My first harmonica was the Seydel Blues Session, sound really really good and easy to play for the basic style (harp and single note) I love the Low D but the C is recommended. Sorry for my bad english i m learning 😊🤭 (So the marine band is really nice too and low price)
🎵 Just starting out on harmonica? Join my FREE Blues Harmonica Foundation Course here 👉 foxly.link/p5ugYk
I played Hohners for about seventeen years. I tried Marine Bands, Special 20's, and Blues Harps. I guess I'm a heavy player because they all broke way too frequently. Next, I ventured into playing Lee Oscars. They were more responsive than the Hohners and did not brea as frequently. Another big plus is that they were easy to get parts for from a number of music stores. After twenty-five years of primarily Lee Oscar harps, I graduated to Suzukis. The early Suzuki harps were inexpensive, but very inadequate, which turned me off for a few years, but by 2000 or so they began offering a fantastic variety of models. I still have some Lee Oskars, and some well-used Hohners, but Suzuki has served me well for twenty years. I broke the bank and finally tried Seydel 1847's about a year ago, and liked them so much that I am slowly adding one key at a time to my collection. They won't ever totally replace my Suzukis, but they present a challenge that is rewarding once you stand up to them. They invite me to play as hard as I can, and I welcome that.
Thanks for that rundown on harp brands! I've gone the same route but can't afford the Seydel, but I am happy with the Suzuki harps!
Sounds like my progression. Just recently got some Promasters and wow! I am impressed!!! What a gorgeous, well made instrument. Also picked up a Suzuki Bluesmaster for under $28 and what a steal. Great sounding harp from top to bottom....bright and fun.
Yes, the blues master purrs like an exotic harmonica, rather. It is a wild cat.
From my limited experience, I have a similar feel about how each brand responds. The Seydel sounds different. Less brittle? It sounds like my Rocket after I EQ out some of the high frequencies out. The more I advance, the better I appreciate the Hohners. I try to play as softly as I can, working on my breath control. The Hohners reward me in spades. My Seydel on the other hand doesn't like that kind of playing. Still requires breath control but at another level of intensity. I understand why they make sense for gigging. Adrenaline plays tricks on us. We play harder. The Suzuki are finicky instrements. I quite like the new 2024 Manji Sky for it requires so little air. Still it will force you to have excellent technique. I use my Suzuki as learning tools. All these words to say main axes are Hohner Special 20, Rocket Amp, MB Deluxe and Crossover. Lee Oskar for their special tunings at an afordable price, but they need at minimum a good gaping down to be playable for me with my little air way of playing.
I prefer the Seydel Blues Favorite line. I play with a loud rock band. The harps are loud and don't need as much breath to play. They cut right through the mix and they are easy to work on. However if you squeeze them to hard the metal case will bend and screws pop. I even have a few that are gold plated.
Love my Special 20's, but the tone from a MB Deluxe is fantastic
One of the advantages of being old is your hearing isn't as acute as in younger days. All three sounded exactly the same to me!
I’m 16 and can’t tell the difference either! I just look for comfort in the harp tbh
I could. They play at different tempos. ;)
I could hear that the Seydel is warmer; less highs, the fundamental is emphasized.
In real world, tho, it is more the ‘feel’ when you play than the tone of the particular harp. Most tone is embouchure, anyhow. I can get a good tone out of a Lee Oskar, I just hate the way they play.
to really feel the difference it is better to try them all yourself. It's not only about the sound but also about the feeling, control and responce.
@@stuffnuns Got my first Lee Oscar, and not too thrilled with it. Liked my Special 20 better.
Nice presentation Tomlin, I enjoyed your comparisons. These days I play Manji's and Bluesmaster's, they suit my playing. I started with Lee Oskars then my mate gave me a Hohner Blues Harp which I struggled with initially but when I found the Suzuki's my playing became more settled and my progress quickened.
So which one do u think takes less air but gives a better output sound?
This really should be testing three stock harps; tweaking can improve notes, even airtightness, and it confuses the question with two custom combs.The Special 20 has been maybe the dominant unit for more than 30 years among pros, from blues to country (see Charlie McCoy) perhaps because they are consistent, tunable, and the plastic is easy on the lips, never absorbs moisture nor warps. This is the one Seydel copied, and many use theirs now, like Charlie Musslewhite. The more open back and sides of MBs can sound more "folk bluesey" but technique can affect such to a degree, however amped the 20 has reigned. Modern MBs smartly have addressed the comb swell/warp with better sealing while striving to keep the wood sound; once sealed like most custom combs, the "wood" sound is debatable. The Rocket looks to blow the rest away, as it is louder, more consistent in bending easily, with little tweaking needed, but you have to back off it's so responsive. I still need to get a new SS cover for my 50 year old Blues Harp, though...
