One of the most radically different feeling harps are the Hohner Golden Melody and the Seydel 1847, but those are the 2 harps in my setup. I like that they are so different in their feel. The GM’s are really good for gentler playing. The Seydels have a bigger low end and are great for harder playing. . .but, not too hard - on any harp, unless ya wanna keep replacing reed plates.
Yes he is legendary I agree. The first time I saw him playing in one of his videos I couldn’t believe my ears. I had no idea a harmonica could be played like that. Will is like the Jimi Hendrix of the harp. Totally unbelievable.
Great review! From what I hear - also the better models produce a ringy sound when you stop playing, as the reeds continue to vibrate a bit, which you can't hear on the cheap models. Also - it sounds a bit incomplete if you don't demo Marine Band and one of the Lee Oskar harmonicas - after all he's the other major seller, besides Hohner and Seydel nowadays. I don't have experience with his products, but met him few years ago - very nice guy.
His comments on being at a certain level of proficiency to feel/understand the benefits of customized harps are spot on. My very good buddy is a top shelf customizer (does Rod Piazza's, Harman rip, Billy Watson, Johnny Mastro, Tom Richmond,etc), so I get all my customized harps very cheap and can afford to experiment with any harp I want. I even have a customized Low F Thunderbird with a Zajak comb. I don't care what comb the harp has, I'll play it if it's in tune. Once you get a customized harp, it'll last longer, play better, and stay in tune longer BUT once you're at that level to understand it. A tuned harp drawing 3-7, 4-8, 5-9, or 6-10 octaves will flutter with precision. And that makes me wanna play. Happy Harpin!
Thanks Will for this video; its very informative. This year I switch from Hohner to Seydel, the main reason was because Hohner reeds tend to break even though playing soft and taking care of them. So in the long run it can become a money issue is you are learning to play harmonica seriously. When started to play Seydel it to me a while to getting use too them. Now I prefer Seydel over Hohner; I feel that the tone is better, no raspy sounds, clearer notes (sound more defined). And like you said they don’t get out of tune. And the reeds don’t break. I feel with Seydel ratio price vs quality of the instrument is fair; not the same with Hohnner. Once again thank you for this video a liked it a lot!!
Do all Seydel harps have steel reedsI’ve a number of Hohner Marine Band Deluxe, Crossovers and Lee Oscars. I’ve one Seydel steel…. So far…, I don’t like it much. May just take getting used to.
I had the Suzuki harp, identical to the one you demo’d. It went out of tune VERY quickly, despite of being well cared for and not stressed. I primarily play Neil Young, etc. ,not doing much in the way of overblows. While I liked its tone, to fall out of tune after only a few plays was a total waste of money. Very disappointed.
I have played hohner harps for years and never had the reeds break.I think it's a matter of personal preference,depends on what sound you like best and go for it.
The best harmonica for blues, is the brand/model that you can carry with you at all times, and one that you’ll be compelled to practice on the days you don’t really feel like it. For me, it’s these: Cheap: Fender deluxe (w/reed gapping) Easttop 008k Kongsheng amazing 20 Better: Special 20, LO, blues steel Best: Rocket, Seydel 1847(favorite), Crossover After many attempts at finding the perfect harp, I’ve realized… The secret isn’t the harmonica, it’s the person holding it! Also, learning to adjust reed gaps and flattening the reed plate is huge. With a little bit of know how, anyone can make a cheap Easttop play like a much more expensive Hohner.
I realize there are other harps you couldn't get to but was surprised no Marine Band. Anyway, one probably not too many people know about are Yonbergs, made in France. They are totally unique in design, look and sound great though I have had some out of the box that weren't as responsive as I like. I'd still like to try your Wilde tuned harps. And maybe Brendon Power's tunings.
I've just started playing an 1847 classic after playing Hohner harps exclusively for the past 30 years. I love both but I'm slightly preferring the Seydel now :)
Thank you for this video. It says a lot about an endorsed artist and the company they endorse when they acknowledge that others may also make a good product - thanks for being genuine!
I remember getting my first Special 20 and Marine Band after playing and learning on the $8.00 Fender harp I got with Musician’s Friend rewards. I love that with harmonica playing your technique and musicality really shine over your equipment to a huge degree.
I finally got a Lee Oskar and my playing is instantly better than on my Hohners or Suzukis, which inspires me to try for the same sound from them. Really impressed with the Fender Blues Deluxe. For a third the price, they seem like a pretty great way for a beginner to collect all keys. Most at that price are only in C.
Will: As a total novice to harmonica, but someone who owns both Seydel (1847 & Lightning) and Hohner Rocket Amps, I can tell you that the Rocket Amp is much easier for me to bend notes on than the Seydel. The Seydels make very clear, precise notes, as does the Rocket Amp, but those steel reeds are really hard to bend when you are just learning. When I got the Rocket Amp, I was able to bend notes within five minutes of taking them out of the box. Which do I prefer? Both! And one day I want to get some of your Wilde Tuned Seydels when I get better at playing. Great video! Cheers.
