One quick tip. Marine Band Deluxe with out of box comb.... swells regardless of 3 coats. Almost immediately in Hawaii, the pearwood tines raise up out of slots. My favorite harp, so I put new combs in. In Jungle/ Rainforest environment, get a Crossover. Bamboo is natural here, and they do not swell.
@@gobuns2 Well I'd contact Hohner directly and ask for their opinions as they go to great lengths in adverts for the harp to say how that issue has been solved on the Deluxe and doesn't happen.
A mi me ocurría lo mismo. Solución: sumérgelas en cera de abeja caliente (no es tóxica). La cera tapa los poros. Nunca volverás a tener problemas. Aquí en España lo hacemos bastante. Busca vídeo en youtube en Jorge Puente que te explica cómo hacerlo. Es perfecto para los peines de la Marineband Classic y Deluxe. ua-cam.com/video/oRV73gKShto/v-deo.htmlsi=QPJNsxSBMSuSwJEM
My favorite is the Marine Band original (out of the box). They have that old-school sound and feel that inspire me. I even have a few low tuned 12 hole MBs that I’m loyal to. I have and play other brands and models, but the MB 1896 is my ride-or-die!
thanks to you ,,I play low tuned rockets,all the time on stage. I have hundreds of harps laying around here but always come back to sp,20s,and rockets Spike,,Vancouver Wa.
My favorite harmonica is the Hohner Golden Melody! I love the way it plays, the sound, the shape and it’s easy on my lips. I play it in church, open mics, and I sit in with friends at their gigs occasionally. I have switched out the combs to Blue Moon combs too. I also own Hohner Rocket and Rocket lows. I like playing octave lower in some songs and even switching back up an octave in the same song. Ronnie thanks for posting your videos! 🎶
I have tried many brands over the last ten years or so. My favourites by far are also the MBD, closely followed by the Crossover - particularly in lower keys, including the Thunderbird model. They are reliable and feel great to play.
Forgot to mention that I play mostly Lee Oskar harps, just because I got a set of 12 of them for a ¼ of their value at a store close out sale. That being said, I learned on a hohner special 20 and absolutely loved it till I blew the 5b reed out onto my lap learning to blow bend.. I still play Lee Oscar's, Rockets and Meisterclass 580 harps. Still love the special 20 overall. Thats my 2 bits.. lol... Even though I own 30+ harps, I will be buying more. I'm also getting into the custom composit combs made by Andrew Zajac, a world renowned harmonica customizer in Ontario Canada. The combs are absolutely flat and prevent air leakage. That along with flattening the reed plates make for an amazing harp playing experience. Just saying....
The MB Deluxe is also my favorite. I also have a couple of Crossovers which i also like. The one harp i absolutely hate is my Manji. I know a lot of people love them, but i hate mine. Maybe I just got a bad one, I don't know, but it's convinced to stick with Hohner.
Quite enjoyed your honest review/opinions of the different models you prefer to play. Marketing for certain models can be powerfully persuasive sometimes so thanks for keeping it real!! I Always enjoy your videos!!
The most underrated Horner is the Blue Midnight. What makes it different is it's much less "compromised" in its intonation and has the closest to a form of just intonation. Which Horner termed "Chicago intonation". A buddy gave me two of these, and two Blues Harps... he is a mostly straight position player... I think he settled on Marine Bands and gave me the other ones he'd been messing around with. Horner's were all more just intonated until roughly 1982. So if you love the sound of the blues greats, the Blue Midnight is closer than any other recent Horner. Just like a Marine Band (modern compromised intonation) sounds better on blues than a Golden Melody (tempered intonation), the Blue Midnight (a form of 'just intonation') sounds better than a Marine Band. Blue-er. Please get one or two (they are discontinued) and check it out. These harps were so blue they only sold them in America.
I'm that Golden Melody guy you talked about 😀 Only these in my pouch. Just love the warm tone and even though I don't play much overblows, they're the easiest to play on Golden Melodies. Everybody's different I guess 😉
I play through the RS Stage 5 amp with a Bulletini and wireless XVive. Only use Crossovers with Rocket Amp cover plates. I think this gives me a deeper more bluesy sound.
I recently discovered the JDR Assassin. Before that I played Hohner Special 20's and Lee Oskars. The JDR's are made in China. They're slightly heavier than a Hohner Special 20 but what sold me on them is they're loud with a raunchy tone. JDR is my new fav for playing blues harmonica.
