I think Easttop is a great compaany. I have several high end Hohner chromatics and diatonics. I bought an Easttop 12 hole chromatic brand new for 27 dollars as I wanted an inexpensive chromatic to carry with me in a coat pocket etc. Well, I couldn't believe the gorgeous tone and construction quality of this instrument. It is, in my opinion a pro level instrument. The tone is very nice and it lends itself to ballads, standards and jazz. I still cannot believe that 27 dollars got me this great sounding chromatic. It looks super nice too. Kudos to Easttop for building good harmonicas offered at affordable prices!
About a year ago I bought a set of Easttop 008K harps -- 12 keys from G to F# in a nice zippered case for $127 online. That's less than $10 per harp if you factor in the cost of the case. This purchase was to replace/augment the motley crew of old, worn, mismatched harps I kept by my desk for quick practice purposes. The Easttop harps have GREATLY exceeded my admittedly low expectations. They are way better than some harps that cost four times as much. Granted, you won't find any of them in my gig case (Crossovers and MB Deluxes there) but still a lot of bang for the buck.
Yeah I'm really glad you added the bit about the 2 hole draw. I had similar experience with harps like this, that's the only reason why I warn beginners not to buy as their main harp, for serious practice etc. I couldn't get on with the metallic taste & the paint job. Which looks amazing but just not for me, as little things like that distract me. I'd like to hear you make an update video on it after 3 month use and how you think it's lasted. 👍
Virtually every make/model modern harp need some minor adjusting before it plays optimally. With the exception of the Crossover, every Hohner needs adjusting. Every Seydel, every Suzuki, all of them. They are mass-produced and to keep costs affordable they do not place much attention on reed offset and profiling, which is easily remedied at home.
Thinking of getting one of these to keep in the car for playing at the beach etc. for under $30 you can’t go wrong and don’t have to worry about ruining your expensive harps
Agreed. Great harp for the money. Downside: sharp edges. Here’s a great tweak: open up the top cover plate and tighten the reed plate screws. The factory doesn’t tighten them enough. You now have a fantastic sounding instrument.
I started playing harmonica a few months ago. A buddy of mine acquired a new set of 7 Hohner harmonicas that he gifted me, and I just started playing them. I have a pretty good sense of pitch, and I immediately found a great deal of joy playing along with songs. I've been an amateur guitarist for years, but find I'm having a much more enjoyable time playing harmonica. To get to the point, I bought an Easttop 008k C harmonica on Amazon, and the sound is amazing. Really enjoying this harp!! I really want to get the full set of 12, I'm very into it. Really love your videos, thanks so much!
I’m the same. I was an amateur guitar player until I had a neck injury and then picked up the harmonica and I love it so much! I’ve got 7 keys now, and I plan to get very proficient. It’s funny in grade school music class, I loved the recorder. Here I am now at 61 and playing another holed instrument and love it too! What I like about it is the ability to play along to any song but make up my own playing that actually sounds good with the song! Also, the emotional expressiveness of it is amazing. I would love to get back to guitar but honestly, I prefer to play the harmonica. I love that I can take it anywhere too.
I picked up a couple because they are less expensive and I wanted a couple of keys I don’t use often. Now I use those keys more often. I like this harp.
I have yet to find a diatonic that didn't benefit from a Micropore seal job and some minor reed slot dressing...including the East Top. Having said that, this is one of the finest harps you can get, especially at this price. It rivals my Special 20's, Oskars, Suzuki's and my Seydels. These harps might change the pricing structure of the 10 hole diatonic market. Lets all hope so. I would offer only one improvement on the East Top. The mouthpiece is too blunt and flat, the cover slope is to great. You guys need to copy the angle of the Special 20 cover plate at the mouthpiece.
I tried to play my old A key harmonica and the 7 blow was destroyed. Tried to salvage it and it got deeper and deeper. I couldn't justify mustering $50+ for a new one right now. The east top cost me $27.89. Thanks for the recommendation! I'll surely buy more expensive harps in the future, but this fits the bill at the moment!
I am about to try and get one as my first harmonica. Could you please give me a little update on how well this lasted you and if you honestly think it would be a good first harmonica? I just don't have much to spend at the time so after doing some research I think this might be my choice. I also know nothing about how to modify it in any way if it needed it so I'd have to go on TH-cam and check that out if it needed anything done to it and I really like that you can easily take this apart just in case I needed to, however though did you need to modify yours in any way to get it playing right?
@@thugnasty1021 It plays great. It sounds wonderful. This is an amazing first harmonica. It's a great harmonica in general. I really enjoy it. It's solid. It bends notes well. It's a durable harmonica and easy to service. I didn't have to modify anything.