Great video, as usual, Will! You could wrap a piece of paper over a comb & make it sound original! Always looking forward to the next video! Hope you & your family have a blessed time over the holiday season! 🥂
I play a range of hohners. Special 20's, blues harps, and marine bands. Got every key with some of the flats. I like hohners. They sound good and are readily available in the US music stores. The point is you need all of them to be effective as a harmonica player. Not just a "g" or "c"... Especially when playing cross harp style
What do you think about the Big River Harps? It seems to me Hohner have been changing the alloy or temper of their reeds on Big River Harps and Marine Bands and now instead of them tending to go flat in time, they go sharp. Have you noticed the same? Maybe in the U.S they are made there under licence rather than Germany in Europe?
What is amazing how those old time blues guys got along without $150.00 harps in every key and five grand Senheiser mikes. Maybe the velvet lined titanium cases did the trick. or the roadies who did all the heavy toting.
I have C keys for Hohner Marine Band, Special 20, Blues Harp, Golden Melody, Crossover, and East Top. My favored harps though are Lee Oskars, and I have a range of keys for them.
I have about 10 harmonica's. From Special 20's , through Marine Bands , Golden Melodies to Seydel Sessions. I just love harmonica and listening to great players. Lots of styles Jazz/Funk/Classical/Traditional/Blues/Country etc,etc. Your some player Will, that's for sure. So my harp journey is on going , if I can learn from the greats and you guy's & girl's that are doing it today, then I'll be happy to keep "Harpin" around. Thanks Will 🙏 👏👏🏴😁👍
For my playing style, (a lot of first position and at a 45 degree angle), the Kongsheng Mars1 and Mars2 are my choice. ...round holes that sit deeper into your mouth, so smooth your hands roll across it. My top notes don't sound so shrill... The Mars1 plastic comb gives your the sense of playing a guitar with nylon strings, while the Mars2 gives you a nice brass peal with its chambered aluminum comb. To me, breath control is important and these allow me the most. Most ship requiring no modifications, but of course knowing how to easily gap a 3, or 2, or lowering a blow 3, gives me an amazing airtight instrument that's a joy to play.
Thanks, quite helpful. Always been a Hohner player and when I decided to give Seydel a try, I have made the mistake apparently of going with the Session Steel, which was not responsive enough, even on a D harp.
Generally, though not always, I find that the plastic comb is kinder on the mouth. As for price, the more you pay doesnt necessarily give you much more quality. I started over 50 years ago on a Marine Band but have been through the full gamut since. The differences for me are minor, although the Hohner Blues Harp is my least favourite. PS. In spite of my many years playing, I'm nowhere near as good as you are, Will.
I think the real problem is you cannot test it in store to see which one is for you. When you order product, you cannot return it easily, even if it has malfunction. I think tonation really matters in terms of overblows. As overdraws are quite easy to learn. I'm thinking as guitarist about low F just because even for tinwhistles like Bb, low sounds better and full to me than D. However, probably low tonation will be difficult to do overblow on harmonica? Marine bands low F are much more expensive than standard C. But I've also heard that Marine ones are easier to do overblows due to wood than plastic. Maybe you could recommend manufacturer basing on low F wood and having in mind the time you started to learn overblows? Btw. great video tutorial on that but I ended with squeaky sound on my suzuki bluesmaster A 😅 In the end I consider non diatonic ones...
I've got a bunch of Seydel session standards. I want to overblow on the 6th and 7th holes. Every time I try (blowing while doing the bend-draw mouth shape) the sound just cuts out and the harp squeaks (same goes for doing the same on one of my Lee Oskar harps). Is the Seydel Session standard set up for overblows out the box? What am I doing wrong? If it's my harp's fault, what's the cheapest non-custom harp on which to learn OBs? Is their a better cue for overblows than "draw bend while blowing"?
Thanks Will, never played a Seydel harp before, but if I buy another harp, I might try one. Anyway, I think you would make a plastic party favor harp sound good. Like you said, some harps might be set up better than others, but in the end, it's the guy or gal playing it that really makes the difference.
I've been playing the harmonica since l was 7yo (now 70yo.) and l wholeheartedly agree with you 100%. I'm one of your 'many subscribers' and l greatly admire your harmonica playing. I think you're fantastic. I love your style of playing and listening to your channel l have learnt so much from you, which has made me a much better player, thank you. Watching from Australia. 😊👍👍
The first time I recognized you, was in that incredible "Free Bird Solo" video and I thought, you were an american. But then, I heared you talking and I was surprised, that you are an english guy :) I like that so much! Keep up the good work mate :)
As a noob player I can say that not being able to play on $50 harmonicas is much more pleasant than on $3! I have anniversary marine band C and rocket low F, can make basic chords, clean notes, a couple leaks and some bends, and on my babies these stuff still sound cool even it’s not something advance, so it motivates to keep training
Yes I think the idea of a cheap instrument for beginners is wrong because a bad instrument of any sort is discouraging. If you can get a good sound you want to play it.
