Still The BEST Harmonica For Beginners in 2024?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ก.ค. 2024
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I’ve been recommending the Hohner Special 20 for Beginner harmonica players for years and years now BUT it’s starting to get quite expensive and the competition is stiff for great beginner instruments. So, with this in mind, I bought a brand new Hohner Special 20 and I’m going to see if I still think it is the best harmonica for beginners.
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I’ve been playing the harmonica for the last 77 years. My first harmonica was a blue plastic harmonica. Its brand name was Magnus. My Mom paid .50 for that harmonica. It was on that harmonica that I learned to play some very simple songs. Later a friend gave me a Hohner Echo Harp. I have been playing the Echo Harp for about 75 years and I’ve had several along the way. The Echo Harp has such a beautiful sound which is very soothing.
I'm no pro, but I love my Special 20. I carry it around everywhere I go and practice all the time
Same pinch bro ❤
@bloodshotgaming7 just this week, I finally was able to consistently execute the 1 and 4 draw bends and the 2 draw whole step bend inconsistently. So, I guess you could say; it's getting pretty serious. 🤣
@@theferrouslife in one week i think you are talented, after 6 months i still bend all 1,2,3,4,6 draw now ok ok , now learning blow bend,... You are doing good 😊
I've been playing for 50 years playing Special 20's for 45 years started with Marine Band . I've played 100's of gigs and the Special 20 has never let me down
My first harp was the Marine Band which was 60 years ago but I bought my first Special20 about 15 years ago and I love it, mainly because it is easier on your lips. I’m not a pro but just play for the fun of it. Through all of the years I have a tremalo and a Chromatic but I go back to my Marine Band and my Special 20. Love your channel.
The first harmonica I've ever bought was a Hohner Special 20 as I wanted to play country music. I bought four keys within my first year as a harmonica player (C, Bb, Ab, and D) and that was my main set for a long time before I switched to the Hohner Golden Melody. The main reason why I switched was because when compared to the stuff that I was listening to and that wanted to play (a lot of modern country/gospel harmonica licks from Terry McMillan), the Special 20 just didn't sound right to me, especially with the more raw sounding "cries" of the double stops and chords that Terry was playing. His signature harmonica was the Hohner Golden Melody. So I wanted to get one due to me liking his playing style and my desire to sound like him.
Everybody was telling me on MBH how drastically different the tuning was gonna sound, but I never noticed a difference in the tuning. The differences were only in the timbres of the harps, with the GM sounding more raspy and sweeter than the more solid toned Special 20. I still have a couple Special 20s in my case for underused keys and they are great harps, but the Golden Melody is something I've always reached for.
Hello Tomlin, thanks for the information. Make it a Best Day ❤
I’ve had mine since 2016 and its the one I learnt on and it’s still playable and haven’t blown out the reeds. I just got a new one and along with the marine band deluxe and rocket it’s a favourite. They retail anywhere from $60-$80 AUD now
Never played a special 20
Love my Marine bands and Crossovers
I only have 1.. a special 20. Still learning and still does me fine 😊
In Iran, this harmonica model is known as the best harmonica for all levels
I switched to the Golden Melody’s when they came out back around 73ish I believe. I think they were around $20 . Loved the big fat sound I got out of them, unlike the Marine Bands. Glad I retired back in ‘94. The prices are just out of sight now. Its crazy!
Yes east top 008k also okay but special 20 sound much good 😍
Easttop has a number of other models beside from the T008K, including an "upgraded" model and the pro series. There are several good harps from other companies too. If you're going to proclaim one as 'the best', you should try a lot more than 2 harmonicas.
For me I found the Suzuki Blues Harp the best, great bender.
My first harps were sp20s and. I love them.
And I still think Tomlin is one of the best teachers for beginners. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge!
Aw thanks Steven!
As far as a budget harp goes I just bought an Amazing 20 and I really like it. I
Think it’s much better than the 008K. Reeds stick too much with the Easttop at least in my experience. SP 20 is a great harmonica though.
i love this instrument
Easttop 008K is good momentarily. It doesn't stand up after awhile. I was critical of it, the 008S, and the Easttop Blues Player. BUT, I purchased an Easttop Blues Standard Professional which is an excellent, superb harp of high quality and standard. WHY? I compared it to the Hohner Marine Band 1896 and it appears to be identical. Easttop Blues Standard is hard to find. They were once selling in a variety of keys. I think Hohner contacted them for patent infringement.