I got a F chromatic about a year ago a I did break a couple of reads bending notes I’ve tried fixing them but I still have a couple that are a little iffy a lot of the time. Now I’ve had lots of harmonica throughout the last 50 years I still have a bunch of Horner’s and a bunch of others that I don’t play very often because the wooden combs break a lot and even worse like the marine ban tere up my mouth a few minutes playing and it takes almost a week to heal up so I can play again the special 20 isn’t to bad but the tuning is often off and most are hard to blow. Since getting the East Top’s harmonica’s I’ve fell in love with them the front is smooth and comfortable and I can play for hours with no problems since I broke my favorite F I haven’t bought a replacement yet I keep trying to repair it but I also have one in A & G and a 12 hole in C which covers 4 hole octaves from B2 to B6 and since it a chromatic it has all of the sharps and Flats so I’m trying not to bend to many notes I use to have one of the gold Horner model but it was so temperamental if the temperature changed a couple of degrees or the humidity changed just a little bit it would literally quit working I had to send it back a couple of times for repair but like I said it wouldn’t work around 80% of the time and it cost over $700 to buy where the East Top I’ve gotten still work way better than anything I’ve gotten from Horner and are mor comfortable to play. Now I’ve had trouble with my blood sugar and tried to explain it to my doctor who won’t listen when my blood sugar is below 180 I can’t play anything so I did some live videos on Facebook to show him I did a 1.5 hour of playing and messed up saving it so I did another 1.5 hours of playing different stuff till my sugar dropped and I’ve done several of these and like I said playing continuously for 3 to sometimes 8 hours in a day and my mouth doesn’t hurt that’s comfort. I just found these smaller harmonicas an Amazon and am going to get some of them on payday which I’m looking forward to. Check out what they sound like I posted a review on Amazon and on Facebook under Glen Parker I did several live videos with the F Chromatic from East Top check it out because they’re worth every penny and there under $70 and the small one for $25 I’ve paid $50 to $90 for similar other brands that were hard to play and usually don’t work more than a couple of weeks if you bend notes or play them very much. Some of the best harps I’ve gotten worked really good seem to go broke after a couple of years because they keep working I guess so you just keep using them for years and then you can’t get new ones anymore I hope East Top doesn’t do that but I’m going to get a bunch more of them just in case 👍👍👍👍
@@ChromaticHarpnot if you know how to setup the harp up for overblows. Phosphor bronze reeds require additional steps to make them viable for OB/OD’s. Same as any Suzuki, Kongsheng, etc. the 008k is as good as any other phosphor bronze reed harp. High keys also require much more precise setup than lower keys.
I bought a pile of these for practice when they were 12 bucks each a few yrs ago. I wouldn't pay 25 for them now though. Much better harps out there for slightly more. Sound wise they are not for gigging but a functional backup or practice harp. I had to tune most of mine.
I have a special 20 and 2 T008k Easttops. The S20 has noticable gaps at the corners which are rough in the mouth and are noticable lighter. They actually feel cheap against the S20. Neither of the Easttops had any problems out of the box. They bend easily for me... and I'm still a beginner of 4 months. I really see no reason why they "won't last" as some people are suggesting. Nor can I see why the reeds will blow out. In a (very experienced) forum discussion recently 90% of people said this was a user problem (not related to Eastops, just harp's in general). In Australia they cost $29 vs $80 for an S20. An S20 is $50 more largely because its made in Germany, not because its got better materials or workmanship, neccessarily. That's a big difference. My one and only issue is that the taste is a little hard to get used to. Sorry for the long post but people can be quite fixed and biased in their ideas. Who knew?!
Juzzie Smith, arguably Australia’s best harmonica player, does a signature harp that has graphics that look very, very similar to this but with his name replacing East Top. Juzzie wouldn’t put his name on them if they were rubbish. I’ve got a couple and, as an outright beginner, find them easy to play and, at A$39 (US$25) from his web store, they are bloody good value.
Like others here, I have a couple that I bought to fill in rarely used keys. They are what I would consider decent. I also picked up an East Top Forerunner 2.0, 12 hole valveless chromatic, and it blows me away! It is not as airtight as one equipped with windsavers, but it also doesn't need to be warmed up and is bendable. This is a perfect practice tool for me as I can pick it p when I only have 2-3 minutes of free time to play. Added bonus, as it takes a bit more air to move the reeds, i feel faster when I play my CX12. East Top is punching above their weight, as they say. Also, speedy on an orange nato is one of the coolest combos available.
I bought a full set of these just to get sharps & flats. They are pretty good to be honest. My go to harps are Suzuki Promasters but these things work just fine & are great for the money.
I see East Top are now selling a 'Free Blues' model which one reviewer calls an update of the 008K. Have you come across one and if so is it an improvement? PS, love your vids, great tips 👍
When you see the price point you think it’s gonna be a toy or not play well or be very leaky. I’m shocked at how it sounded and how great your review is. I just dropped $50 on a golden melody today. I’ll be trying a eastop soon, even after the rattle.
I started with Easttop harmonicas when I started on your school Tomlin. I have the 6 keys you always recommended. I was happy with them. I still have them as a back up. Good video.
I have the same model and so I can tell you that it is mustache safe. I have had it (and an A and a Lucky 13 Super Bass). I have some of all of the major brands and I use them for different things. But the East Top is a great value for the money. All beginners should get these for starts. I have had occasional reed issues out of the box on most of the expensive harmonicas.
I found the Easttop 008 to be one of the worst OOTB harmonicas I've bought, and although I still have and use it, it required too much modification to be playable. The cover plates were (painted/powder coated?) and the severe angle of the covers made it feel too thick while trying to play. Even though it looks like a Marine Band, the 008 is actually the same size as a Hohner MS series. So I swapped a pair of Blue Midnight cover plates...much better. Unfortunately, the 008 was still unusually leaky, so I dismantled the harp to find (waterjet?) marks on the faux wood plastic comb. Flat sanded the comb, gapped the harp and it's now a dececnt, playable harp. So in my case at least, it wasn't a good value. And in the end, even after the modifications, I'd MUCH rather play a Special 20 or Suzuki Bluesmaster.
Absolutely! I have a long bushy beard and lengthy moustache. My old Hohner (which was only a Pocket Pal and sounded horrible anyway) was a real upper-lip hair-ripper. I have quite a lot of Lee Oskars and have used them since about 1997. I had facial hair then, and have even more of it now. In all that time I can only recall 3 or 4 occasions when I had any problem with a Lee Oskar. Plus they’re easy to play and very responsive.
I find no harps good on my stache or beard. Unless I trim it short before gigs. Harp is my 4th instrument. Always have to check set for harp songs and trim or it is painful to play. I play mostly Lee Oskars or Seydels.
I tried a complete set from A to G. They are nice and sound good, BUT , they were all leaky. Compared with Hohner MS 20 or Lee Oscar. I do not recommend them. But Easttop accepted that I returned them (at my own expense though). I don´t think any other harpmanufacturer does that. I bought the Easttop Chromatic Forerunner 12 holes and I am fully satisfied with that.