The Seydel tone kicks ass. I love Seydel!
My mother in law gave me a set of Horner last Christmas and I have been starting my journey with that and loving it.
Aww. that's so sweet of your mother in law! :-)
Has you wife got any sisters? I'd like a mother-in-law like that :D
@@itchyfeet4205 Sorry but just brothers. Dont know...
I've pretty much always liked Special 20s. I got a few Lee Oskar Natural Minor harmonicas to play some of the jazz standards and really like them too. I was a more aggressive player and did blow out the Hohners too quickly I found. It was because of your tutorials that I am learning to play softer. I can always turn up the volume on my mic if I want to be heard.
Just started playing, purchased a honer special 20 in the key of "c" and so far it's been great, after 1 year i would like to get the special 20 pack that has all keys, thanks for the great video 👍
I have tried all three. It's the Seydel 1847 for me. Honorable mention to Lee Oskar. Great to have your technical explanation about how and why they perform like they do.
I've been playing for 40 plus years. Born in the delta in Northern Mississippi and cut my teeth on Bourbon street in the French Quarters when I was 19. Trust me, nothing compares to a Lee Oskar Blister Pack and you can order all of the Lee Oscar replacement parts from Guitar Center and completely rebuild your Lee Oskar if needed. Seydel will sell you a 14 piece harmonica tool kit but you have to acquire loose parts from Germany. www.guitarcenter.com/search?typeAheadSuggestion=true&typeAheadRedirect=true&fromRecentHistory=false&Ntt=lee+oskar
@@drewmiller3462 thanks Drew. 40 years, respect. Im living in Ireland so getting parts shipped is easy, probably a 2 day wait. Get a channel, I'll subscribe.
I started on a Suzuki Bluesmaster, moved to the Manji. Still learning and evolving. Just a huge fan of a more durable reed, and the durability of a composite/plastic comb
They certainly have a mellow vibrato, not to tinny like steel, or bassy like brass. Definitely more in tune with the middle octaves.
Thanks Tomlin ~ I have all three, but I find the Hohner MB Deluxe and the Crossover easier to play and more responsive. The Seydel is ok, but nothing special. I have two Suzuki's: the Manji and the Pro Master. The Pro Master reed blew out fairly early on and the Manji , like the Seydel, is okay, but not at the same playing quality as the Hohner. Comparing the Crossover and the MB Deluxe is more tricky. Although my MB Deluxe has been customized by Richard Sleigh so it bends easily, what I like most about it is that it is slightly bigger and heavier in my hand. So, it has a more substantial feel in my hand. What I like about the Crossover is the bamboo comb. I do not like the pear wood comb of the original Marine Band. It swells up when it get wet and it tastes funny to me. So, that's my take on the different harmonicas.
I have three Seydels as well as many others like LOs and Crossovers, as well as a selection of Horners, but I love the Seydels for the way they can be played. When I got the Low D, I was "blown away" at the depth of it. And what a beautiful harp! But I am planning to get a Suzuki or two, now.
I’m a fan of the MBD too. My experience with Seydel is similar as well. I just got a Suzuki Olive and a Manji. I’ll use your review as a framework. Thanks.
Good video. I have tried all three but changed to Lee Oskar because l can take covers off and back on easily if a reed gets stuck at a gig. Also l can interchange parts from broken spares, new reed plates are readily available and easy to replace and they “imbed” into the comb for air tightness. I file the 5 draw for what is called country tuning because l play melodically and the notes flow along well with the country tuning. Sometimes the numbers are embossed too deeply into the covers but l just sand over them a bit with a fingernail file. A couple of times l called about a problem and Lee Oskar was the responding tech. Harmonica playing is a great hobby.
Good review
Thanks for pointing all this out for us
And the sound they make
Cheers
I'm a novice with a Suzuki Harpmaster and while I love the sound and the stiffness of the reeds, I definitely run into that choke issue. It's nice to hear that's not just an isolated problem with me or my particular harp, and I'm now more motivated to improve my technique to really master the harmonica.