I was laughing about the beginners buying a Hohner blues harp because it has “blues” in the name comment lol! I’m one of the guilty ones sad to say. I couldn’t play Mary had a little lamb but thought the blues harp purchase would automatically make me sound like Big Mama! 🤣. Too funny! I about died when Will made that comment because that was exactly me. Oh well! What did I know? Haha!!
I guess what you are playing is what guitar players call rifs. To me it is just back ground noise. I play an entirely diifernet harp. I learned to play the melody from sheet music or old music books like church hymnals. Then after I've mastered the melody by playing by the notes, rests and other symbols on the written sheet music I add the harmony in the back ground. This is a much harder way I'm sure, but I learned how to read music in my childhood and in the high school band, so this is what I know. I have about one hundred songs memorized, mostly church hymns, some rock and roll, country, folk, folk rock, tradition and Christmas carols. But I learned them all the hard way. I did play in my state's harmonica contest and came in second twice. That just means I was the first loser.
I played on an old standby for a bit then bought a special 20 that became my favorite to play. Is there anything that plays or feels like a special 20?
I'd really like to learn how to tune my harps. Especially to make them more airtight. I have a Hohner Blues Harp that is so leaky, I hate to play it. I'd like to use this one to learn how to tune. Any improvement would be obvious to me.
Hi, I just started following your videos 'cause I decided I wanna up my game with harp playing. I have a bunch of Hohners and also some Lee Oscar harps.I really feel there is a difference, and that the Lee Oscars are easier to play. My bending is quite based on luck and I have no idea on what an over blow is 😆 But I wonder if you have tried the Lee Oscar harps, and if you have an opinion on them? As I said my bending is based on luck (Bob Dylan style) and I do find that I'm more in luck with the Lee Oscar's. From the few videos I watched on your channel so far, you really have great content, and you manage to keep my interest throughout the videos. All the best, Thor
I purchased the honer special 20 in C about 2 years ago. I really need to pick it up again. I arrived here via your free bird video. Jaw dropping. It’s given me the impetus to dust off the honer. 👍👍👍
I moved to the Special 20 because they are pretty cheap and the plastic comb means I don't have to worry about the wood and the nails in the standard Hohner MB are a pain. But recently I got a Hohner Crossover and quickly noticed how responsive the reeds are, particularly up the top. The reeds also have a kind of pleasant ring.
I originally posted a comment on here a while ago, but the trolls found me. I made a comment about how much I love the original Hohner Golden Melody for blues and country. I absolutely love the sound of them. However, a blues purist hounded on me for saying that. He said that they are only viable for melodies and the only harmonica that should be used for blues is the Hohner Marine Band. I've been hounded by this guy for so many years and every time I say that Golden Melodies are good for blues, he shows up and starts an arguement with me. He says he plays blues, but I never saw him post a video of him playing before. Let me say this very clearly, fine tuning does NOT determine what a harmonica is designed to play. If Terry McMillan can play the blues on Golden Melodies just fine, then I can too.
It's a ridiculous problem to buy a harmonica for $30 or $100. This is not the kind of money that should be discussed, of course, buy for $100. And don't think about it just start to play. Go!
Very similar to guitars. The more you spend the more diminishing returns you get in sound and playability. The main investment should be in your investment to become a better, more proficient player. Unfortunately, this only comes through dedicated practice and repetition. 40-years of guitar collecting thinking the more expensive guitar was going to make me sound better and now after selling off all have kept a few good quality models understanding that it is my playing skills that matter much more than the instrument. Assuming the instrument is not crap and in today's world most budget instruments are not. In fact the value to performance is getting better and better every year as you all know. Thanks for the great video!
I like my Suzuki Folk Matser harps the best, but probably play Hohner Special 20 most often. I like the feel of Lee Oskar, but they seem flimsy and fall apart frequently
I recon this the same as my other activity besides music... table tennis. A talented player can perform well with pretty much any bat. But a less talented player like me need a bat that forgives all, or atleast most, of my shortcomings, and lifts my advantages, however few they might be. I feel the same when I'm blowing harp, I've played harp some years ago. Recently I thought I should take it up again, and bought a crazy cheap harp set from Harley Benton, I already have a couple of guitars from HB and the were VERY priceworthy. BUT....... not the harps...! The air is leaking through them like a storm, they're out of tune, and some tones isn't playable at all. Some of the are playable.... I guess, but they are no fun to play on. So today I ordered myself set of peplacement harps, in the brand Hohner Special 20.
Will, no Lee Oscars? No Marine band? You are a master no question. But personally I find the greatest difference is the comb material. Wood is always leaky, plastic good except on the cheapest harps and I own a Suzuki with an aluminum comb. Excellent. Any Lee Oscar plus Special 20s too, but the 20's reeds blow more easily. Thanks for your inspirational work.
