HarmonicaBoogie.com
- => Gear Lust => Topic started by: giguchan on February 13, 2017, 10:35:52 PM
-
When the heck did the Marine band jump in price? I mean it's been a while since i had a MB... Sheesh..
-
I feel your pain. They were $3.75 when I started in '72. I only made $2.75 an hour back then, but I would need to make over $30.00 an hour now to keep that ratio, and I don't make half that. Cheaper to buy a guitar and change the strings as needed. A huge peeve of mine.
-
I remember paying $5 for a Hohner bluesharp back in 1973.
No more soaking them in water to make them sound good. :-)
-
LOL, soaking them was the old equivalent of a custom harp. Sure made them sound better, but they didn't last long.
-
I used to have MB'S waay back.... but since i got turned on to Suzuki, and Seydel.. I dont pay too much attention to them any more... no special reason. I was in a big box the other day.... and i saw them sitting there... so i got a C&A... they seem to play the same as they used to.. and not fer nuthin... they had some Hohners that were north of $75.
Anyone remember the MASH harmonica episode?
-
BTW i'm glad that people still come to this forum... i think its still the most active.... i think..
-
I never saw the MASH harmonica episode.
Ha, well, ... I would imagine there are harmonica forums more active than ours.
-
There was a Korean child in the hospital. Klinger tried to find a harmonica to aid in the kid getting better... wasn't totally devoted to Harp... you know how MASH is...
I do like this forum though... its friendly in here
-
One reason for increased prices is due to rising costs of labour. Harmonicas are assembled and tuned by hand, and these days workers have minimum wages, superannuation, and other benefits which all add to the cost of a labour-intensive product like harmonicas. Rising transport costs and the fact that for the first time in their long history Hohner have been spending money on marketing.
Another reason is likely due to companies being run by accountants these days. Recent changes to the Special20 seem more about cost cutting than the dubious claims by Hohner about why they made changes to their 'range'.
The ridiculous cost of standard harps means that Hohner make less money out of me than ever before because I simply repair single reeds now instead of shelling out the big bucks for a new harp. The way Hohner's prices are going I might as well switch to Seydel.
-
I used to play Hohners when i first started(Golden melody, Spec 20,MB). A buddy of mine told that"if you're gonna be serious get a Seydel or Suzuki"
So being a eager harp player i gave away all my Hohners to a buddy of mine who had less money than i did and started up a collection of Seydel and Suzuki harps.
I know now that was not only a foolish - but expensive thing to do. The other day while wandering around the local Big Box music shop.. I picked up the only 2 Hohners i have in my collection... 2 Mb's one in C/A.
I'm not a fantastic player. I can appreciate the Seydel and the Suzuki... I dont find them harder to play like some have. Little more effort i think.
I will hold on to what i have for a while.- until the prices come down.
-
I think the Seydels are great. The Suzukis just do not fit my face ;D
-
fit your face.... nice... I was given as a gift at seydel that isn't a chromo- but looks like one. complicated.
-
If you are going to buy a Marine Band because you really want harps that have that classic Marine Band sound, the Marine Band Crossover is a great choice. In my opinion, it is worth the extra money. I have had excellent results with them over a long course of time.
-
If you are going to buy a Marine Band because you really want harps that have that classic Marine Band sound, the Marine Band Crossover is a great choice. In my opinion, it is worth the extra money. I have had excellent results with them over a long course of time.
I agree. The crossover also seems to play and sound better than the Marine Band Deluxe.
-
Howdy Y'all,
Look up http://mpr66ch.blogspot.com/
Mike Peace is a harp smith that has good quality at very reasonable prices. I found him years ago when I needed some work done and he is one of the craftsmen that can put a harp in your hands for far less than retail. (You can post your comments here at HB. My e-mail has changed.)
Be Blues...And Jazz,
Lance Gothic
-
Try the Easttop 0008K less than $ and better performance than a special 20. I always liked special 20s for the tone I got when them. I like some of these easttops more . work dam good for $20. I have some 008s models on the way, a little pricier at $35.
-
How are they tuned? Even tempered like a Lee Oskar or more just like some Marine bands?
-
I'm finding it depends on the key. They have a bunch that are Paddy tuning. I find that some play and sound more like a special 20 with a bit more warm tone, almost bassey. I've only [played the 008K models. I have some higher end 008s coming, but the 008K at $20 are a very good harp for a very low price.
-
SP20 has been my workhorse harp for several years now. I have other harps, but the SP20 has always proven itself to be very durable. I'd be interested to find out how durable these Easttop harmonicas turn out to be.
-
as long as EastTop stays at the affordable price its at, I will never buy another hohner, susuki, lee oskar again. I have been playing these things for about 4 or 5 months and I dont have a single complaint. They play way better, sound way better and feel way better than any main manufacture I have had in the past AND at under 20 bucks thats insane!!!
Rick they are tuned like marine bands. I have the 008S higher end model as well, the only difference is the reeds are welded in place not rivet, but the feel and sound and play is the same.
Im telling you guys I took all my harps and put them in a zip lock bag, and replaced them in my harp case with east top, every now and again I take out the zip lock and play a few and OMG! It reminds me how good the easttop are, all of the old harps I have are hard to play, stuffy, low volume, I just dont see how I was playing this things.
-
Spot welded reeds is a negative point for me, though the price goes some way towards negating that. Thanks for the info.