I found so far Easttop has a pretty good sound for less cost. Am hoping the durability is acceptable .Been playing blues harp since I was 14. Am now 72.
I have played since 1971. Easttop harps are great! I have many. They are airtight and overbend friendly. I don't sweat having to Maybe file and sand sharp corners, it takes but a second. Seems like a very small detail to worry about.
Easttop really? I keep seeing them on Amazon but I've been avoiding trying them because they're so cheap. I've been buying a lot of Kongsheng's. They seem pretty good but I don't have much to compare them to. The Benders seem a bit better then the Amazing 20's. But maybe I'll give Easttop a try. For the price, it's worth a try. Can anyone recommend one? Thanks in advance.
@@brandonmiess2299 I bought one of those. I'm happy with it and all but it's about the same price as the Tin G and those seem to be the best cheaper harmonicas. At least the ones I've tried. Very responsive.
I've been playing the blues harmonica for over 50 years. I started as a teenager with the Marine Band and have played a range of brands up to and including Lee Oskars. I recently bought a Fender Blues Deluxe and was astonished at how good it is for the price I paid. While the Lee Oskar has a superior tone and feel, the difference is for me relatively minor when you consider the difference in price. I also find that with a lot of bending, the Lee Oskar goes out of tune more quickly than, say, the Big River Harp. The Fender is, for me, excellent value for money. I would recommend it - and I'm no beginner.
I originally started on the Fender Blues Deluxe harps when my grandfather gave me a set of them for Christmas one year. The bends are a little tough but other than that they’re actually not bad instruments. Would I take them to a gig? They wouldn’t be my first choice but I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable with them for performance purposes. But you’re absolutely right, those corners are incredibly sharp.
I've been playing Lee Oskar for 25 years, and will continue to do so. Now, I've added Baby Fat (Kong Sheng) for a lttle variety. Jonah, your tutorials are spot on. I'm recommending you to learners. Your videos are will produced and have something for everyone.
The Easttop's "dark blue" covers are NOT painted. The dark blue covers are electroplated stainless steel. They are just as slippery as the "silver" covers that Easttop uses. The black covers ARE paint on brass. Easttop's T008L and T008LS both have white painted covers. The entire T008 line accepts Hohner MS series coverplates perfectly with only minor bending back of the Hohner covers' support tabs. I like swapping for MS series Blues Harp covers, makes the perfect "Frankenharp", for me anyway. Without whining, I easily filed/sanded the sharp corners to smooth areas. Sticking reeds, really? Easttop harps are great !!!
Well said m8 I never got cut or had sticky reeds on my eastop been using them on stage & recording since they came out they play great & I love the metallic ready bite they have best invention since nailed marine band's!!!! Come on Jonah who's got enough cash for a set of $150 harmonicas- buy a set of eastops for $250 & spend $1400 on beer & weed like a normal person
In the around $35.00 range I like the Kongsheng Mars. It has round holes and I find that to be find. I would like to see you step up to harmonicas in the range of $30.00 to $40.00 and give us a review. Bushman Delta Frost and DeBell have harmonicas in that price range. That is two I would like your advice on.
I started out with a set of Fender Blues Deluxe harps. You are right, Jonah, the corners are really sharp and the reed will cut your tongue if you tongue block. The set I had was OK for my beginning days of harp playing. Your Harmonica Accelerator course was instrumental in giving me a strong foundation to begin with. I would love to see you compare harps that cost between $25 to $35. I would recommend a Hohner Juke ($30US) or Hohner Big River ($35) for review in that price range as they both seemed really good. I have a Hohner Juke sitting around the house to pick up whenever I have a few spare moments. Also, Lee Oskars are great for that higher price range. Great video! Cheers.
The reeds are nowhere near your mouth, unless you play without the coverplates on, and then only the draw reeds would be exposed. Tongue blocking may cause irritation, but it is never because the tongue is touching any reeds. Seriously, what are you talking about, reeds cutting you?
@@roberttemple2521 Hey, Robert! Great comments. I should have explained myself better. I first learned to play while tongue blocking. When I was first learning, I stuck my tongue too far in and noticed the comb was dark red--I had just cut the tip of my tongue. Duh! If it wasn't the reed cutting me, then I don't know what it was. I am just a beginning player (about six months), so maybe you have more expertise on this and can fill me in. Regardless, the Fenders are not for me. I now play Yonbergs and that problem no longer exists, plus, the Yonbergs don't yank out my beard hairs by the roots, like my Seydels would always do. Cheers.
I use The Fender Blues Deluxe as my practice and backup harmonicas so I don't ware out my special 20s. I save my best ones for performances only. Good Harmonicas have become so dam expensive you can't afford to become to aggressive with them. Bend a reed you'll be spending another 60 bucks to replace it.