I don't think the body is steel -- it will not stick to my magnetic harmonica rack. I'd like to know how to fix the rattling... I tend to feel that on the lower notes.
Tomlin, I have a mustache and full beard both much longer then you did in the video you showed and i can report that the East Tops are facial hair safe!!
Ah I can see in the video the paints rubbing off. How long you had it? Definitely like to hear an update. Eg how often you had to open it & tweak, I'd like to know if it's a false economy thing
Does that have nickel in it? I’ve heard that some of Kongsheng’s products have a lot of nickel or nickel-plated metals in their construction which would be bad news for someone like me. (I’m allergic to nickel.)
I have a Brendon Power Lucky 13. It is a modified Eastop, having 13 holes instead of 10 and I really like it. I don't know if it has been worked it being from Brendon Power but if Mr. Power likes it... Oh, can you buy replacement reed plates?
I like this harmonica a lot, having an octave more is such a great feat :) especially when you can play the same licks with the same tuning. I have some difficulties bending down the first and the second draw holes (low C and low G), but I think it's more me than the harmonica!
The best harmonicas on the market for good money. The T008K has great potential for customization. Also other Chinese Kongsheng Soloist, Fat baby, Lucky 13. Everything you need to know. And you can forget about other harmonicas.
Not really. Any steel reedplate harps do not emboss well, which is a requirement for a truly customized harp. The phosphor bronze reeds are also very difficult to profile properly vs brass reeds. There’s a lot more to customization than gapping. What you’re referring to is just setting it up for player preference, not customization. Big difference.
I mean, they're pretty cool. But for the same price you can buy a Kongsheng TinG. And those are damn good harps. Damn good. You should really try it. Really. They're really good.
I do like Easttop harmonicas. Another $25.00 harmonica I wish you would review is the Kongsheng Amazing 20. I have owned both and I think both are very good for $25.00.
Had one of these 008K for a little while. Sounded great initially but quality is below par. In particular, Specifically, I didn't like the silkscreen printing on the top cover which robbed against the upper lip.
I have many Easttops that are "painted" on now. Not etched in like the one I once had. The etched one was alittle rough on the lip, but I haven't encountered that from all the others I have.@@bobodad
Tomlin, I’m trying to find out if the bottom plate is blank, or at least free of all the logo text. Trying to engrave a bit as a gift for a friend. Can you help me? I’ve watched 3 videos on this harmonica but I can’t ever quite catch the bottom plate to see if it’s got enough space for the engraving
I purchased a number of Easttop models, 008K, 008S, 008T(?)...They worked well for a while, a short while, but then it seems like I burned the reeds out in a matter of weeks. I have set them all aside (nothing a little look under the hood won't fix, but I'm not good at that, and lack the patience. I've tried.) They are probably good for a beginner. I saw a young fellow demonstrate his new unboxing of Easttop, and he rocked on it, but due to my experience, I wonder how long the good tone would last. I don't recommend them, but if the company took time, they can be excellent harps, they have the materials to be.
@@formansbasement2311 You came at me like this is personal as you mentioned, "Our", like I poured a Kool-Aid in your Cheerio's. If you are not familiar with the term that "burning" a harmonica reed out means stress and fatigue so that the thing is out of tune and buzzing, why are you asking me about my experience? If it is so personal to you, I can mail these harps to you and you can refund my purchase price. Easttop don't stand up and last for someone who seriously play them on a regular basis. They are okay harmonicas, and could be better. Probably good for a beginner. And the major thing is identifying the models. When I purchased the Blues Player 008T, I thought I hit upon a higher quality product. Feels nice and hefty. After a few weeks of running scales and bends, the thing suddenly started showing signs of fatigue, which frustrated me. I put it aside well over a year ago.
@norfolknwhey4787 News flash a$$hole, I've been playing on a high level since 1972. That's probably longer than you have graced this planet with your unknownledgeable, opinionated a$$. I have some Hohners from that period, still in perfect condition that were assembled with nails that I still play today. I received some less than quality Easttop products. The reeds kept sticking, there was buzzing, and no response on the high end. I'm a woodshedder. I play chromatic, diatonic, tremolo, echo, and a variety of eclectic models. I practice/play hours a day because I love music and harmonica (I also play keyboards, guitar, and kalimba). A couple of months ago, I took a chance and purchased a Easttop Blues Standard (about $60) and the Easttop Lucky 13. Both are remarkably different, better, of higher quality. They have become two of my favorites. News flash! You don't know me or what I've experienced, so don't cast aspersions against me. I've forgotten more about the harmonica than you've ever learned.
@norfolknwhey4787 Although I have been playing a long time, I attempt to play all forms of music (I was classically trained in voice and keyboards). My inspiration is Howard Levy and Buddy Greene. There's a level of perfection that I am trying to attain. I take my cue for practicing from the school of Charles Christopher Parker.
I've got the Forerunner and Forerunner 2. They're okay. A little bit too much reverb for my taste, especially in the lower octave when pressing the slider. I ask myself why these harmonicas are so cheap. To kill the competition? My Special 20 did not cost much more than the East Top Blues Harmonica.
It is good for simplest things. But you have to fix gaps right after buying. That wouldn't help with bends and overblows anyway. I can't advice easttop for beginners. It sounds well but it is still like 2 weeks toy and then you need real music tool like any other well known more expensive ones.
Not true at all. I use them for paid gigs when it’s not the full band and I don’t want to have to guard my harpcase. Any serious player is going to gap their harps no matter the brand. They are not toys.
