T-Bay Posted August 9, 2020 Author Share Posted August 9, 2020 6 minutes ago, Nail Soup said: Just googled that. Wow seems like prices go up pretty steep for a low register harp...... and really up for a bass harp! It wasn’t cheap, about £70-80 I think, but that’s peanuts in the grand scheme of things music wise. Check out some of the YouTube videos and you will get a sense of what they are like. The top end is like a normal harp but the bottom end has a unique resonant sound that is just gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 Enjoying leaning the basics. Have it by my side for the ad breaks when watching TV and shove it in my pocket while walking the poor, long suffering dogs). I can play single notes and bend but not reliably. Got a bit to go before I can justify looking to expand to a collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 I've been thinking about dabbling with some more diatonic harmonica since I've been getting into Chromatic in the last few months. Though the one diatonic I have I find quite uncomfortable and not that easy to play compared to my chromatics. It's a Hohner Blues Harp I've had around since the 90s, so maybe I need to try something with a different style comb like a Special 20 or Seydel Session to see if those feel friendlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted August 9, 2020 Share Posted August 9, 2020 2 hours ago, T-Bay said: It wasn’t cheap, about £70-80 I think, but that’s peanuts in the grand scheme of things music wise. Check out some of the YouTube videos and you will get a sense of what they are like. The top end is like a normal harp but the bottom end has a unique resonant sound that is just gorgeous. I guess it racks up a bit if you wanted a set of say seven for different keys. Then again, as you say, it's similar in total to what is often paid for a bass etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Not so much a tip as a listening suggestion........ try a "best of" by Slim Harpo. Great harp player, even got it in his name! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 Harmonica playing doesn't need to be cheap. There's a guy just down the hill from me who makes bespoke valve amps for them! https://www.fat-tone-amps.co.uk/ 😬 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadillabama Posted September 7, 2020 Share Posted September 7, 2020 This topic has made me get out a few harmonicas and play with a neck brace . I can do "Out On the Weekend" by Neil Young and other easy tunes . I want a Hohner Rocket with low notes . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadillabama Posted December 25, 2020 Share Posted December 25, 2020 I got a Hohner Rocket Amp harmonica for Christmas. I like it more than the Special 20. Superb tone ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted December 26, 2020 Share Posted December 26, 2020 These guys sure do.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadillabama Posted April 18, 2021 Share Posted April 18, 2021 I have been trying Seydel harmonicas and they have some "low" keys with lower bass notes. The Session Steel has stainless steel reeds and a good tone (not too bright). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Since low key diatonics have come up a few times in this thread, I thought I'd mention that I picked up a low C Lee Oskar to play around with. The nice thing about it is that LO price them the same as their standard keys. It sounds fine and plays easily - the bends on hole 2 and three are taking a little adjustment of my technique but I gather that's normal with low keys. So they seem like a good option if you're curious about low keys. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 Just bitten the bullet and signed up for a pretty intensive course, typically both my C harps decided to play up on the first day, both now cleaned, reassembled and playing well. Another session today. 2 more Special20 Cs ordered so I don't get left hapless in future along with a wee 2 octave Hohner Chromettat8 to live in my pocket as I prefer chromatic. I now have C, A, Bb D, E, F and G Special20s, a Hohner Chrometta12 and a Swan professional1664 (in a bling GOLD finish) as the ordinary ones were out of stock and they'd chucked in a cheap blues in C as a freebie. I find A to be the sweetest key to my ear, my harp collection is building faster than my Bass one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadillabama Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 My new Hohner Rocket Amp has a hole that won't play in the 'blow' note. I think I can't blow air through it.The reed seems free to move. How can I fix It ?I can take the covers off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted August 21, 2021 Share Posted August 21, 2021 14 hours ago, grenadillabama said: My new Hohner Rocket Amp has a hole that won't play in the 'blow' note. I think I can't blow air through it.The reed seems free to move. How can I fix It ?I can take the covers off. Don't know,try stripping it right down and giving it a a good clean soak the reed plates for a while, then gently clean them brushing very gently along the reeds from their roots dab them dry and then let them finish air drying or nick a hair drier. Best to do it over a table or something with a tray underneath to catch the bits as you inevitably drop them. At least hat's the way I've learned to do it 🥴. I've got a complete maintenance/servicing kit coming this week. Depending on how much you play them they reckon you should dry your harmonica after every play and a proper clean once a week. Hence I was seen lurking along in the Tesco beauty shelves yesterday looking for a cheap hair dryer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted January 1, 2022 Share Posted January 1, 2022 Now exploring low keys, 3 Hohner Thunderbirds C,A&G and a Dabell (F)so far. Collection up to 28 and counting. Confident enough to open mic and busk now, when covid permits. mostly diatonics but a full set of Chromatic CX12s as well as a couple of Tremolos. Early New Year ambitions are Stone Fox Chase and Orange Blossom Express. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Stone fox chase! The sole reason I bought a harmonica and the only thing I can play! In truth I'd hoped to manage Parchman Farm ... But much too hard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 Learned Mike Oldfield's arrangement of "In Dulce Jubilo" for Christmas but caught some kind of bug which caused shortness of breath so never got to record/post it, ah well I'll dust it off again next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted April 14, 2022 Share Posted April 14, 2022 FINALLY!! Hohner CX12 in Eb arrived yesterday (ordered September last year so 7 months, roll on Stranger on the Shore and Moon River in their original key😁. TBH I've already got hold of a Eb Chromonica from somewhere else, prefer the sound of the CX though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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