I rather pay a little more for a Seydel, Suzuki or Hohner harp. I love the Hohner SP 20 and still playing. Recently I bought a China made Easttop 12 hole chromatic, found it takes a lot of effort to play probably due to leaky.
Great coverage of an age old debate. I love the pros/cons and demonstration. The arguments seem to stem from playing style. I don't expect a player like Mark Hummel to have a use for puckering. I do feel like lacking some degree of blocking skills is a matter of "missing out", like not having bends or overblows... This is another excellent WW video. It's nice to hear the simple approach of keeping learning fun! Are we cheating by having this type of expert instruction at our finger tips?
The difference between the chinese harp is when you try to play the Mississippi blues on it, it ends up sounding more like the Yangtse blues for some strange reason....😅
I have watched you for awhile now. I can't find one I like something just isn't right. I would love to have your shit, haha. More importantly meet you. Love what you do hommie! Keep it going!
Hi Will :) Can you, please, share some thoughts on Seydel blues session standard? Quality wise.... I get that the reeds are made out of brass, but otherwise, is the quality as same as the session steel version? I heard that the reeds on Solist pro version are of much lower quality, compared to "the other brass reeds".
i have 7 hohner marine band and im planning on making that 14 because i have a spare case from my hohner piedmond blues set of 7 i learned with and i have a hohner 280c chromanica i have a Hohner harpblaster hb52 that goes to my zoom g1x four pedals to my Yamaha AG06 interface mixer but yeah i get that my grandfather gave my his marine bands to learn as a kid i was 5 at 15 i kind of gave up on it lost most of them so when i started again i taugh the cheep peidmond blues if i could learn play them at 21 i could play any other harp now that im 28 almost i can say watching you and all the other youtubers thats make harmonicas video i now know how to play and i got rid of my piedmond blues set 5 years ago i stuck to marine bands in memory of the person who started me my paternal grand father i might play alot more but my marine bands will remain close to me always my grand father passed away when i was 8 so i kind of lost my mentor back then but im happy to be playing thankyou will
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Will Wilde makes a £3.50 harp sound like a £100 one, whereas I can do it the other way round!
Lol!
Haha. Still an accomplishment of sorts.
لعنتی واقعیت را گفتی😂
Me to
😂😂😂
You know that this is nothing new to me, but it's always good to hear you playing. Thanks, Will!😎
Cheers Patrik!
You're the type of guy that loves the smell of their own farts.
One of the most radically different feeling harps are the Hohner Golden Melody and the Seydel 1847, but those are the 2 harps in my setup. I like that they are so different in their feel. The GM’s are really good for gentler playing. The Seydels have a bigger low end and are great for harder playing. . .but, not too hard - on any harp, unless ya wanna keep replacing reed plates.
I would like to buy the best bluesharp. Is the best SEYDEL SÖHNE SILVER BLUES HARP?
In my opinion yes, but everyone is different. The Seydel 1847 Silver or Classic are my harp of choice
@@willharmonicawilde Thank you Will I'm going to try this one.Airtightness is very important
You can play a Zippo lighter and it will sound awesome. You are simply a master.
Will Wilde - your harp skills are astonishing, inspirational,and second to none in my honest opinion. You’re fucking legendary!
Thank you!
Yes he is legendary I agree. The first time I saw him playing in one of his videos I couldn’t believe my ears. I had no idea a harmonica could be played like that. Will is like the Jimi Hendrix of the harp. Totally unbelievable.
I’m a beginner at age 56. If I can at least play a sixteenth as good as him someday I’ll be happy. Even 1/32
Great review! From what I hear - also the better models produce a ringy sound when you stop playing, as the reeds continue to vibrate a bit, which you can't hear on the cheap models. Also - it sounds a bit incomplete if you don't demo Marine Band and one of the Lee Oskar harmonicas - after all he's the other major seller, besides Hohner and Seydel nowadays. I don't have experience with his products, but met him few years ago - very nice guy.
If you have a five dollar harp you already have the blues
His comments on being at a certain level of proficiency to feel/understand the benefits of customized harps are spot on.
My very good buddy is a top shelf customizer (does Rod Piazza's, Harman rip, Billy Watson, Johnny Mastro, Tom Richmond,etc), so I get all my customized harps very cheap and can afford to experiment with any harp I want. I even have a customized Low F Thunderbird with a Zajak comb. I don't care what comb the harp has, I'll play it if it's in tune. Once you get a customized harp, it'll last longer, play better, and stay in tune longer BUT once you're at that level to understand it. A tuned harp drawing 3-7, 4-8, 5-9, or 6-10 octaves will flutter with precision. And that makes me wanna play.
Happy Harpin!
Thanks Will for this video; its very informative.
This year I switch from Hohner to Seydel, the main reason was because Hohner reeds tend to break even though playing soft and taking care of them.
So in the long run it can become a money issue is you are learning to play harmonica seriously.
When started to play Seydel it to me a while to getting use too them.
Now I prefer Seydel over Hohner; I feel that the tone is better, no raspy sounds, clearer notes (sound more defined).