I use a Suzuki Promaster for my everyday practice harp, and it is odd that every once and a while I start choking as well. The Suzuki forces me to good technique so I don't choke. The Suzuki, even in this video, you can hear has a louder clean sound with less air than the Horner. It is harder to bend on the Suzuki, so if you are still trying to bend half and full or even one and half, to get it right is easier on a Horner.
Technique and perhaps less air on those tricky draws. Been playing the same Lee Oskars HARD for the past 10 years and they have held up very well despite the continued abuse. I blow medium but love to draw hard and bend/growl like mad. Recently bought some Suzuki Promasters (D, C, B flat) and one Bluesmaster in G and am in love. The Promaster is incredible. Just infreakingcredible. The Stradivarius of harmonicas.
@michaelmilne9914 upon reading your comment I immediately noticed it, too. Suzuki is more air tight - for good or worse that is.
My dad was a Hohner fan and inheriting his collection I found myself leaning toward Hohner. I like the sound and feel of them. I have played cheaper brands and they were ok but you do get what you pay for. There are more expensive brands that I don't have much experience with. Dad's favorite was the Marine Band which I like but have recently turned on to the Big River Harp.
finally a video explaining me exactly the difference!!! thank you so much!!! subscribed! 👍
I just discovered a Suzuki and I actually love it after being exclusive with Hohner and Lee Oskar for decades
HI Tomlin
I've blown my 4bend on one of my Hohner. I find the Lee Oscar more comfortable but I will get a Seydel 1847 as a teaching aid train hard play easy
Thanks Tomlin - I always walk away learning something new from you! You’re the best of the best!
Seydel 1847’s for me. I play with a lot of dynamics, and the Seydels seem to have a bigger dynamic range (for me). and they last a long time.
im 58 and been learning maybe 16mths. thank you as im about to try a couple more harps, i have all hohners , soon to have seydel in my case
Thirty plus years ago I started out playing the Marine Band 1896. They sounded pretty good, but they would fall apart on me because of the nails. At that time I knew nothing about bending or second position. Later on I came upon the Suzuki Blues Master and fell in love. For me they were or are easier to play than the Marine Band.
I have a few Seydels. They're good, but I prefer the Suzukis.
In the past ten years I have acquire Special 20s, Crossovers, and Marine Band Deluxes all very good harmonicas, but I still prefer the Suzukis.
What are your opinions on the Olive and Harpmaster, as someone who plays a lot of suzukis?
Very informative video. I am a dedicated Hohner Blues Harp player-- recently ordered my first Special 20 (as a starter with Country Tuning). My primary playing is brass (Bass Trombone and Tuba)-- and so I come by your comment on aggressive playing honestly. I am admiring the Seydel models-- and I really love the sound you get out of them. By training I am a composer-- and am beginning to experiment with tuning options for an opera orchestration I will be starting in a year or so. My impression is the Seydel has the market on that flexibility as well.
A great video Tomlin, many thanks for your professional input
As an intermediate player, I find the Hohner Special 20's (and Crossovers) more consistently easier to bend draw notes on, right out of the box, especially in the lower keys (G, Ab, A), with the Seidel 1847's being second easiest, and the few Suzuki's I have gotten (and Lee Oskars) least easy for bends. I used to play several Hohner Marine Bands, but I didn't like the feel of its wood reed on my tongue when tongue blocking. I prefer the feel of the plastic combs of the Special 20's and Seidels, the smoother wood of the Crossovers, and the metal Suzuki combs. I can't tell much difference in the tone/timber of the various brands and models--seems to me that's more player-dependent than harp-dependent.
Would love to see a video on the seydel low range, to be able to see you play each and a run down of the differences would be awesome
They sound almost the same. The difference is the User Experience. Amazing.
Nah there’s is a different felling to playing them all. The slightly differnt reeds create a slightly different feel to how each bends or plays. Honers really do bend a bit easier than Suzuki’s. But Suzuki’s reeds have a little more durability
Its more about playability for me, the comfort on the mouth,size and shape etc. This all makes the difference in the way that I play them.
I just picked up a Suzuki Bluesmaster off Amazon and I love it.