Crossovers for me + Rocket lows. I'm not gonna spend too much time on this live stream Ronnie says..... proceeds to stream for 30 minutes😅 By the way whoever said you ramble on obviously doesn't appreciate how much you have to say about the harp. They can go listen to UA-cam shorts😊 Hugs and high fives✌️
I’m green as grass and have only been playing for 3 months but I have a couple special 20s (C and a D country tuned), a golden melody in F, 2 manjis (1 in C and 1 in A). Love the tone of manjis but they aren’t as responsive as my hohners. That MBD sounds so sweet. I’m gonna get a couple of those soon and maybe some rockets and crossovers. Considering getting one of those seydel 1847 Wilde rock tuning or a powerbender to play with. Yeah I’ll never get another golden melody either. I just don’t like the way they are designed. And also the tuning I don’t like.
Hey Ronnie.. Are your harmonicas customized. I mean, are the reeds gapped and professionally set up, slots embossed, etc, or are they out of box harps?
Not much Seydel love here! - my first harp... the 1847's are lush, slightly stiffer with the steel reeds, however; I have a box of Hohners, MBD favourites, then Crossovers which always take a while to break in for me - agreed that the chords in 3rd are way better with the Deluxes. But amplified; I prefer playing sp20 - Might be worth mentioning Jason Ricci's modded harps on this topic as he uses SP20 covers on MBD higher harps for a better amped sound I believe. I also have one Suzuki Maji, but the git keeps snagging my moustache hairs! its basically a cheaper made 1847 incase anyones interested, plays well.
I love Sedel session steel !! Mainly because of the tone that it produces. For me, it's not even comparapable to, let's say, Hohner crossover. And I love the Crossovers. Also, the space between the wholes fits me much better with Seydels. I haven't yet got the oportunity to try 1847, but I'm looking forward to it ! Can you, mybe, comment on the Seydel Session Blues? Haven't tried it yet, but I'm curious how it plays in comperisson to the special 20, let's say... Because it quite simmilarly built..
Hello Ronnie, I have a Rocket amp in the key of Bb that plays beautifully and a plain Rocket in the key of D that seems not as air tight and responsive. Do you think it might be the key Bb vs D or maybe a wrong set up D harp? Thnx.
I prefer the Rocket and the Special 20 over the Marine Band when playing draw octaves 37, 48, 59 and 610 because they (the harps) are much bigger and leave more space for hands and mouth😬 An old Golden Melody with a Marine Band 1896 reed plate would be nice
I play Blues Harp and Rocket. I played SP20 three times so far and never again. It just breaks and goes out of tune too quick. Recently i bought Cascha "Ocean Rock", plays far better than every SP20 for the same price.
Easttops do not get the credit they deserve. Rich tone, responsive, bendable. I have a set of Crossovers which are nice too. But can't beat the quality for the price in Easttops. I know they're not Hohners, but there are good harps out there that aren't Hohners.
Hey Ronnie, all my SP-20's have turbo harp covers. Very comfortable covers and you'll never stick those in your face backwards, (hole 10 on the left). I'd love it if you got a steel cover and let us know what you think about them. I also love the rockets lows. Cool topic!
One quick tip. Marine Band Deluxe with out of box comb.... swells regardless of 3 coats. Almost immediately in Hawaii, the pearwood tines raise up out of slots. My favorite harp, so I put new combs in. In Jungle/ Rainforest environment, get a Crossover. Bamboo is natural here, and they do not swell.
No it doesn't Sean. Hohner have went to great lengths to ensure that doesn't happen. Maybe the standard version of years gone by did that.
yes it apparently does, john. mine swelled a few months ago when I was first trying out tongue slapping. lots of saliva was present.
@@gobuns2 Well I'd contact Hohner directly and ask for their opinions as they go to great lengths in adverts for the harp to say how that issue has been solved on the Deluxe and doesn't happen.