And like you said they don’t get out of tune.
And the reeds don’t break.
I feel with Seydel ratio price vs quality of the instrument is fair; not the same with Hohnner.
Once again thank you for this video a liked it a lot!!
Do all Seydel harps have steel reedsI’ve a number of Hohner Marine Band Deluxe, Crossovers and Lee Oscars. I’ve one Seydel steel…. So far…, I don’t like it much. May just take getting used to.
I had the Suzuki harp, identical to the one you demo’d. It went out of tune VERY quickly, despite of being well cared for and not stressed. I primarily play Neil Young, etc. ,not doing much in the way of overblows. While I liked its tone, to fall out of tune after only a few plays was a total waste of money. Very disappointed.
I have played hohner harps for years and never had the reeds break.I think it's a matter of personal preference,depends on what sound you like best and go for it.
The best harmonica for blues, is the brand/model that you can carry with you at all times, and one that you’ll be compelled to practice on the days you don’t really feel like it. For me, it’s these:
Cheap: Fender deluxe (w/reed gapping)
Easttop 008k
Kongsheng amazing 20
Better: Special 20, LO, blues steel
Best: Rocket, Seydel 1847(favorite), Crossover
After many attempts at finding the perfect harp, I’ve realized…
The secret isn’t the harmonica, it’s the person holding it!
Also, learning to adjust reed gaps and flattening the reed plate is huge. With a little bit of know how, anyone can make a cheap Easttop play like a much more expensive Hohner.
Great video, Will! You really do tell it like it is, without any of the bullshit and spin you hear from so many pro players. :)
I realize there are other harps you couldn't get to but was surprised no Marine Band. Anyway, one probably not too many people know about are Yonbergs, made in France. They are totally unique in design, look and sound great though I have had some out of the box that weren't as responsive as I like. I'd still like to try your Wilde tuned harps. And maybe Brendon Power's tunings.
I've just started playing an 1847 classic after playing Hohner harps exclusively for the past 30 years.
I love both but I'm slightly preferring the Seydel now :)
Thanks
Yes me too, Hohner for the last 30+ yrs, I’ve got to try these 1847’s Seydels…. Thanks master was a really good video. Tony Nashville
Thank you for this video. It says a lot about an endorsed artist and the company they endorse when they acknowledge that others may also make a good product - thanks for being genuine!
I remember getting my first Special 20 and Marine Band after playing and learning on the $8.00 Fender harp I got with Musician’s Friend rewards. I love that with harmonica playing your technique and musicality really shine over your equipment to a huge degree.
I finally got a Lee Oskar and my playing is instantly better than on my Hohners or Suzukis, which inspires me to try for the same sound from them.
Really impressed with the Fender Blues Deluxe. For a third the price, they seem like a pretty great way for a beginner to collect all keys. Most at that price are only in C.
Surprised you didn't cover Lee Oskars. I have a whole set and love them! 🙂
Will: As a total novice to harmonica, but someone who owns both Seydel (1847 & Lightning) and Hohner Rocket Amps, I can tell you that the Rocket Amp is much easier for me to bend notes on than the Seydel. The Seydels make very clear, precise notes, as does the Rocket Amp, but those steel reeds are really hard to bend when you are just learning. When I got the Rocket Amp, I was able to bend notes within five minutes of taking them out of the box. Which do I prefer? Both! And one day I want to get some of your Wilde Tuned Seydels when I get better at playing. Great video! Cheers.
Being easy to bend means they won't last as long. If your just learning ?ight want to get Special 20s.
Great video, as usual, Will! You could wrap a piece of paper over a comb & make it sound original! Always looking forward to the next video! Hope you & your family have a blessed time over the holiday season! 🥂
very interesting comparison. But if you want a harmonica specially designed for overblows, I can only recommend the Arkia harmonicas...
Thanks for all this info, I’m new to this and love watching your material my brother. Thanks 💪🏾
Thanks a lot, welcome to the channel!
Bottom line is your ability is what’s gonna make the harp sound good. That being said, great gear is inspiring in itself.
100%
I play a range of hohners. Special 20's, blues harps, and marine bands. Got every key with some of the flats. I like hohners. They sound good and are readily available in the US music stores. The point is you need all of them to be effective as a harmonica player. Not just a "g" or "c"... Especially when playing cross harp style
What do you think about the Big River Harps? It seems to me Hohner have been changing the alloy or temper of their reeds on Big River Harps and Marine Bands and now instead of them tending to go flat in time, they go sharp. Have you noticed the same? Maybe in the U.S they are made there under licence rather than Germany in Europe?
Very good comparisons - simply one of the best - Thx
So cool to see you perform twice at the SPAH conference in St. Louis, Will. Wow! You inspire me 🙏🎵
What is amazing how those old time blues guys got along without $150.00 harps in every key and five grand Senheiser mikes. Maybe the velvet lined titanium cases did the trick. or the roadies who did all the heavy toting.