It is a great harmonica though I can attest it is definitely not mustache safe. Have to trim your whiskers or it'll trim it for you 😂. Still great harp tho
I prefure old-school honey marienbands they are cheep& plentiful my best ones have been sent to me with roten combs rusty Reed plate covers and deadbugs yeck inspite of the horrible condition they have proved beyond a doughty to be the best harps that littel money can buy
I was not impressed, so I wrote HOHNER in mine with fancy letters and now it plays actually quite well. Seriously, they are ok, I have 2, will I buy more? no, my curiosity is already satisfied. Are they the best quality-price? Sure, unbeatable, but at the end of the day I prefer to pay quite a lot more for something a little bit better. I wish I had bought them in rarer keys, for that aim they would be ideal. I don't know why the Chinesse don't make harmonicas in low keys, with me they would make a fortune as the options available are breaking the bank.
I do disagree with you, I bought a whole set of PowerBender harmonicas made by East Top a year ago. Completely unusable, air tightness is zero. Cover plate edges are as sharp as a razor, so don't dare give them to children. I bought a matching set of Kongsheng harps instead, which I'm really happy with.
Not there fault you have bad luck, every company out there sometimes has mishaps with manufacturing. Like the dude said quality control sometimes misses..
Maybe he's just talking about the 008k. I have two and they both are good. Have 7 hohners and a LO and these to me are just as responsive. I have a marine band, three blues harp, and 3 big river
Downside for me is that as far I can find out they are made in China. Only 25 dollars... but is that slave labour products with blood-money? No matter how airtight or whatever....I would never buy one of those. What is your opinion Tomlin?
Cheap rubbish I tried a few eastflops awhile ago just to see Just rubbish in every way If you don’t want to spend much money get a honher special 20 For a good quality instrument, have some self pride and treat yourself to a good one that has been tried and tested for decades No doubt the oriental company didn’t pay its 400 plus staff well
Don't waste you money ppl. This thing is garbage - as everything other chinese harps this money range. Mr. Leckie just makes money you know. Reeds produced terrible, gaps looks random, some reeds may be even twisted - you will NEVER fix this.
Just stop it. You clearly have a bias against them. I’ve worked on dozens of 008ks for customers and they are fine harps. They suffer from the same QC issues as every major harp maker. The only consistent issue with them is some have sharp edges on the corner of the reedplate groove, which is easily remedied.
I used to do a lot of photography.... A lot of my friends used to talk all the time about gear, bought endlessly new cameras, lenses. I stick to one camera one lenses (i shoot film). I read all the books i could on painting, arts, photography, poetry .... We used to go out. I shoot 10 photos max a day (film cost money). They shoot thousands..... Guess whose photos were better?.... its the indian, not the arrow.
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Eastops have been my go-to harp for 6+ years. Few people give them the recognition they deserve. Responsive. Bendable. Rich tone.
For not much money the Easttop harmonicas are really fine!
I think Easttop is a great compaany. I have several high end Hohner chromatics and diatonics. I bought an Easttop 12 hole chromatic brand new for 27 dollars as I wanted an inexpensive chromatic to carry with me in a coat pocket etc. Well, I couldn't believe the gorgeous tone and construction quality of this instrument. It is, in my opinion a pro level instrument. The tone is very nice and it lends itself to ballads, standards and jazz. I still cannot believe that 27 dollars got me this great sounding chromatic. It looks super nice too. Kudos to Easttop for building good harmonicas offered at affordable prices!
My wife actually just recently bought me an East Top Chromatic, and I love it.
About a year ago I bought a set of Easttop 008K harps -- 12 keys from G to F# in a nice zippered case for $127 online. That's less than $10 per harp if you factor in the cost of the case. This purchase was to replace/augment the motley crew of old, worn, mismatched harps I kept by my desk for quick practice purposes. The Easttop harps have GREATLY exceeded my admittedly low expectations. They are way better than some harps that cost four times as much. Granted, you won't find any of them in my gig case (Crossovers and MB Deluxes there) but still a lot of bang for the buck.
My favorite harmonica. I would readily endorse them.
Yeah I'm really glad you added the bit about the 2 hole draw. I had similar experience with harps like this, that's the only reason why I warn beginners not to buy as their main harp, for serious practice etc. I couldn't get on with the metallic taste & the paint job. Which looks amazing but just not for me, as little things like that distract me. I'd like to hear you make an update video on it after 3 month use and how you think it's lasted. 👍
Virtually every make/model modern harp need some minor adjusting before it plays optimally. With the exception of the Crossover, every Hohner needs adjusting. Every Seydel, every Suzuki, all of them. They are mass-produced and to keep costs affordable they do not place much attention on reed offset and profiling, which is easily remedied at home.
Thinking of getting one of these to keep in the car for playing at the beach etc. for under $30 you can’t go wrong and don’t have to worry about ruining your expensive harps
Agreed. Great harp for the money. Downside: sharp edges. Here’s a great tweak: open up the top cover plate and tighten the reed plate screws. The factory doesn’t tighten them enough. You now have a fantastic sounding instrument.
Cool man. I'm going to do that. Mine is really sluggish, and not enjoyable to play. Thanks
i believe you, and thank you for the information sir.@@norfolknwhey4787
@@gregmoodispaugh5396DO NOT do that. They only need to be finger tight. Any tighter and it warps the plates. I repeat, DO NOT tighten them.
Great advice...but what should I believe is true?
I started playing harmonica a few months ago. A buddy of mine acquired a new set of 7 Hohner harmonicas that he gifted me, and I just started playing them. I have a pretty good sense of pitch, and I immediately found a great deal of joy playing along with songs. I've been an amateur guitarist for years, but find I'm having a much more enjoyable time playing harmonica. To get to the point, I bought an Easttop 008k C harmonica on Amazon, and the sound is amazing. Really enjoying this harp!! I really want to get the full set of 12, I'm very into it. Really love your videos, thanks so much!