A mi me ocurría lo mismo. Solución: sumérgelas en cera de abeja caliente (no es tóxica). La cera tapa los poros. Nunca volverás a tener problemas. Aquí en España lo hacemos bastante. Busca vídeo en youtube en Jorge Puente que te explica cómo hacerlo. Es perfecto para los peines de la Marineband Classic y Deluxe.
ua-cam.com/video/oRV73gKShto/v-deo.htmlsi=QPJNsxSBMSuSwJEM
My favorite is the Marine Band original (out of the box). They have that old-school sound and feel that inspire me. I even have a few low tuned 12 hole MBs that I’m loyal to. I have and play other brands and models, but the MB 1896 is my ride-or-die!
thanks to you ,,I play low tuned rockets,all the time on stage. I have hundreds of harps laying around here but always come back to sp,20s,and rockets Spike,,Vancouver Wa.
Hundreds of harmonicas laying around?!? 🤯🤯
That's crazy brother I have like, 7 diatonics and one chromatic 😂
The majority played are Hohner… Special 20, Crossover, Rocket/Amp and Bushman (my Michigan connection) a few Seydel’s and Suzuki …. Thanks Ronnie
My favorite harmonica is the Hohner Golden Melody! I love the way it plays, the sound, the shape and it’s easy on my lips. I play it in church, open mics, and I sit in with friends at their gigs occasionally. I have switched out the combs to Blue Moon combs too. I also own Hohner Rocket and Rocket lows. I like playing octave lower in some songs and even switching back up an octave in the same song. Ronnie thanks for posting your videos! 🎶
I have tried many brands over the last ten years or so. My favourites by far are also the MBD, closely followed by the Crossover - particularly in lower keys, including the Thunderbird model. They are reliable and feel great to play.
Forgot to mention that I play mostly Lee Oskar harps, just because I got a set of 12 of them for a ¼ of their value at a store close out sale. That being said, I learned on a hohner special 20 and absolutely loved it till I blew the 5b reed out onto my lap learning to blow bend.. I still play Lee Oscar's, Rockets and Meisterclass 580 harps. Still love the special 20 overall. Thats my 2 bits.. lol... Even though I own 30+ harps, I will be buying more. I'm also getting into the custom composit combs made by Andrew Zajac, a world renowned harmonica customizer in Ontario Canada. The combs are absolutely flat and prevent air leakage. That along with flattening the reed plates make for an amazing harp playing experience. Just saying....
The MB Deluxe is also my favorite. I also have a couple of Crossovers which i also like. The one harp i absolutely hate is my Manji. I know a lot of people love them, but i hate mine. Maybe I just got a bad one, I don't know, but it's convinced to stick with Hohner.
I play Special 20 with TurboLid covers as my go to harmonica.
Rocket, Rocket Low and Rocket Amps. They are easy to clean and I like the larger holes.
Ronnie I love special 20’s a awful lot👍👍👍👍
I love the rocket and the rocket amp
MB Deluxe, Crossover and SP20's
Quite enjoyed your honest review/opinions of the different models you prefer to play. Marketing for certain models can be powerfully persuasive sometimes so thanks for keeping it real!! I Always enjoy your videos!!
I’ve only been playing about a year and don’t have much experience with different harps yet but I do have a Special 20 and really like it.
The most underrated Horner is the Blue Midnight.
What makes it different is it's much less "compromised" in its intonation and has the closest to a form of just intonation. Which Horner termed "Chicago intonation".
A buddy gave me two of these, and two Blues Harps... he is a mostly straight position player... I think he settled on Marine Bands and gave me the other ones he'd been messing around with.
Horner's were all more just intonated until roughly 1982.
So if you love the sound of the blues greats, the Blue Midnight is closer than any other recent Horner.
Just like a Marine Band (modern compromised intonation) sounds better on blues than a Golden Melody (tempered intonation), the Blue Midnight (a form of 'just intonation') sounds better than a Marine Band. Blue-er.
Please get one or two (they are discontinued) and check it out.
These harps were so blue they only sold them in America.
Loved this video and the random questions😂. I play in the bath ALL the time. I even keep some harps there. The acoustics are the best! 😊
MB deluxe is my favourite of all and have 3 of those then the crossover, special 20, Regular rocket and original golden melody
I'm that Golden Melody guy you talked about 😀 Only these in my pouch. Just love the warm tone and even though I don't play much overblows, they're the easiest to play on Golden Melodies.
Everybody's different I guess 😉
I do like Hohner's tuning but I play Turbo Harp brand covers.
I play through the RS Stage 5 amp with a Bulletini and wireless XVive. Only use Crossovers
with Rocket Amp cover plates. I think this gives me a deeper more bluesy sound.