I have C keys for Hohner Marine Band, Special 20, Blues Harp, Golden Melody, Crossover, and East Top. My favored harps though are Lee Oskars, and I have a range of keys for them.
I have about 10 harmonica's.
From Special 20's , through Marine Bands , Golden Melodies to Seydel Sessions.
I just love harmonica and listening to great players. Lots of styles Jazz/Funk/Classical/Traditional/Blues/Country etc,etc.
Your some player Will, that's for sure.
So my harp journey is on going , if I can learn from the greats and you guy's & girl's that are doing it today, then I'll be happy to keep "Harpin" around.
Thanks Will 🙏
👏👏🏴😁👍
I bought my first hohner blues harp harmonica because Blues harp was written on it.😂
Wood combs swell and can cut your lips. That's why i prefer plastic. No difference in sound, I think.
The best blues harp by far is the cross harp ...The thicknes of the plate is 1.2 mm and not 0.7.The brnfing is absolutely outstanding.
For my playing style, (a lot of first position and at a 45 degree angle), the Kongsheng Mars1 and Mars2 are my choice. ...round holes that sit deeper into your mouth, so smooth your hands roll across it. My top notes don't sound so shrill... The Mars1 plastic comb gives your the sense of playing a guitar with nylon strings, while the Mars2 gives you a nice brass peal with its chambered aluminum comb. To me, breath control is important and these allow me the most. Most ship requiring no modifications, but of course knowing how to easily gap a 3, or 2, or lowering a blow 3, gives me an amazing airtight instrument that's a joy to play.
For playability, quality and price (value), the Kongsheng harmonicas (Aliexpress) for around 25 quid aren't too bad.
Thanks, quite helpful. Always been a Hohner player and when I decided to give Seydel a try, I have made the mistake apparently of going with the Session Steel, which was not responsive enough, even on a D harp.
The 1847's are much better
Iv'e played most of the main brands.
For me, the Lee Oskar harps work best because I feel they sound "broken in" right out of the box.
Generally, though not always, I find that the plastic comb is kinder on the mouth. As for price, the more you pay doesnt necessarily give you much more quality. I started over 50 years ago on a Marine Band but have been through the full gamut since. The differences for me are minor, although the Hohner Blues Harp is my least favourite. PS. In spite of my many years playing, I'm nowhere near as good as you are, Will.
I think the real problem is you cannot test it in store to see which one is for you. When you order product, you cannot return it easily, even if it has malfunction. I think tonation really matters in terms of overblows. As overdraws are quite easy to learn. I'm thinking as guitarist about low F just because even for tinwhistles like Bb, low sounds better and full to me than D. However, probably low tonation will be difficult to do overblow on harmonica? Marine bands low F are much more expensive than standard C. But I've also heard that Marine ones are easier to do overblows due to wood than plastic. Maybe you could recommend manufacturer basing on low F wood and having in mind the time you started to learn overblows? Btw. great video tutorial on that but I ended with squeaky sound on my suzuki bluesmaster A 😅 In the end I consider non diatonic ones...
I've got a bunch of Seydel session standards. I want to overblow on the 6th and 7th holes. Every time I try (blowing while doing the bend-draw mouth shape) the sound just cuts out and the harp squeaks (same goes for doing the same on one of my Lee Oskar harps). Is the Seydel Session standard set up for overblows out the box? What am I doing wrong? If it's my harp's fault, what's the cheapest non-custom harp on which to learn OBs? Is their a better cue for overblows than "draw bend while blowing"?
Very good playing...
Sorry i wanted to say ..the bending is outstanding
Thanks Will, never played a Seydel harp before, but if I buy another harp, I might try one. Anyway, I think you would make a plastic party favor harp sound good. Like you said, some harps might be set up better than others, but in the end, it's the guy or gal playing it that really makes the difference.
I've been playing the harmonica since l was 7yo (now 70yo.) and l wholeheartedly agree with you 100%.
I'm one of your 'many subscribers' and l greatly admire your harmonica playing. I think you're fantastic. I love your style of playing and listening to your channel l have learnt so much from you, which has made me a much better player, thank you.
Watching from Australia. 😊👍👍
I'm a Vet and a Vet friend of mine gave me a Eb Marine Band harp. I never played before. Where do I start?
The first time I recognized you, was in that incredible "Free Bird Solo" video and I thought, you were an american.
But then, I heared you talking and I was surprised, that you are an english guy :)
I like that so much! Keep up the good work mate :)
They said basically the same thing about led zeppelin.
Hohner.
They always rocked hard. They even have a Blues Harp model name.
Try them if you can, i never liked any harps better than the Hohner ones.
Dude... I've gotta ask how fkn long have you been playing the harmonica!!!???