Hallo Tom ik heb van de LL F gekocht het geluid is helemaal tegek pracht geluid top ,maar jij speelt zeer goed je praat open en eerlijk maar , seydel is wel een verschil van kwaliteit top afgewerkt klinkt echt super mooi als ik speel dan trilt het helemaal zo mooi ❤😊
I am a beginner intermediate player and I have tried: special 20, marine band (regular), Seydel 1847 silver, fenders blues deluxe, eastop 008k, Harmo, and Suzuki manji sky. Every single one except for fenders blues deluxe and eastop 008k are great. But I’ve had to make adjustments to every harmonica aside from the hohners. Hohner special 20 is the best overall harmonica that I’ve played. That being said, the other ones have their perks too. The 1847 is louder and the manji sky is easier to play but sounds lighter.
If the Special 20 isn’t good for blues, someone oughta tell John Popper. I’m pretty sure that’s all he plays in Blues Traveler! Btw Tomlin, per your indirect suggestion, I bought myself a Hohner Crossover in the key of A. And wow! do I love it or what? It’s expensive, as you know, but it’s worth every penny in my opinion!
Suzuki bluesmaster and suzuki harpmaster and are just as good as the sp 20 in my opinion. I have three hohners: sp20, rocket, and holden 20, and I always see myself reaching for my suzukis.
It's a personal choice, but once you get into that 40 ish dollar range, they're pretty much all good beginner harps.
Love the Special 20. In 35 years never got a bad one. But they haven't lasted as long as I think they should for the money. I have gotten a bunch of Marine Bands that needed to have reeds unstuck out of the box. Been buying Conjurers lately. Love them. FWIW, I bought two Seydels and a Dabell last week that all had draw and blow notes that wouldn't work without tweeking. The Dabell, in fact went into my junk box. Just saying that all harps might not come out of the box ready to play.
As the years go by 1st East Top 008K, 2nd Hohner Special 20, & Lee Oskar's for the minor keys
I've got all 3, all very good, I think the special 20 is the best but not twice as good as the easttop but it costs twice as much.
@@jimmynich4791 Hi Jimmy I used to teach Blue Harp at night school many years ago & bought about 50 (E, A, & D keys mainly) east tops for the students paid $17 each, I stopped teaching & had a heap left over I never had a bad one (blow a reed once in a while if I'm playing hard for a few months) maybe had to file the sharp corners a bit but from what I see on TH-cam the quality may have dropped in recent years. Special 20s cost about $75 now so a $58 saving on each Harp, pretty happy I bought so many now
I don't play harmonica yet, but I aim to. I've been watching your videos and intend to rewatch when the time comes for me to buy my first harmonica. How will I know I'm not getting older stock with the bad quality? Is there a date of manufacture on the box? I don't want prior to 2015, maybe?
I doubt you'll find something that old. They've been great for a while now :-)
I may be too new to this community to have a masters POV, however owning both a Sp20 and East Top i will always say start with the Sp20. It has more balanced sound than East top. I struggle to get good wah wah and expression out of the east top with cupping and such. For some reason that harp has exceedingly bright tone that goes past the cup. So its bright but flat and expressionless. And in that ground barring absolute budget issues i dont think East top model is a good intro/learner tool. At least not as much as the Sp20.
And although im still working on bends i find it more difficult in the Easttop
As a learner you want something that allows you to learn and each basic skills in a manner that does not require special or different methodology. You want to learn it right the first time so you can be more fluid and understand the modification in your playing that you need with different harmonica. The special20 HAS that workhorse build methodology. So you can focus on learning right.
I've played marine band, Suzuki promoters, LO's, Fenders budget harps, Sp20, Blues Band budget, and Blues Harp specially while learning I can tell you this though. Learning with many instruments is a hassle as each has a method or kink that makes it different and hampers progress as you have to adjust and mess with your muscle memory.
What about a Lee Osker? It's cheaper than a Special 20 and plays great out of the box.
They are super durable as well. I have LO that I’ve been playing since 1997 and I haven’t had to replace any reeds. I’ve heard that Special 20s don’t last very long. I know that EastTops don’t. Plus that awful paint on EastTops tastes awful in the mouth!
@@GrilloTheFlightless I like Suzuki Manji and HarpMasters. Recently I've been playing a few Dabell Story harps also.
Lee Oskar was what I started on and it’s comparable to a Special 20. Honestly, there’s not too much difference except for maybe the temperament that they’re tuned to. Lee Oskar’s tuned to 441+ (no idea what the plus is for but that’s what they call it), and the Special 20 is tuned to, I think, 443Hz
I've got a video coming out soon about this question :-)
I am no gambler. I'd rather pay 60$ and have great QC. I prefer to spend my time playing over fixing an harmonica with problems otb.
Easttop 008 is better for beginners
Seydel, East Top , Manjy, Manjy Sky. These are my brands.I don't like Hohner. I have a Crossover and I will NEVER buy a Hohner again. To me it sounds like a empty bucket.... Sry😂