Man, I miss the days when you could go to a music store and pick up a BluesHarp or MarineBand for fifteen bucks. They were awesome. I still have a few. They are now nearly 40 years old, and play as well as ever.
My wife started me off with a Fender Blues Deluxe. I quickly moved to an Easttop 008k, then a Special 20. My 008k plays really well and I agree about the sharp edges. I use the Special 20 for regular practice, and have half a dozen new old stock Golden Melodies in keys other than C. I got a great deal on them, but I don't currently use them. The Blues Deluxe is now my "carmonica", I pick up the 008k when I want to practice adapting my embrochure(sp?) to different harps.
As someone who has only been playing for 4 months let me give my experience. I started out with SP20s and then got a couple manjis. They were from $35-45. The sp20 harps are great. Many pros use these daily. That being said I bought a seydel 1847 powerbender last week for my birthday for $109. Besides the tuning (which I’ve fallen in love with) the harp plays like butter, very responsive and bends super easy (every hole on the powerbender) and the tone is fantastic. They also have a nice box that won’t fall apart. The seydel 1947 is gonna be my go to harp. I do want to get a crossover to try though.
I'm just starting, and trying to figure out what is easiest for me to play. My most expensive one is the Arkia Origin. I don't have a need to overblow at my skill level, but it's nice to have the ability. Thanks for letting me know that my inability to overblow on the cheaper models may not be my fault.
This is a helpful comparison for newer players. It is especially good to have know the diminishing returns point. $25-$60 is a fine range for most folks. I definitely would not give my grandkids a super cheap harmonica (or any other instrument). It will just be a frustration. I find I can overblow the 6 on $25 East Tops and anything around and above that range. I will be content with that one overblow. I think it is considered the most generally useful. I have a whole bunch of harmonicas that I never touch - you are right. I spend most of my playing on a Harmo Torpedo C or a classic Honer Marine Band - A.
The Manji Sky is really good. The Suzuki Pure harp sounds good, very warm, but I'd prefer it if the wood cover plates were shaped like the Marine Bands. A wood Marine band so to speak. Ceramic cover plates are good but not used enough on harmonicas.
When I started out I didn’t know if I’d continue so I bought a set of cheap Fender Deluxe harps and they do suck. However I did buy a Bb Fender Deluxe that actually plays/sounds better than my Hohner Special 20 Bb.
I have to agree that the Hohner Crossover that I bought as a sort of early birthday present to myself is a much nicer harmonica than the Lee Oskar I have. Pardon my language but I fucking love playing on my Crossover! I might even get a whole set of them in the necessary keys. (Might branch out to other brands/models for some unusual keys like E-flat and A-flat.)
love your channel, The ARKIA harps are the best off the shelf I've seen JDR harps are good but are a bit of a fat profile on the ASSASSIN, Myself I,d get The JDR TROCHILUS The down side with that the slide will stick when it dry but you get the 6 O/B easy and you can get a trill affect. I sill will say the old golden melodys is the best harp out of the box. The EAST TOP T008K is the best cheap harp that you can get.
I considered various around £25-£35 and shortlisted that 008k until I saw your review. Decided if all had some quite not good review on Amazon (I am aware that competitors might sabotage). I found I could spend £8 and get a Cashka… in G (my old Kay hamronica in C is still going after many years, if not great). Then I got a kaschka in A. Checked notes on ninja tuna and not bad at all. Finish smooth and nice, and less than your $10. check em out and let me know. I figured if i had ot buy rubbish i would rather bin a £10 harp than a £25 harp. Then a pal in guitar jam pulled out his £55 Oscar Lerner, and other guy said he had two, and I thought, well I see the next step!! Louder clearer, more MUSICAL. I am 100% guitar snob, big brands only, but new to actually playing a harp rather than it sitting on shelf as it says BLUES on top. Compared with guitar or uke, harp is much easier, at least in the basics. I can now play Heart of Gold and some others. So what is your Kaschka view?
Does this only apply to diatonic harmonics? I’m under the impression that decent chromatic harmonicas are generally above 100 dollars or am I being ripped off
@fredklett2519 I am also aware that this is supposed to be the case, but the ALL of my 1847 models are SO MUCH BETTER: playability and tone. I will never again buy a Session Steel.
Eastflop is a questionable company Selling so cheap yet taking out heavy ads on Amazon 400 plus staff to pay Likely not paid well Cheap harps that look and feel cheap A beginner would do well to avoid and get sp20
Man, I miss the days when you could go to a music store and pick up a BluesHarp or MarineBand for fifteen bucks. They were awesome. I still have a few. They are now nearly 40 years old, and play as well as ever.
"unless you hated that child" hahahaha
My wife started me off with a Fender Blues Deluxe. I quickly moved to an Easttop 008k, then a Special 20. My 008k plays really well and I agree about the sharp edges. I use the Special 20 for regular practice, and have half a dozen new old stock Golden Melodies in keys other than C. I got a great deal on them, but I don't currently use them. The Blues Deluxe is now my "carmonica", I pick up the 008k when I want to practice adapting my embrochure(sp?) to different harps.