My takeaway from this video - if I want to play badass blues, I gotta be Will Wilde 😄
nice t1ts
As a noob player I can say that not being able to play on $50 harmonicas is much more pleasant than on $3! I have anniversary marine band C and rocket low F, can make basic chords, clean notes, a couple leaks and some bends, and on my babies these stuff still sound cool even it’s not something advance, so it motivates to keep training
hahaha you not cash haha
me neither :(
Yes I think the idea of a cheap instrument for beginners is wrong because a bad instrument of any sort is discouraging. If you can get a good sound you want to play it.
In my opinion, special 20s are the best Bang for the buck.
I was laughing about the beginners buying a Hohner blues harp because it has “blues” in the name comment lol! I’m one of the guilty ones sad to say. I couldn’t play Mary had a little lamb but thought the blues harp purchase would automatically make me sound like Big Mama! 🤣. Too funny! I about died when Will made that comment because that was exactly me. Oh well! What did I know? Haha!!
I bought them for the same reason.😅
I guess what you are playing is what guitar players call rifs. To me it is just back ground noise. I play an entirely diifernet harp. I learned to play the melody from sheet music or old music books like church hymnals. Then after I've mastered the melody by playing by the notes, rests and other symbols on the written sheet music I add the harmony in the back ground.
This is a much harder way I'm sure, but I learned how to read music in my childhood and in the high school band, so this is what I know. I have about one hundred songs memorized, mostly church hymns, some rock and roll, country, folk, folk rock, tradition and Christmas carols. But I learned them all the hard way.
I did play in my state's harmonica contest and came in second twice. That just means I was the first loser.
Thank you Will for this very informative harmonica video! I will check out your tutorials on how to play that harp!
I use Hohner rockets and rocket lows. Pricey but once you try them there’s no going back.
I played on an old standby for a bit then bought a special 20 that became my favorite to play. Is there anything that plays or feels like a special 20?
U play without speech look like God
U demonstrate in patient smooth as lard
I like both `cos im a greed bastaaard
Thank you Sir....
Great info for harp player's ✌🏾
Great video Sir!
LMHO You do tricks
as well... the "Harmonica Finger Twirl" @ 4:09 & 4:19😀😀
I'd really like to learn how to tune my harps. Especially to make them more airtight. I have a Hohner Blues Harp that is so leaky, I hate to play it. I'd like to use this one to learn how to tune. Any improvement would be obvious to me.
Fantastic. Playing two side by side you can really hear the difference which you point out.
Waiting for my Hohner Rocket C to start this journey.
Hi, I just started following your videos 'cause I decided I wanna up my game with harp playing. I have a bunch of Hohners and also some Lee Oscar harps.I really feel there is a difference, and that the Lee Oscars are easier to play. My bending is quite based on luck and I have no idea on what an over blow is 😆 But I wonder if you have tried the Lee Oscar harps, and if you have an opinion on them? As I said my bending is based on luck (Bob Dylan style) and I do find that I'm more in luck with the Lee Oscar's. From the few videos I watched on your channel so far, you really have great content, and you manage to keep my interest throughout the videos. All the best, Thor
Learn harmonica with me! Join my free online course: www.willwildeharmonicamasterclass.com
I just ordered the seydel 1847 silver in low C ! Been years since I played the mouth harp but since I’m retired now I can spend more time doin blues !
Cool Will. ThankYou. Very impressive how You blow fine blues though a 3 pound harp😀
Thanks!
Great video. Thank you. The best harp is the one you play. The one you enjoy playing.
Spent $280 on a Suzuki one today
Got one of your rock tuned Seydels.. I need to collect a set, love the tuning
awsum brother thanksss
I purchased the honer special 20 in C about 2 years ago. I really need to pick it up again. I arrived here via your free bird video. Jaw dropping. It’s given me the impetus to dust off the honer. 👍👍👍
Wait till you get yourself a Special 20 in the key of G.After playing it the first time,you will never give it a chance to collect dust !!!
im really liking the golden melody comfy and responsive
Nice one Will good info straight from the hip.
I moved to the Special 20 because they are pretty cheap and the plastic comb means I don't have to worry about the wood and the nails in the standard Hohner MB are a pain. But recently I got a Hohner Crossover and quickly noticed how responsive the reeds are, particularly up the top. The reeds also have a kind of pleasant ring.
They're both good harps, I prefer the Seydel though- the steel reeds last longer.
@@willharmonicawilde in the 2.5 years I've been on this journey, haven't broken a Hohner reed.
@@Human_Herbivoreyou don't practice enough if you haven't broken a reed.
@@keyjam9 I do practice at least a couple of hours every day.
Wanderfully nearly scientific test as is your experilent in this kind of comparison! THANKS A LOT, Respect to you, Master!
Great playin' :)
I originally posted a comment on here a while ago, but the trolls found me. I made a comment about how much I love the original Hohner Golden Melody for blues and country. I absolutely love the sound of them. However, a blues purist hounded on me for saying that. He said that they are only viable for melodies and the only harmonica that should be used for blues is the Hohner Marine Band. I've been hounded by this guy for so many years and every time I say that Golden Melodies are good for blues, he shows up and starts an arguement with me. He says he plays blues, but I never saw him post a video of him playing before. Let me say this very clearly, fine tuning does NOT determine what a harmonica is designed to play. If Terry McMillan can play the blues on Golden Melodies just fine, then I can too.