Me too I have 12 Bluesmaster's in different keys. I can vouch for there durability and there is a unique quality about them. Nothing to touch them in sound durability and quality.
i have been learning for just over a year, i have hohners, marine band, proffessional. special 20 blues and big river harp, i am learning to breathe lightly but can get aggressive if im in the zone. am looking for a deeper sounding harp. i like the sound of the seydel thanks. also heard a low d seydel and to me wow! this was helpful thank you
Many thanks for the video, Tomlin! Seydel has been my primary choice, mainly because of their online custom configurator. You can get half-valved and custom tuned harps at a reasonable price.
I found this video to be extremely helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience with us!
Great vid Tomlin, thank you. I've been playing Lee Oskars but just bought a Seydel and absolutely love it. Easy to make airtight and most hole bends are easier (apart from 4!). Probably technique!
Nice job showing the diff. I like to use them all. I do like Suzuki and Marine Band Deluxe.
Tomlin, You are the best. Thanks for your videos!!
Cheers Tomlin, that was probably the most informative comparison I've seen. Incidentally, I prefer the tone of the Marine Band out of the three. However, I've given up on Hohner and I'm now using Seydel Session Steels. I'm an 'aggressive' player (rubbish might be closer to the truth), and I'm sick of Hohners giving up on me. They also seem to have really poor quality control. Some last a long time, others blow out really quickly. For instance, I had a Blues Harp in Bb which I played all the time, and it lasted forever. I left it in a taxi recently, so I got a new one, which didn't last 2 weeks! :)
Of all the harps I own (20), the one Blues Harp I bought in A was the only disappointment. I had one in my early 20s and it was great, pl;ayed it to death over five years. But this one was so leaky when I got it that I hardly pick it up at all. Every time I do, I feel like I was scammed on a sale. Too bad Hohner doesn't seem to care about quality as much as they used to. The weird thing is that the six new Hohners I own are fine. (I own two very old Chromatic and ECHO models that are wonderful).
Hi Tomlin, very interesting and very useful. I bought at the beginning of my journey a Hohner Special 20 in the key of C and later a Lee Oskar in the key of D. A few days ago I put in the shopping cart of the online shop I usually visit a Hohner Marine Band Deluxe in the key of A. After watching your video I think this a proper choice for me. Thanks again.
Hey Tomlin! Thanks for the good advice and explanation of the playing style for those three harps. I tend to reach for the Special 20 which I am most comfortable with, but, I have a motley collection of other harps in various states of playing condition...
Thanks Tomlin! I like Lee Oskars but I am enjoying immensely the Kongsheng TingHarps. They are Manjis look alike but far easier to play in my humble opinion. It would be interesting to hear you testing one of those...
I have two Kongsheng Solists that I really like as well, although my A used to have a really annoying rattle on the 2D, until I attacked it with some shims.
I had a seydel 1847 once. I absolutely loved it. The problem is that it kept chopping my beard to the point it was so annoying I sold it and bought a Rocket. My favorites are the Crossovers. Incredible instrument, though pretty expensive.
I've been playing for 51 years. Play all of these. The Seydels have the best response but don't hold up long before the reeds begin breaking off. Hohners don't hold up well either. I've found the Suzukis hold up the best and you can clean the reeds without damaging the cone. They feel nice while you play them. I really like the valved Pro Masters..I can get some pretty sounds out of them.
I know Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account?
I stupidly forgot the login password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me!
@Flynn Javier Instablaster ;)
@Mordechai Misael I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm.
Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Mordechai Misael It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy!
Thank you so much, you saved my account !
@Flynn Javier No problem xD
I myself, love the Seydel Blues Session Steel. It’s my go to.
I use Lee Oscars for the folkier, more traditional sounding tunes.
Have a couple Suzuki pro master valved that I liked for some bending, but as this video mentioned, too much force and your note goes away. Also, with the Suzuki, I find the spacing on the holes a little..”off”?
It takes me a second to get acclimated to it.
I gave up on Hohners a while ago, blew too many reeds, and the wood combs on MB’s and BH’s eventually bother me....
That’s just me, though.
Other players I know prefer different, and that’s cool.
Just PLAY. We’re all this together for the love of the music.
Never tried a Suzuki but the Seydels (both 1847s & Session Steel) are more air tight than any Hohner I ever tried.
True
Well, if you like mellow it has to be leaky.
My fav is Honner for 50 years. Marine Band, love it with flattop for blues and folk. Special 20, for minor blues and rock.
Really informational and helpful, thank you!
I do find that Seydels steel reeds last a long time. Recently, I bought a Kongsheng Solist and also a Kongsheng Bluebird. Gotta say, I’m impressed with both. The new Bushmans are nice too.