I don’t understand how anyone can hurt him- or herself with harmonica. My East top 008K is nice light blue and has no taste what so ever. I bought mine via Temu in 36€ month ago (October 2023).
Star ratings don't mean a lot as people who have never played can buy a harp and play it and like it and give 5 stars before they have ever experienced a better harmonica.
The only thing I have to say as negative to the BabyFat7 is that it tastes electric. Like when you put your tongue on a 9V battery. With some gapping, would you be able to make those cheap harmonicas sound much better?
I've been buying a lot of Kongsheng's. They seem alright but they're quite cheap. Is that a good thing to do? In fact, I'd really love it if you reviewed the Benders Harp and the Mars by them. I've seen other reviews but you just do better reviews.
@@HarmonicaRevolution Oh dear. Allergic? Well, I guess I'll just have to live with that. Lol. Thanks for the reviews all the same. Your channel has helped a lot.
@@HarmonicaRevolution I see. So I guess at this point something was making you have some kind of unpleasant reaction but you weren't sure what it was yet? Yikes. Glad you figured it out.
It won't sound. I'm not sure why he gets stuck reeds on his harps, likely flawed playing technique, excess saliva entering the harp. Saliva will plug up a reed's vibrations, too. LIkewise food particles, hair or anyhing else that may migrate out of one's mouth.
I found so far Easttop has a pretty good sound for less cost. Am hoping the durability is acceptable .Been playing blues harp since I was 14. Am now 72.
I have played since 1971. Easttop harps are great! I have many. They are airtight and overbend friendly. I don't sweat having to Maybe file and sand sharp corners, it takes but a second. Seems like a very small detail to worry about.
Well said m8 I'm 60 & don't pay attention to these middle class spoilt kids x
Easttop really? I keep seeing them on Amazon but I've been avoiding trying them because they're so cheap. I've been buying a lot of Kongsheng's. They seem pretty good but I don't have much to compare them to. The Benders seem a bit better then the Amazing 20's. But maybe I'll give Easttop a try. For the price, it's worth a try. Can anyone recommend one? Thanks in advance.
@@PaulTheSkepticI find the easttop 008K blues harp to be great for the price.
@@brandonmiess2299 I bought one of those. I'm happy with it and all but it's about the same price as the Tin G and those seem to be the best cheaper harmonicas. At least the ones I've tried. Very responsive.
I've been playing the blues harmonica for over 50 years. I started as a teenager with the Marine Band and have played a range of brands up to and including Lee Oskars. I recently bought a Fender Blues Deluxe and was astonished at how good it is for the price I paid. While the Lee Oskar has a superior tone and feel, the difference is for me relatively minor when you consider the difference in price. I also find that with a lot of bending, the Lee Oskar goes out of tune more quickly than, say, the Big River Harp. The Fender is, for me, excellent value for money. I would recommend it - and I'm no beginner.
Most Fender Blues Deluxe work good enough out of the box. Touch the corners with sandpaper. Dead easy. They are airtight enough to bend.
They actually end up being very playable, but they require a lot of work to be worth playing regularly.
I originally started on the Fender Blues Deluxe harps when my grandfather gave me a set of them for Christmas one year. The bends are a little tough but other than that they’re actually not bad instruments. Would I take them to a gig? They wouldn’t be my first choice but I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable with them for performance purposes. But you’re absolutely right, those corners are incredibly sharp.
I've been playing Lee Oskar for 25 years, and will continue to do so. Now, I've added Baby Fat (Kong Sheng) for a lttle variety.
Jonah, your tutorials are spot on. I'm recommending you to learners.
Your videos are will produced and have something for everyone.
The Easttop's "dark blue" covers are NOT painted. The dark blue covers are electroplated stainless steel. They are just as slippery as the "silver" covers that Easttop uses. The black covers ARE paint on brass. Easttop's T008L and T008LS both have white painted covers. The entire T008 line accepts Hohner MS series coverplates perfectly with only minor bending back of the Hohner covers' support tabs. I like swapping for MS series Blues Harp covers, makes the perfect "Frankenharp", for me anyway. Without whining, I easily filed/sanded the sharp corners to smooth areas. Sticking reeds, really? Easttop harps are great !!!
Well said m8 I never got cut or had sticky reeds on my eastop been using them on stage & recording since they came out they play great & I love the metallic ready bite they have best invention since nailed marine band's!!!! Come on Jonah who's got enough cash for a set of $150 harmonicas- buy a set of eastops for $250 & spend $1400 on beer & weed like a normal person
Hmm, Where can you find Hohner MS reed plate covers?
What do they cost approximately?
Thanks in advance!
In the around $35.00 range I like the Kongsheng Mars. It has round holes and I find that to be find.