It's a ridiculous problem to buy a harmonica for $30 or $100. This is not the kind of money that should be discussed, of course, buy for $100. And don't think about it just start to play. Go!
Very similar to guitars. The more you spend the more diminishing returns you get in sound and playability. The main investment should be in your investment to become a better, more proficient player. Unfortunately, this only comes through dedicated practice and repetition. 40-years of guitar collecting thinking the more expensive guitar was going to make me sound better and now after selling off all have kept a few good quality models understanding that it is my playing skills that matter much more than the instrument. Assuming the instrument is not crap and in today's world most budget instruments are not. In fact the value to performance is getting better and better every year as you all know. Thanks for the great video!
I like my Suzuki Folk Matser harps the best, but probably play Hohner Special 20 most often. I like the feel of Lee Oskar, but they seem flimsy and fall apart frequently
I recon this the same as my other activity besides music... table tennis. A talented player can perform well with pretty much any bat. But a less talented player like me need a bat that forgives all, or atleast most, of my shortcomings, and lifts my advantages, however few they might be. I feel the same when I'm blowing harp, I've played harp some years ago. Recently I thought I should take it up again, and bought a crazy cheap harp set from Harley Benton, I already have a couple of guitars from HB and the were VERY priceworthy. BUT....... not the harps...! The air is leaking through them like a storm, they're out of tune, and some tones isn't playable at all. Some of the are playable.... I guess, but they are no fun to play on. So today I ordered myself set of peplacement harps, in the brand Hohner Special 20.
Hey- i bought 2 harps at thrift store for 5$- a hoehner and a knockoff- the hoehner is MILES nicer and sounds way better
Will, no Lee Oscars? No Marine band? You are a master no question. But personally I find the greatest difference is the comb material. Wood is always leaky, plastic good except on the cheapest harps and I own a Suzuki with an aluminum comb. Excellent. Any Lee Oscar plus Special 20s too, but the 20's reeds blow more easily. Thanks for your inspirational work.
Thanks for the video dude!
Good info
I rather pay a little more for a Seydel, Suzuki or Hohner harp. I love the Hohner SP 20 and still playing. Recently I bought a China made Easttop 12 hole chromatic, found it takes a lot of effort to play probably due to leaky.
Do your 1847 covers crush in from playing. Mine always slightly bend in and I wonder if it’s just because I’m squeezing to tight or if that’s normal.
thank you for the knowledge friend. it really helped
Glad you found it helpful!
I recently saw the SPAH duet with Jason. Love Jason. But I don’t think there is a better blues rock player than Will Wilde.
tanck you will
Great coverage of an age old debate. I love the pros/cons and demonstration. The arguments seem to stem from playing style. I don't expect a player like Mark Hummel to have a use for puckering. I do feel like lacking some degree of blocking skills is a matter of "missing out", like not having bends or overblows... This is another excellent WW video. It's nice to hear the simple approach of keeping learning fun!
Are we cheating by having this type of expert instruction at our finger tips?
It's funny, l started on honer marine band but switched to Lee Oscar's for durability, now people are telling me there crap?
The difference between the chinese harp is when you try to play the Mississippi blues on it, it ends up sounding more like the Yangtse blues for some strange reason....😅
I have watched you for awhile now. I can't find one I like something just isn't right. I would love to have your shit, haha. More importantly meet you. Love what you do hommie! Keep it going!
So, everything comes good for blues, in special the Seydel 1847 Classic 👍
Marine band?🤔
Very helpfull thks
Hi Will :)
Can you, please, share some thoughts on Seydel blues session standard? Quality wise....
I get that the reeds are made out of brass, but otherwise, is the quality as same as the session steel version?
I heard that the reeds on Solist pro version are of much lower quality, compared to "the other brass reeds".
It's the pilot, not the plane, which you made sound good!
Thanks. Yes, when it comes down to it it's the wizard, not the wand :)
great comparison; Thank you Will !
Glad you liked it!
gracias WILL
i have 7 hohner marine band and im planning on making that 14 because i have a spare case from my hohner piedmond blues set of 7 i learned with and i have a hohner 280c chromanica i have a Hohner harpblaster hb52 that goes to my zoom g1x four pedals to my Yamaha AG06 interface mixer
but yeah i get that my grandfather gave my his marine bands to learn as a kid i was 5 at 15 i kind of gave up on it lost most of them
so when i started again i taugh the cheep peidmond blues if i could learn play them at 21 i could play any other harp now that im 28 almost i can say watching you and all the other youtubers thats make harmonicas video i now know how to play and i got rid of my piedmond blues set 5 years ago i stuck to marine bands in memory of the person who started me my paternal grand father i might play alot more but my marine bands will remain close to me always
my grand father passed away when i was 8 so i kind of lost my mentor back then but im happy to be playing thankyou will