I recently discovered the JDR Assassin. Before that I played Hohner Special 20's and Lee Oskars. The JDR's are made in China. They're slightly heavier than a Hohner Special 20 but what sold me on them is they're loud with a raunchy tone. JDR is my new fav for playing blues harmonica.
I like special 20 and bluesharp and some marine and Leo Oskar and seydel blues sessionsteel
Hey Ronnie, I play the Sp 20 , a couple a keys in the Blues harp and my favorite... the MB Crossover
Crossovers for me + Rocket lows.
I'm not gonna spend too much time on this live stream Ronnie says.....
proceeds to stream for 30 minutes😅
By the way whoever said you ramble on obviously doesn't appreciate how much you have to say about the harp. They can go listen to UA-cam shorts😊
Hugs and high fives✌️
I loved the pro harp. Superb. Can't find em now..
Can’t find them? Not even RockinRons?
MBD and Crossover are my favorite, but I'll do rocket amp or rocket.
I play suzuki manji for last 8 yrs but started on sp 20, then got stuck on suzuki line bluesmaster than harpmaster finally got stuck on the manji.
I’m green as grass and have only been playing for 3 months but I have a couple special 20s (C and a D country tuned), a golden melody in F, 2 manjis (1 in C and 1 in A).
Love the tone of manjis but they aren’t as responsive as my hohners.
That MBD sounds so sweet. I’m gonna get a couple of those soon and maybe some rockets and crossovers. Considering getting one of those seydel 1847 Wilde rock tuning or a powerbender to play with.
Yeah I’ll never get another golden melody either. I just don’t like the way they are designed. And also the tuning I don’t like.
I get lots of air leakage on Golden Melody
Deluxe , Golden melody, sp 20 in that order.
Hey Ronnie.. Are your harmonicas customized. I mean, are the reeds gapped and professionally set up, slots embossed, etc, or are they out of box harps?
Not much Seydel love here! - my first harp... the 1847's are lush, slightly stiffer with the steel reeds, however; I have a box of Hohners, MBD favourites, then Crossovers which always take a while to break in for me - agreed that the chords in 3rd are way better with the Deluxes. But amplified; I prefer playing sp20 -
Might be worth mentioning Jason Ricci's modded harps on this topic as he uses SP20 covers on MBD higher harps for a better amped sound I believe. I also have one Suzuki Maji, but the git keeps snagging my moustache hairs! its basically a cheaper made 1847 incase anyones interested, plays well.
I love Sedel session steel !!
Mainly because of the tone that it produces. For me, it's not even comparapable to, let's say, Hohner crossover. And I love the Crossovers. Also, the space between the wholes fits me much better with Seydels. I haven't yet got the oportunity to try 1847, but I'm looking forward to it !
Can you, mybe, comment on the Seydel Session Blues? Haven't tried it yet, but I'm curious how it plays in comperisson to the special 20, let's say... Because it quite simmilarly built..
Hello Ronnie, I have a Rocket amp in the key of Bb that plays beautifully and a plain Rocket in the key of D that seems not as air tight and responsive. Do you think it might be the key Bb vs D or maybe a wrong set up D harp? Thnx.
Hard to say without playing it.
I prefer the Rocket
and the Special 20 over the Marine Band when playing draw octaves 37, 48, 59 and 610 because they (the harps) are much bigger and leave more space for hands and mouth😬
An old Golden Melody with a Marine Band 1896 reed plate would be nice
Sold me on the Rocket Low, I'm getting one
Special 20
I play Blues Harp and Rocket. I played SP20 three times so far and never again. It just breaks and goes out of tune too quick. Recently i bought Cascha "Ocean Rock", plays far better than every SP20 for the same price.
Easttops do not get the credit they deserve. Rich tone, responsive, bendable. I have a set of Crossovers which are nice too. But can't beat the quality for the price in Easttops. I know they're not Hohners, but there are good harps out there that aren't Hohners.
Hey Ronnie
What wasn,t mentiond was the hohner blues harp or MS when swapped with good custom combs
The mic is scratching Ronnie
ya i'm hearing that too. UGH! back to the drawing board. thanks
Hey Ronnie, all my SP-20's have turbo harp covers. Very comfortable covers and you'll never stick those in your face backwards, (hole 10 on the left).
I'd love it if you got a steel cover and let us know what you think about them. I also love the rockets lows. Cool topic!