I would like to see you step up to harmonicas in the range of $30.00 to $40.00 and give us a review.
Bushman Delta Frost and DeBell have harmonicas in that price range. That is two I would like your advice on.
I started out with a set of Fender Blues Deluxe harps. You are right, Jonah, the corners are really sharp and the reed will cut your tongue if you tongue block. The set I had was OK for my beginning days of harp playing. Your Harmonica Accelerator course was instrumental in giving me a strong foundation to begin with. I would love to see you compare harps that cost between $25 to $35. I would recommend a Hohner Juke ($30US) or Hohner Big River ($35) for review in that price range as they both seemed really good. I have a Hohner Juke sitting around the house to pick up whenever I have a few spare moments. Also, Lee Oskars are great for that higher price range. Great video! Cheers.
The reeds are nowhere near your mouth, unless you play without the coverplates on, and then only the draw reeds would be exposed. Tongue blocking may cause irritation, but it is never because the tongue is touching any reeds. Seriously, what are you talking about, reeds cutting you?
@@roberttemple2521 Hey, Robert! Great comments. I should have explained myself better. I first learned to play while tongue blocking. When I was first learning, I stuck my tongue too far in and noticed the comb was dark red--I had just cut the tip of my tongue. Duh! If it wasn't the reed cutting me, then I don't know what it was. I am just a beginning player (about six months), so maybe you have more expertise on this and can fill me in. Regardless, the Fenders are not for me. I now play Yonbergs and that problem no longer exists, plus, the Yonbergs don't yank out my beard hairs by the roots, like my Seydels would always do. Cheers.
I started with the fender because I’m a fender guitar player so I figured it’s something I recognized. It’s not a bad harp for the money.
I use The Fender Blues Deluxe as my practice and backup harmonicas so I don't ware out my special 20s. I save my best ones for performances only. Good Harmonicas have become so dam expensive you can't afford to become to aggressive with them. Bend a reed you'll be spending another 60 bucks to replace it.
You look like you escaped from the Amish
It is not that hard to escape from the Amish.
I don’t understand how anyone can hurt him- or herself with harmonica. My East top 008K is nice light blue and has no taste what so ever. I bought mine via Temu in 36€ month ago (October 2023).
The fender I tried was the worst. It lasted under 20 seconds LOL
"I don't like the paint, it tastes weird" Okay, I lost it over here even though you are right about it 🤣
Star ratings don't mean a lot as people who have never played can buy a harp and play it and like it and give 5 stars before they have ever experienced a better harmonica.
Yeah, Amazon star reviews on instruments are pointless
The blue Easttop 008Ks are great, the black painted ones.... meh.
Bare minimum people should spend $40 and buy Hohner, Suzuki and Lee Oskar. Maybe $35 but I would start at $40.
the easttops were a steal when they were $15. I wouldn't give $25 for it though
The only thing I have to say as negative to the BabyFat7 is that it tastes electric. Like when you put your tongue on a 9V battery.
With some gapping, would you be able to make those cheap harmonicas sound much better?
Great video, Thanks...
Thank you. I found that the JDR brand from China a very nice!!!
I've been buying a lot of Kongsheng's. They seem alright but they're quite cheap. Is that a good thing to do? In fact, I'd really love it if you reviewed the Benders Harp and the Mars by them. I've seen other reviews but you just do better reviews.
I am allergic to most of their harmonicas. I won’t be reviewing them.
@@HarmonicaRevolution Oh dear. Allergic? Well, I guess I'll just have to live with that. Lol. Thanks for the reviews all the same. Your channel has helped a lot.
@@PaulTheSkeptic yeah. Nickel allergy, and they are the only company that uses a significant nickel content in their covers and reed plates
@@HarmonicaRevolution I see. So I guess at this point something was making you have some kind of unpleasant reaction but you weren't sure what it was yet? Yikes. Glad you figured it out.
Can you tune a harmonica...
I watching this after i buy 5$ harmonica😅😂
The Kongsheng Amazing 20 attempts to clone the Suzuki Harpmaster.
Special 20
How do you know when a reed is stuck?
It won't sound. I'm not sure why he gets stuck reeds on his harps, likely flawed playing technique, excess saliva entering the harp. Saliva will plug up a reed's vibrations, too. LIkewise food particles, hair or anyhing else that may migrate out of one's mouth.
Hernandez Daniel Gonzalez Jeffrey Davis Kenneth
As time goes on it getting further from the truth, Kongsheng mars 16 dollars and even the Baby fat is only 12 bucks.
I've seen a couple of videos from this guy today. Lol I'll just stick with good ol Adam gussow,Jason Ricci and Ronnie shellist
i doubt these are made in china 😂
hahaha.. it's funny. Those harmonicas cost 100 dollars in my country. and a good one 300 dollars. communist things. greetings