The Stainless Steel and longevity with the Seydel is intriguing. James Cotton Played those. My style so far is a cross of him and Junior Wells. I also dig Billy Branch. Looks like I may have to just start experimenting. I'm out on the Wood reeds though. Seems like there could be maintenance issues
I am a beginner at 7 months, I like the Hammond by Suzuki, it plays well and feels nice with its rounded corners and airtight.
Nice to see the comparison. For me, the Hohner sounds the most musical and relaxed.
After years of messing about with different harmonicas, I decided to save up and get a set of hohner meisterklasse diatonics and chromatic in C. Some don’t like the meisterklasse series, but I can say they have become my favorite among what hohner offers.
Very informative, Tomlin. I would be interested in hearing your opinion of Lee Oskar harmonicas and how they compare to the others. I prefer Hohners myself.
Hi James, I've not played a Lee Oskar in about 13 years (my first harmonica). I'll try and get my hands on one and report back...
@@TomlinHarmonica .. I would appreciate your opinion!
james lewis I am not as experienced as Tomlin, but I got one and I really don’t like it.
@@winstonchurchill624 .. thanks for your input. My local music store sells them, Suzuki, and Hohner. They don't carry Seydel.
I would love to hear your opinion on where the Lee Oscar fits in there too. I primarily play Lee Oscar and don’t have experience with other brands. I actually like my Lee Oscar in the Key of C a lot.
Really like my hohner golden melody.
Great cheaper harps, I use them all the time. I love Seydel but they're a bit elitist and you gotta fight those reeds for big bends
Honer with a mist of water before I play gives me a deeper tone when sending it to my sound system . I only play with a tube amp ! Tube amps are high cost to maintain but well worth it !
Very beautiful video
Interesting to hear what a music teacher says about the harmonicas.
The Seydel Model SESSION STEEL are at the front of the corners up you stay with lips hanging.
Hohner hohner marine band classic because the Holzkam quarrels on I suppose you have to paint after?
I did not have Suzuki yet
Play the Hohner Golden Melody for three years and have no problems playing.
Yesterday I bought a modeling amp
Fender Mustung GT 40 to play just modern sounds good and fun.
Many thanks from Germany for your work on youtube
I play Manji's in the more common keys, for the less used keys I'll use either the Suzuki Harpmaster or BluesMaster.
Great video Tomlin! Once again more reasons to have them all! Can never have too many. Agree, best to be non picky and play a variety! I have always done mb,s20,and bushman harps (which i think are a Suzuki in disguise). Will try Seydel now cause of this.
Seydel definitely has the richest tone, but Suzuki is more air tight in my opinion.
Thanks for a very helpful video. I've been playing mainly Hohner blues harps and some Lee Oskar special tuned harps for about 30 years. I love the tone of the blues harp and the durability of the Lee Oskars. Now I think I will give Seydel a try.
I've had sets of all these harps, and finally settled on the Seydel for the stainless steel reeds which were louder than the Hohner special 20's. However around 5 years ago I stumbled across the Yonberg Harmonicas out of France. At the time Seydel was making their reeds. They have the benefit of replaceable reeds, easily done, choice of either brass or stainless reed plates, air tight design, designed to be disassembled for tuning or cleaning, arrive tuned. Have only blown out one set of reeds in 5 years. I've learned to let the amplifier and the mic do the loud playing and appreciate not having to spend so much on new harps. I own two sets and replacement parts, could do repairs on stage if necessary, although with two sets have never had to. Depending on the schedule clean them weekly or monthly. The prices change a bit in relation to the value of the currency exchange rate but are in the ballpark with the harps compared in these demonstrations and I actually think I've saved a whole lot of cash by buying a set that will last me a lifetime. They have a slightly wider hole spacing that takes a little getting used to, but which once I was used to it gave me more control. The big difference in my playing came from buying a quality instrument, and practice of course, but I can't emphasize enough how a better quality instrument can make a person a better player. Look them up online. Jamy Lasell
My choice, owning Suzuki Manji and ProMaster harmonicas is the ProMaster. Both very good though. Thanks for the presentation
Interesting discusssion. Being a player of long experience I was brought up on Hohner Echo Vampers and Marine Bands. I agree completely about Hohners and the softness of the brass reeds. I play a lot of Hohners both MB and Crossover (which I find slightly faster). I have never wrecked a single reed. What I do is I carry 3 or 4 each of the most popular keys to gigs and swap frequently. This seems to avoid stressing individual harps by sharing the workload. I also have a number of customised MBs and I think customising means they work better and probably last longer (a fact I have never seen mentioned). Technique control helps too of course. You seem to have a very controlled technique. Of the others I like Seydels and disagree that they are harder than Manjis. I would put them the othe way round. Still that's just me. Thanks again Tomlin.