I’m the same. I was an amateur guitar player until I had a neck injury and then picked up the harmonica and I love it so much! I’ve got 7 keys now, and I plan to get very proficient. It’s funny in grade school music class, I loved the recorder. Here I am now at 61 and playing another holed instrument and love it too! What I like about it is the ability to play along to any song but make up my own playing that actually sounds good with the song! Also, the emotional expressiveness of it is amazing. I would love to get back to guitar but honestly, I prefer to play the harmonica. I love that I can take it anywhere too.
I picked up a couple because they are less expensive and I wanted a couple of keys I don’t use often. Now I use those keys more often. I like this harp.
Great video, Tomlin! Thanks for the great advice. IMA buy one in B flat ... Love youre sense of humor, to boot 😂
Thanks, Tomlin, great gift idea for the kids who have shown an interest.
I have yet to find a diatonic that didn't benefit from a Micropore seal job and some minor reed slot dressing...including the East Top. Having said that, this is one of the finest harps you can get, especially at this price. It rivals my Special 20's, Oskars, Suzuki's and my Seydels. These harps might change the pricing structure of the 10 hole diatonic market. Lets all hope so.
I would offer only one improvement on the East Top. The mouthpiece is too blunt and flat, the cover slope is to great. You guys need to copy the angle of the Special 20 cover plate at the mouthpiece.
Great video Tomlin, apart from when you look 'off camera' which is quite disconcerting...BTW thanks for starting me on my harmonica journey!
Yeah I look weird on “Camera B”
I’ve bought quite a few Easttop harps. I have had more than one problem with the 2 draw. Wish they would fix that. Otherwise very good quality.
Can you please show us how to tweak 2 hole ? Coz same problem happened with me . Take care .
Nice production ...learned what you learned thank you for your time sending you best wishes on your journey........,
I tried to play my old A key harmonica and the 7 blow was destroyed. Tried to salvage it and it got deeper and deeper.
I couldn't justify mustering $50+ for a new one right now. The east top cost me $27.89.
Thanks for the recommendation! I'll surely buy more expensive harps in the future, but this fits the bill at the moment!
I am about to try and get one as my first harmonica. Could you please give me a little update on how well this lasted you and if you honestly think it would be a good first harmonica? I just don't have much to spend at the time so after doing some research I think this might be my choice. I also know nothing about how to modify it in any way if it needed it so I'd have to go on TH-cam and check that out if it needed anything done to it and I really like that you can easily take this apart just in case I needed to, however though did you need to modify yours in any way to get it playing right?
@@thugnasty1021 It plays great. It sounds wonderful. This is an amazing first harmonica. It's a great harmonica in general. I really enjoy it.
It's solid. It bends notes well. It's a durable harmonica and easy to service. I didn't have to modify anything.
@@Cree_Money Thank you so much for a reply!! I think you might have officially convinced me that this needs to be my first.
Surprised to be so far ahead of you. Bought an EastTop over 3 years ago as my first "real" harmonica. It's good.
Best review for answering all questions about t008k.
I got a F chromatic about a year ago a I did break a couple of reads bending notes I’ve tried fixing them but I still have a couple that are a little iffy a lot of the time. Now I’ve had lots of harmonica throughout the last 50 years I still have a bunch of Horner’s and a bunch of others that I don’t play very often because the wooden combs break a lot and even worse like the marine ban tere up my mouth a few minutes playing and it takes almost a week to heal up so I can play again the special 20 isn’t to bad but the tuning is often off and most are hard to blow. Since getting the East Top’s harmonica’s I’ve fell in love with them the front is smooth and comfortable and I can play for hours with no problems since I broke my favorite F I haven’t bought a replacement yet I keep trying to repair it but I also have one in A & G and a 12 hole in C which covers 4 hole octaves from B2 to B6 and since it a chromatic it has all of the sharps and Flats so I’m trying not to bend to many notes I use to have one of the gold Horner model but it was so temperamental if the temperature changed a couple of degrees or the humidity changed just a little bit it would literally quit working I had to send it back a couple of times for repair but like I said it wouldn’t work around 80% of the time and it cost over $700 to buy where the East Top I’ve gotten still work way better than anything I’ve gotten from Horner and are mor comfortable to play. Now I’ve had trouble with my blood sugar and tried to explain it to my doctor who won’t listen when my blood sugar is below 180 I can’t play anything so I did some live videos on Facebook to show him I did a 1.5 hour of playing and messed up saving it so I did another 1.5 hours of playing different stuff till my sugar dropped and I’ve done several of these and like I said playing continuously for 3 to sometimes 8 hours in a day and my mouth doesn’t hurt that’s comfort. I just found these smaller harmonicas an Amazon and am going to get some of them on payday which I’m looking forward to. Check out what they sound like I posted a review on Amazon and on Facebook under Glen Parker I did several live videos with the F Chromatic from East Top check it out because they’re worth every penny and there under $70 and the small one for $25 I’ve paid $50 to $90 for similar other brands that were hard to play and usually don’t work more than a couple of weeks if you bend notes or play them very much. Some of the best harps I’ve gotten worked really good seem to go broke after a couple of years because they keep working I guess so you just keep using them for years and then you can’t get new ones anymore I hope East Top doesn’t do that but I’m going to get a bunch more of them just in case 👍👍👍👍
It's amazing how many people who have never played one of these automatically assume they are gonna be rubbish, I prefer mine to the special 20.
They are hit or miss. I just bought an east top Eb and it’s pretty lame. And terrible for ove blows, which I care about.
@@ChromaticHarpnot if you know how to setup the harp up for overblows. Phosphor bronze reeds require additional steps to make them viable for OB/OD’s. Same as any Suzuki, Kongsheng, etc. the 008k is as good as any other phosphor bronze reed harp. High keys also require much more precise setup than lower keys.
@norfolknwhey4787 They have another one called the pro20 I'm thinking of getting, it's a bit more money than this but I think it's better built.
I have Hohners, Suzukis and Seydels and love them. I also have two Easttops and love them too. I use them the most actually. They work!