As someone who has only been playing for 4 months let me give my experience. I started out with SP20s and then got a couple manjis. They were from $35-45. The sp20 harps are great. Many pros use these daily.
That being said I bought a seydel 1847 powerbender last week for my birthday for $109. Besides the tuning (which I’ve fallen in love with) the harp plays like butter, very responsive and bends super easy (every hole on the powerbender) and the tone is fantastic. They also have a nice box that won’t fall apart.
The seydel 1947 is gonna be my go to harp. I do want to get a crossover to try though.
I'm just starting, and trying to figure out what is easiest for me to play. My most expensive one is the Arkia Origin. I don't have a need to overblow at my skill level, but it's nice to have the ability. Thanks for letting me know that my inability to overblow on the cheaper models may not be my fault.
Special 20 goes for $80 in Australia 😬 but thats all i have and happy with it
Always excellent, thoughtful perspective, Jonah… You remain an inspiration and voice of reason regarding all things diatonic harp.
Thank you! I try 👍
This is a helpful comparison for newer players. It is especially good to have know the diminishing returns point. $25-$60 is a fine range for most folks.
I definitely would not give my grandkids a super cheap harmonica (or any other instrument). It will just be a frustration.
I find I can overblow the 6 on $25 East Tops and anything around and above that range. I will be content with that one overblow. I think it is considered the most generally useful. I have a whole bunch of harmonicas that I never touch - you are right. I spend most of my playing on a Harmo Torpedo C or a classic Honer Marine Band - A.
The XP 40 extreme bender by honer is a game changer
The Manji Sky is really good. The Suzuki Pure harp sounds good, very warm, but I'd prefer it if the wood cover plates were shaped like the Marine Bands. A wood Marine band so to speak. Ceramic cover plates are good but not used enough on harmonicas.
When I started out I didn’t know if I’d continue so I bought a set of cheap Fender Deluxe harps and they do suck. However I did buy a Bb Fender Deluxe that actually plays/sounds better than my Hohner Special 20 Bb.
I have to agree that the Hohner Crossover that I bought as a sort of early birthday present to myself is a much nicer harmonica than the Lee Oskar I have. Pardon my language but I fucking love playing on my Crossover! I might even get a whole set of them in the necessary keys. (Might branch out to other brands/models for some unusual keys like E-flat and A-flat.)
love your channel, The ARKIA harps are the best off the shelf I've seen JDR harps are good but are a bit of a fat profile on the ASSASSIN, Myself I,d get The JDR TROCHILUS The down side with that the slide will stick when it dry but you get the 6 O/B easy and you can get a trill affect. I sill will say the old golden melodys is the best harp out of the box. The EAST TOP T008K is the best cheap harp that you can get.
I considered various around £25-£35 and shortlisted that 008k until I saw your review. Decided if all had some quite not good review on Amazon (I am aware that competitors might sabotage). I found I could spend £8 and get a Cashka… in G (my old Kay hamronica in C is still going after many years, if not great). Then I got a kaschka in A. Checked notes on ninja tuna and not bad at all. Finish smooth and nice, and less than your $10. check em out and let me know. I figured if i had ot buy rubbish i would rather bin a £10 harp than a £25 harp. Then a pal in guitar jam pulled out his £55 Oscar Lerner, and other guy said he had two, and I thought, well I see the next step!! Louder clearer, more MUSICAL. I am 100% guitar snob, big brands only, but new to actually playing a harp rather than it sitting on shelf as it says BLUES on top. Compared with guitar or uke, harp is much easier, at least in the basics. I can now play Heart of Gold and some others. So what is your Kaschka view?
I have a Kongsheng Solist and I love it. However, I’m an amateur that only knows enough to be dangerous.
Does this only apply to diatonic harmonics? I’m under the impression that decent chromatic harmonicas are generally above 100 dollars or am I being ripped off
@@kevincui9466 only diatonic
Why do reviewers only consider the T008K from Easttop when they have several other models, most with recessed reed plates and smoother edges?
Guess what? The Session Steel is also an 1847 with the same stainless steel reedplates.
Yeah, I'm aware. It's more of the harmonica design that really doesn't work for me.
@fredklett2519 I am also aware that this is supposed to be the case, but the ALL of my 1847 models are SO MUCH BETTER: playability and tone. I will never again buy a Session Steel.
I am teaching a group of senior people and what type of harmonica should I be buying that sound good and easy to their budget?
Kongsheng Mars. 30 bucks, hard to complain about it at that price.
@@HarmonicaRevolution Thanks for the advice and will look into it.
Chinese harps may cut corners also they cut my lip.
⭕ Get the Scale Cheatsheet: bit.ly/scalesheet
I have a few cheaper ones,,,east top,and hohnerarine band,sound ok for me as I can't really play much yet,,
Anyone tried the Yonberg titanium harp. French made but quite expensive.
I have yonbergs, they are amazing
Better than arkia
Koop gewoon honer of sedylharmonica
Eastflop is a questionable company
Selling so cheap yet taking out heavy ads on Amazon
400 plus staff to pay
Likely not paid well
Cheap harps that look and feel cheap
A beginner would do well to avoid and get sp20
Buy cheap, buy twice.