Interesting to hear your thoughts - I've been trying to decide whether custom Marine Bands would last longer and be serviceable. We will see..
Very useful video Tomlin, Thanks mate.👏✅
All great harps for sure though! All I had was a SP20 and a Rocket in A. I’m a beginner about 5 months in and decided to try a Suzuki. I didn’t get the Manji but went with the Promaster instead. Probably not the best choice being a beginner. At first I was blaming the harp. But of course I know it’s me. But as I’m using it more it’s really growing on me. It’s definitely a nice harmonica. Glad I bought it!
I love all 3, and I use them for purposes identical to yours. MBDs and Crossovers for trad stuff, (I dislike Classics), Manjis for accuracy, 1847s for durability.
Sometimes I play Blues Harps, Hohner Rockets, Fender Midnight Specials (totally underrated), and Lee Oskars for alt tunings, and Lucky 13s for bassier stuff, but the the big 3 are my favs, probably with 1847s topping the list for their toughness and durability. MBDs are my 2nd choice, followed by Manjis.
That being said, Easttop harps are the best for money, and Kongshengs are very good. Easttops, however, are my fav, particularly their green and wood harps.
I also have 2 Pure Harps, but the wood coverplates are tough to play, though they do sound good.
Ooh I love pure harp.
Tomlin, I think your review is spot on! All 3 are excellent harps. I started out 40 yrs ago paying $10 for Hohner Marine Bands. Being an aggressive player, I started blowing them out (4 draw - 9 blow) very quickly. I tried a few different brands, but Rockin' Ron (Music4less) turned me on to the Seydel Blues Sessions w/steel reeds. I find them almost INDESTRUCTABLE! The cost is around $45, which makes them very affordable. I usually play the HMBs when going for the acoustic sound, & use the Seydels for amped blues/rock (through a Bulletini). It's also advantageous for players to learn to tune the reeds (using a chromatic tuner), & how to set up the reeds for good, responsive playing (videos on both available on YT). It is worth learning . Thanks (from Upstate NY) for doing this video brother, God bless! =[][][][]=
I'm a Seydel guy. Their session steel is my favorite to play.
Thank you for your detailed explanation of the differences between these three brands!
With my lung capacity at a third of normal, the Hohner is better suited.
I'm just learning now. I use Special 20, which is independently customized so that it responds with minimal breathing. I.e., you can play very quietly!:)
And thanks to your video, I understand that Crossover will be ideal as the next one.
I just invested in three Hohner Crossovers. I really like them. I am a beginner though, so...
The Crossover is the most responsive harmonica you can buy (my opinion of course). I have tried a lot of harmonicas since I began playing and just last night I took my Crossover apart to see why it was so responsive .The reed gaps and alignment of the reeds in the slots were the best I have ever seen. I have been fascinated by the harmonica and have taken apart many. I was very impressed with the Crossover.
@@jimmydowis8238 How long did yer reeds last? Do you do a lot of note bending? From what info I read here is very helpful from others! I haven't bought any harmonicas since the 1980's. .. till now. I bought 2 Lee Oscar's (A and G) and have 2 old Hohner Marines from the early 1980's...cheaper back then ( C and F) ..and a Hohner Chromatic harmonica key A with the button on the end for In-between notes..... 3 notes don't make sound no more... played it to death! I love playing " Midnight Cowboy "...I want to buy a new one but not sure what brand to buy......I hear Seydel harmonicas reeds are made out of stainless steel and someone here on UA-cam said not to blow hard at first but to warm up the steel reeds.......one can Crack the reeds! ......yer thoughts and comments are welcome Jimmy Dowis......
Thank you Tomlin for another great video and it’s always great to share knowledge with others. I prefer to play my Hohner Master Class harps on amp/mic jamming and my Lee Oskar harps without amp/mic. Cheers... Graeme 🤙
I think you mean MeisterKlass.
Great summary. I am used to Hohner (Special 20 and Rocket) and just got Manji - and suddenly I am really STRUGGLING - good to know that is is normal and expected. And will make me a better player.