I bought a pile of these for practice when they were 12 bucks each a few yrs ago. I wouldn't pay 25 for them now though. Much better harps out there for slightly more. Sound wise they are not for gigging but a functional backup or practice harp. I had to tune most of mine.
I have a special 20 and 2 T008k Easttops. The S20 has noticable gaps at the corners which are rough in the mouth and are noticable lighter. They actually feel cheap against the S20. Neither of the Easttops had any problems out of the box. They bend easily for me... and I'm still a beginner of 4 months. I really see no reason why they "won't last" as some people are suggesting. Nor can I see why the reeds will blow out. In a (very experienced) forum discussion recently 90% of people said this was a user problem (not related to Eastops, just harp's in general). In Australia they cost $29 vs $80 for an S20. An S20 is $50 more largely because its made in Germany, not because its got better materials or workmanship, neccessarily. That's a big difference. My one and only issue is that the taste is a little hard to get used to. Sorry for the long post but people can be quite fixed and biased in their ideas.
Who knew?!
I bought a set of these in different keys about 4 years ago. They were $81 for 7 of them. Haven’t been disappointed yet..
Great video, and just what I needed to convince me to try one of these harps. I literally LOLd when you stuck that harp in your mouth! :-)
Juzzie Smith, arguably Australia’s best harmonica player, does a signature harp that has graphics that look very, very similar to this but with his name replacing East Top. Juzzie wouldn’t put his name on them if they were rubbish. I’ve got a couple and, as an outright beginner, find them easy to play and, at A$39 (US$25) from his web store, they are bloody good value.
Like others here, I have a couple that I bought to fill in rarely used keys. They are what I would consider decent. I also picked up an East Top Forerunner 2.0, 12 hole valveless chromatic, and it blows me away! It is not as airtight as one equipped with windsavers, but it also doesn't need to be warmed up and is bendable. This is a perfect practice tool for me as I can pick it p when I only have 2-3 minutes of free time to play. Added bonus, as it takes a bit more air to move the reeds, i feel faster when I play my CX12. East Top is punching above their weight, as they say. Also, speedy on an orange nato is one of the coolest combos available.
Wonderful instrument. Congratulations on your videos, which promote the harmonica.
Aw thank you :-)
I bought a full set of these just to get sharps & flats. They are pretty good to be honest. My go to harps are Suzuki Promasters but these things work just fine & are great for the money.
They also come with a nice zipper case to keep clean. Better value and easier to play than Lee Oscar. I have both 😊
I got 2 a paddy A and G happy with both
I see East Top are now selling a 'Free Blues' model which one reviewer calls an update of the 008K. Have you come across one and if so is it an improvement? PS, love your vids, great tips 👍
I like the Kongshen Amazing 20. Almost a Sp 20.
Yes, I like these better than the Easttop.
When you see the price point you think it’s gonna be a toy or not play well or be very leaky. I’m shocked at how it sounded and how great your review is.
I just dropped $50 on a golden melody today. I’ll be trying a eastop soon, even after the rattle.
Ooh, you seem to be implying at 1:30 that the East Top 008k is better than a Lee Oskar. Is that right?
I could potentially be implying that ;-)
Love mine.. great price 😅 sometimes I prefer it before my special 20. Depending on what I'm playing.
Congrats, i've got 4 of them, good instruments, greetings from Mallorca👍🏼😎
I recently got the 10 hole diatonic in C and have had no problems. A good harp.
I started with Easttop harmonicas when I started on your school Tomlin. I have the 6 keys you always recommended. I was happy with them. I still have them as a back up. Good video.
Hi Tomlin! Great advices! Where did you bought yours (do they sell to Portugal?). Thanks.
Unfortunately I bought from Amazon :-(
I have the same model and so I can tell you that it is mustache safe. I have had it (and an A and a Lucky 13 Super Bass). I have some of all of the major brands and I use them for different things. But the East Top is a great value for the money. All beginners should get these for starts. I have had occasional reed issues out of the box on most of the expensive harmonicas.
I just started learning to play having a bit of a time playing single notes but I’m being consistent with it cause I want to learn to play
I found the Easttop 008 to be one of the worst OOTB harmonicas I've bought, and although I still have and use it, it required too much modification to be playable. The cover plates were (painted/powder coated?) and the severe angle of the covers made it feel too thick while trying to play. Even though it looks like a Marine Band, the 008 is actually the same size as a Hohner MS series. So I swapped a pair of Blue Midnight cover plates...much better. Unfortunately, the 008 was still unusually leaky, so I dismantled the harp to find (waterjet?) marks on the faux wood plastic comb. Flat sanded the comb, gapped the harp and it's now a dececnt, playable harp. So in my case at least, it wasn't a good value. And in the end, even after the modifications, I'd MUCH rather play a Special 20 or Suzuki Bluesmaster.
Funny you mention the ‘stache factor. ‘Stache factor was a big reason I lean more towards Lee Oskars vs Hohners
Absolutely! I have a long bushy beard and lengthy moustache. My old Hohner (which was only a Pocket Pal and sounded horrible anyway) was a real upper-lip hair-ripper. I have quite a lot of Lee Oskars and have used them since about 1997. I had facial hair then, and have even more of it now. In all that time I can only recall 3 or 4 occasions when I had any problem with a Lee Oskar. Plus they’re easy to play and very responsive.
I find no harps good on my stache or beard. Unless I trim it short before gigs. Harp is my 4th instrument. Always have to check set for harp songs and trim or it is painful to play. I play mostly Lee Oskars or Seydels.
I find it easier to bend on other harmonicas I own. Other than that, I love the East Top set I own and play them often.
I tried a complete set from A to G. They are nice and sound good, BUT , they were all leaky. Compared with Hohner MS 20 or Lee Oscar. I do not recommend them. But Easttop accepted that I returned them (at my own expense though). I don´t think any other harpmanufacturer does that. I bought the Easttop Chromatic Forerunner 12 holes and I am fully satisfied with that.