Very interesting video Tomlin. I frequently have problems with my Lee Oskars 4 draw going out of tune . Maybe I will try the Seydel 1847.
I use Bluesmasters and Marine Band Deluxes, Suzuki Promaster (my regular) and a few Seydel Blues session - I find the Bluesmaster "sloppy" the Promaster makes me pay attention and the Seydel one I can relax on. The Promaster is my practice and everyday harmonica. The Horners I stick in my pocket and the Seydel is for special performance.
Thank you for your content. Very useful and informative.
I’m just getting started and it’s very helpful to have comparisons that make clear sense of the available market... With that in mind do you have any thoughts on Lee Oskars brand at all? Cheers...
I just wanted to plug my old time favorite, the " Golden Melody " !
Try it, you'll like it !
👍😉
I found the 1847's were no better lasting than the Hohner Crossover harps I tried 4 or 5 years ago. I love my Manjis. I think you should have included the Lee Oskar harps too. Very much underrated, sympathetic and exspressive reeds and far less fragile than either the Hohner Crossover or Seydel 1847 silver's I've had. A great value for money harmonica
Agree with you totally. I went with Lee Oskar thirty plus years ago. I just bought another seven! I may have been a Manji user if more available at the time.
The tuning on the Lee Oskars is lousy.
Hi Tomlin. I'm a beginner and took your advice from another of your videos (which harmonica to start with) and bought a Hohner Special 20. I'm wondering why in this one you went with the Marine Band and what the difference is. Thanks! Much appreciate your approach to teaching and all your videos.
Hi Tomlin, thxs for the info, I am interested in all three harmonica's. I have 8 Hohner MB Crossovers, 1Hohner blues harp, 1 Fender. I love the crossover for using sparingly my breath, as my lungs are a bit damaged because of radiation. I would like to buy the Manji Low C and E, because they are half the price of the Hohner and Seydel (the low keys).
)
Hi Tomlin. Thanks for this - great video! I have been playing Hohner's pretty much since I started. I recently bought a Seydel. The change was good, because it forced me to be more precise with my bends. The extra effort to make the bends meant that I needed to be better targeted. I think this has helped my playing. I guess you could argue the other way too - maybe it really is about making sure - as you say - that you can move from one to another.
Interesting video Tomlin -cool way to approach comparing those harps. I have been using the Seydel 1847 classics for my gigging harps (primarily) for three or four years now, and I can attest to the fact that they do last a long time. They also seem to stay in tune, although when they go out of tune I've had a difficult time taking enough off the reed to raise or lower the pitch without ruining it. The stainless steel definitely makes this harder (not that I am all that good with brass reeds either). The other harps I use are the Marine Band 1896 model. My ear isn't that good but, to me, these harps help me sound more like the Chicago blues guys. Of course, they don't last as long, and sometimes aren't in tune or playable out of the box. The last couple I've gotten have been fine, though. In the past, I have gone to the trouble of drilling holes for screws for the cover plates and reed plates and flat sanding the combs (I like the wood combs). The bottom line is that almost any brand has decent harps that a player of your caliber can make sound great, and that could work for a guy like me if use good technique.
It's good to know that the Seydels have lasted you that long. I'm going to be experimenting with reconditioning harmonicas as I'm trying to reduce waste in my life so will be experimenting with replacing reeds etc in Seydels and Hohners.
@@TomlinHarmonica I am sure you will be better at it than me - patience isn't my strong suit, although I did get pretty good at setting up the Marine Bands. Now that the Marine Bands come with sealed combs and don't swell, it doesn't seem as necessary to take them apart as long as they stay in tune.
Funny, about 3 months ago I commented on this video, when getting my 1st harmonica(Suzuki Bluesmaster in C).
Then, as I got more harps, I thought of adding on to that, to give an experience of a noob on those different harmonica's. Lastly, I thought of the Manji lowD as the best(IMHO).
NOW, ~2 weeks later:
It's all for naught... after getting really comfortable on the Manji lowD, that sensation started to spread among all of my harmonica's. 😅🤦♂️🤷♂️who would have thought..
All I can say now with confidence, is the effort you put in is all that matters!
I got the following keys: C, G, A, lowD and low C.
Of all the 'big 3' manufacturers and now I don't see a better or worse anymore... and to be honest, I even feel annoyed by the fact that some differences will only show when using bending and stuff. As a beginner totally useless. If I had known it would come to this, I could have gotten a big set of an entry level harp like the Bluesmaster instead and still pay less...
But enough nagging, I will get to a point where I won't want to miss out on any harp. In time.
What I can say is that exposed reed plates, on some instruments, have brought a problem I would never have considered:
tiny cuts on my lips after long playing, not visible, but should you eat the wrong food or get a strong drink, you will feel them...😓
Another thing was that I had to shave my beard off, as it got stuck on the instrument again and again.
Next I will try lee oskars, over here the price is almost half of a manji low tune. And I've seen some awesome examples - Moses Concas for example.
Thanks for another cool video! I’m huge fan of Seydel 1847 Classic, sounds awesome, loooot of tunings, very comfortable for lips and extremely durable. Keep harping!
Love them all. I like my Olives, Session Steels, GOlden Melodies and Lee Oskars. I primarily play 1st position with my Lee Oskar Harmonic Minors. love that gyspy sound and surprising people with Star Wars themes (Imperial March, Binary Sunset). I just got some Rockets and Pentaharps.
Susuki sounds a little bright, thin for me. Hohne,r Seydel for myself. Thanks for sharing.
My first harmonica is Seydel Session Standard C (10201C).
I definitely can agree that Suzukis are not for a beginner! I had all sorts of trouble with it at first, and immediately started improving on my playing when I went with a Special20.
It sounds the clearest, though. You don't pick up a harp for ease.
You can’t go wrong with any of these but I say - I’ve had the most luck with the special 20 and the Suzuki pro master valved. 2 very different harps but both are very good. Well worth every penny. Trust my words.
Awesome video, really liked the tune you played in the end-is it just a random one or its a song? give me a name. Thank you
I used to play hohner harmonicas (marine band, blues harps, special 20, Golden Melody) and i was very comfortable with them. Recently, I received as a gift a Suzuki Promaster valved and it was so hard to adapt my playing to this kind of harps. It needs more delicacy to get the bends needed.
Hi Tomlin , I truly enjoyed this presentation, I've played Honer and Sisuki. I like them both, but I'll look into the Sydel 1847
Another point is that the Marine Band starts tasting a bit woody and leaves the mouth dry after playing a bit. The Suzuki is very nice to touch and also easy on the lips
hey, love the content. I have been playing for about a year now and I always go to your sites for help and just something new to work on. The more I get in to playing the harmonica the more in am seeing the Hohner CX12, what are your thoughts on it?? Thanks
Nice video. Enjoyed your perspective. 🙂
Very good compassion - Thank you Tomlin.
I been using nothing but Suzuki Promaster MR350's in all keys.
I'm a little aggressive and Yep! Blew that number 4 reed into the next state one night. Haha!
Gonna try a Seydel 1847 to see if I feel a difference.
You mentioned that the holes are larger on the Seydel. Very much or not noticeable?
The fatigue curves for steel and brass actually intersect if you play hard enough. From what I've read about metallurgy steel has a range where it doesn't fatigue at all, but once you get beyond that threshold the fatigue curve is quite steep. I've found, by surveying people who blew out a Seydel they say they didn't last as long as their Hohners and they described themselves as really hard players. It would be interesting to see what the deflection range is for reeds during their swing.
What where you playing there at the end ? I love it and I am siding to know ?When you played that on all three.
I have a beautiful old Gretsch Chromatic in C and Blue Moon is making me a low f Manji, I'm excited to get it.
what a great video...….mb deluxe is preferred over manji…….never played seydel 1847.....I play vintage marine bands at blues jams...…..nothing better
I’ve tried a few different brands, but the Honer special 20 is my baby. The only thing I don’t like about them is they’re basically the default beginner harmonica so I feel like I should be playing something more advanced if that makes sense.
Hohner for good it's the blues .
But as you said every style has a brand hhh
Hey Tomlin!Thank you for the video!I wanted to ask-what type of the harmonica would you recommend for the very beginners?(apart from those you showed in the video)
I really liked the tune you played in the end-is it just a random one or its a song?:)
My first harmonica was the Seydel Blues Session, sound really really good and easy to play for the basic style (harp and single note)
I love the Low D but the C is recommended.
Sorry for my bad english i m learning 😊🤭
(So the marine band is really nice too and low price)
A review on UA-cam suggested the Hohner Marine Band which retails $40 (or Deluxe model $60) . Nice bright tone and easy to play.