I have a D and and F. The D is unplayable. The F is very nice. Go figure. I say you are correct in that their quality control is not up there yet.
I don't think the body is steel -- it will not stick to my magnetic harmonica rack. I'd like to know how to fix the rattling... I tend to feel that on the lower notes.
Stop playing so hard and use your diaphragm to send and draw air. The reeds rattle because they’re slapping the bottom coverplate.
Tomlin, I have a mustache and full beard both much longer then you did in the video you showed and i can report that the East Tops are facial hair safe!!
Ah I can see in the video the paints rubbing off. How long you had it? Definitely like to hear an update. Eg how often you had to open it & tweak, I'd like to know if it's a false economy thing
what was wrong with the two draw? ive never heard of "rattling"
I play the Eastop brand but curious to try another brand to see the difference any thoughts 🤔
I think the T008k is a great starter but also consider the Konsheng Amazing 20 which is SP20 style and very decent for the price.
I’ll check it out ;-)
Does that have nickel in it? I’ve heard that some of Kongsheng’s products have a lot of nickel or nickel-plated metals in their construction which would be bad news for someone like me. (I’m allergic to nickel.)
How does it compare to the Hohner special 20? I’m considering getting a set.
I will stay with the crossover nothing else will beat it
Can you shoot a "tweaking" video, if not already done? Many thanks for all you do!! T
I have the C and G , I think they're nice
Hi Tomlin, do you know if they do a 'B Flat' version, all i can find is a straight 'B' it seems odd to not do a Bb?
Good review, fair play to ya!
The blue set has a b flat , the black set a b( or the other way round)
@@tommccree8613 , Cheers mate, I'll look I to it!
What is that at [1:29]...?
It's a metronome :-)
I have a Brendon Power Lucky 13. It is a modified Eastop, having 13 holes instead of 10 and I really like it. I don't know if it has been worked it being from Brendon Power but if Mr. Power likes it... Oh, can you buy replacement reed plates?
I like this harmonica a lot, having an octave more is such a great feat :) especially when you can play the same licks with the same tuning. I have some difficulties bending down the first and the second draw holes (low C and low G), but I think it's more me than the harmonica!
@@pietroa6375My Lucky 13 is an F but my thought is it is just a matter of practice to get those to bend
What is Richter tuning?
I've had a ridiculous time finding these in different keys ... Most retailers only list one key... Usually 'C'
The best harmonicas on the market for good money.
The T008K has great potential for customization. Also other Chinese Kongsheng Soloist, Fat baby, Lucky 13. Everything you need to know. And you can forget about other harmonicas.
Not really. Any steel reedplate harps do not emboss well, which is a requirement for a truly customized harp. The phosphor bronze reeds are also very difficult to profile properly vs brass reeds. There’s a lot more to customization than gapping. What you’re referring to is just setting it up for player preference, not customization. Big difference.
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Does the Hohner tool kit work on the EastTop...?
I've never used the Hohner toolkit but I imagine it would.
Hi
Do Easttop have a Low D blues harp.
I find other low d harmonicas have a slow response for fast tunes reels and jigs.
Thanks
I mean, they're pretty cool. But for the same price you can buy a Kongsheng TinG. And those are damn good harps. Damn good. You should really try it. Really. They're really good.
Whats the best key for blues?
Nice quality work with this video Tomlin. Regards
I do like Easttop harmonicas. Another $25.00 harmonica I wish you would review is the Kongsheng Amazing 20.
I have owned both and I think both are very good for $25.00.
I have the Kongsheng and it's amazing. I really wish I could find reviews on it too.
Had one of these 008K for a little while. Sounded great initially but quality is below par. In particular, Specifically, I didn't like the silkscreen printing on the top cover which robbed against the upper lip.
I had that problem with one of my Eastops. The printing. But they aren't all like that. Can't explain it. Most are imbosed differently.
@@MrSpanky2001 most other brands are embossed. Some are printed but East Top seems to be printed with texture.
I have many Easttops that are "painted" on now. Not etched in like the one I once had. The etched one was alittle rough on the lip, but I haven't encountered that from all the others I have.@@bobodad
Tomlin, I’m trying to find out if the bottom plate is blank, or at least free of all the logo text. Trying to engrave a bit as a gift for a friend. Can you help me? I’ve watched 3 videos on this harmonica but I can’t ever quite catch the bottom plate to see if it’s got enough space for the engraving
Probably too late now, but yes, it's completely blank on the bottom.
I also love eastop
Can you play B flat by overblow in middle octave by this harmonica? Is it capable to do?
I purchased a number of Easttop models, 008K, 008S, 008T(?)...They worked well for a while, a short while, but then it seems like I burned the reeds out in a matter of weeks. I have set them all aside (nothing a little look under the hood won't fix, but I'm not good at that, and lack the patience. I've tried.)
They are probably good for a beginner.
I saw a young fellow demonstrate his new unboxing of Easttop, and he rocked on it, but due to my experience, I wonder how long the good tone would last.
I don't recommend them, but if the company took time, they can be excellent harps, they have the materials to be.
How long have you been playing? And what do you mean about burning our reeds exactly?
@@formansbasement2311 You came at me like this is personal as you mentioned, "Our", like I poured a Kool-Aid in your Cheerio's.
If you are not familiar with the term that "burning" a harmonica reed out means stress and fatigue so that the thing is out of tune and buzzing, why are you asking me about my experience?
If it is so personal to you, I can mail these harps to you and you can refund my purchase price.
Easttop don't stand up and last for someone who seriously play them on a regular basis.
They are okay harmonicas, and could be better. Probably good for a beginner. And the major thing is identifying the models. When I purchased the Blues Player 008T, I thought I hit upon a higher quality product. Feels nice and hefty. After a few weeks of running scales and bends, the thing suddenly started showing signs of fatigue, which frustrated me. I put it aside well over a year ago.
If you burned out the reeds that quickly, newsflash: YOU are the beginner.
@norfolknwhey4787 News flash a$$hole, I've been playing on a high level since 1972. That's probably longer than you have graced this planet with your unknownledgeable, opinionated a$$. I have some Hohners from that period, still in perfect condition that were assembled with nails that I still play today.
I received some less than quality Easttop products. The reeds kept sticking, there was buzzing, and no response on the high end. I'm a woodshedder. I play chromatic, diatonic, tremolo, echo, and a variety of eclectic models. I practice/play hours a day because I love music and harmonica (I also play keyboards, guitar, and kalimba).
A couple of months ago, I took a chance and purchased a Easttop Blues Standard (about $60) and the Easttop Lucky 13. Both are remarkably different, better, of higher quality. They have become two of my favorites.
News flash! You don't know me or what I've experienced, so don't cast aspersions against me. I've forgotten more about the harmonica than you've ever learned.
@norfolknwhey4787 Although I have been playing a long time, I attempt to play all forms of music (I was classically trained in voice and keyboards).
My inspiration is Howard Levy and Buddy Greene. There's a level of perfection that I am trying to attain.
I take my cue for practicing from the school of Charles Christopher Parker.
i have 8 of these . i bought mine when they sold for aboughht 10.00 us dollars each .
I've got the Forerunner and Forerunner 2. They're okay. A little bit too much reverb for my taste, especially in the lower octave when pressing the slider. I ask myself why these harmonicas are so cheap. To kill the competition? My Special 20 did not cost much more than the East Top Blues Harmonica.
I don't remember that haircut from back in 2006! 🤣
What would you be pointing to at 5.55?
I got one recently, and itI was not good. I'll stick with my Seydels, and Hohners.
It is good for simplest things. But you have to fix gaps right after buying. That wouldn't help with bends and overblows anyway. I can't advice easttop for beginners. It sounds well but it is still like 2 weeks toy and then you need real music tool like any other well known more expensive ones.
Not true at all. I use them for paid gigs when it’s not the full band and I don’t want to have to guard my harpcase. Any serious player is going to gap their harps no matter the brand. They are not toys.
When looking around I noticed that they also do really cheap chromatics and they are reedless.
Hardly reedless. They wouldn’t make a sound. They’re valveless.
It is a great harmonica though I can attest it is definitely not mustache safe. Have to trim your whiskers or it'll trim it for you 😂. Still great harp tho
i only play the Crossover
2006-2023 same haircut and same shirt!
I bought 3 of these for 12.99 apiece while back free shipping.....one went bad
I've just bought a set of 7 of these or £46.50. That's $60!
The shocking reality of them is that they're pretty good? I guess you gotta get them clicks. Worked on me.
Does anyone know that East Top is a Chinese harp manufacturer? :D
I prefure old-school honey marienbands they are cheep& plentiful my best ones have been sent to me with roten combs rusty Reed plate covers and deadbugs yeck inspite of the horrible condition they have proved beyond a doughty to be the best harps that littel money can buy
I was not impressed, so I wrote HOHNER in mine with fancy letters and now it plays actually quite well.
Seriously, they are ok, I have 2, will I buy more? no, my curiosity is already satisfied. Are they the best quality-price? Sure, unbeatable, but at the end of the day I prefer to pay quite a lot more for something a little bit better. I wish I had bought them in rarer keys, for that aim they would be ideal. I don't know why the Chinesse don't make harmonicas in low keys, with me they would make a fortune as the options available are breaking the bank.
FYI. It's not mustache proof! Ouch!!
I do disagree with you, I bought a whole set of PowerBender harmonicas made by East Top a year ago. Completely unusable, air tightness is zero. Cover plate edges are as sharp as a razor, so don't dare give them to children. I bought a matching set of Kongsheng harps instead, which I'm really happy with.
Not there fault you have bad luck, every company out there sometimes has mishaps with manufacturing. Like the dude said quality control sometimes misses..
Couldn’t agree with you more. Kongsheng is a great harp.
Sounds like you got a counterfeit from Amazon! Lol
Maybe he's just talking about the 008k. I have two and they both are good. Have 7 hohners and a LO and these to me are just as responsive. I have a marine band, three blues harp, and 3 big river
Powerbend are not 008k
Downside for me is that as far I can find out they are made in China. Only 25 dollars... but is that slave labour products with blood-money? No matter how airtight or whatever....I would never buy one of those. What is your opinion Tomlin?
Guaranteed you own countless items in your home that are made under the same Chinese conditions. Just stop.
Cheap rubbish
I tried a few eastflops awhile ago just to see
Just rubbish in every way
If you don’t want to spend much money get a honher special 20
For a good quality instrument, have some self pride and treat yourself to a good one that has been tried and tested for decades
No doubt the oriental company didn’t pay its 400 plus staff well
Don't waste you money ppl. This thing is garbage - as everything other chinese harps this money range. Mr. Leckie just makes money you know. Reeds produced terrible, gaps looks random, some reeds may be even twisted - you will NEVER fix this.
Just stop it. You clearly have a bias against them. I’ve worked on dozens of 008ks for customers and they are fine harps. They suffer from the same QC issues as every major harp maker. The only consistent issue with them is some have sharp edges on the corner of the reedplate groove, which is easily remedied.
@@norfolknwhey4787rubbish
Your comment is rubbish as are these harps
There are many testimonies to this fact
I used to do a lot of photography.... A lot of my friends used to talk all the time about gear, bought endlessly new cameras, lenses. I stick to one camera one lenses (i shoot film). I read all the books i could on painting, arts, photography, poetry .... We used to go out. I shoot 10 photos max a day (film cost money). They shoot thousands..... Guess whose photos were better?.... its the indian, not the arrow.