OT: Harmonica selection question

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 1:50 pm

For a person without a lot of money, which is better, Lee Oskar or Hohner Specil 20?

The music store here has both (surprising since the only whistles they have are Sweetones)...but the people who work there don't know anything.

What's the difference between D harmonicas and low D? The same as D whistles and low D?

The only key I've ever played is C.

DazedinLA · Post by **DazedinLA** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:35 pm

I'm no harmonica expert, but I do prefer the Lee Oscar for two reasons:

1. Its a great harmonica,

but also

2. The reed plates are replaceable. Its fairly easy to unscrew the harp and swap out the old plates. Here in florida you can get a Lee Oscar for about $25.00, and the replacement plates are about $15.00.

I've only fooled around a bit with harmonicas, but actually played them on stage last weekend, so for once I actually put them to some use.

I keep going back and forth about getting a chromatic, but I'm afeared of blowing out the reeds and not being able to swap reeplates like I can with the Lee Oscars.

jonharl · Post by **jonharl** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 3:53 pm

The Lee Oskar is tuned to "equal temperment" and the Special 20 is tuned to "just intonation". Both are very good harps. Some people find the Lee Oskars to be a little squeeky when trying to bend notes in the upper register on higher keys (C and up). My harp instructor recommends Special 20's for what it's worth. Just like whistles you'll find opinions in both camps. Best price is on the web Coast to Coast Music. That's where I buy mine.

Good Luck,
Jon Harl

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:11 pm

Here's the link:
http://www.coast2coastmusic.com/

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 6:37 pm

DazedinLA wrote:I'm no harmonica expert, but I do prefer the Lee Oscar for two reasons:

I've only fooled around a bit with harmonicas, but actually played them on stage last weekend, so for once I actually put them to some use.

I keep going back and forth about getting a chromatic, but I'm afeared of blowing out the reeds and not being able to swap reeplates like I can with the Lee Oscars.

Kev man, you're starting to scare me........

Loren

DazedinLA · Post by **DazedinLA** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 7:11 pm

Loren wrote:
Kev man, you're starting to scare me........

Loren

Whadda mean???

Nothin wrong with a little harpin, now, is there?

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 8:17 pm

Meh... just get a Hohner MS Blues Harp. They play great, and have replaceable reedplates, and a whole harp isn't much more than a Lee Oskar replacement plate.

A regular D harp is a good one for bending notes on, IMO, but you'll find yourself in the key of A, whereas, a C will give you G in cross position.

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Thu Jan 15, 2004 10:54 pm

OK, let's see if we can name three instruments Walden doesn't play.

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 4:47 am

Jerry Freeman wrote:OK, let's see if we can name three instruments Walden doesn't play.

Here's a guess:

C-melody saxophone
duet concertina
tama (talking drum)

Well actually I don't think Walden plays saxophones or concertinas of any type but I just wanted to more or less make sure.

To make the challenge harder I tried to select from instruments I do play but once I got specific I lost out. I play sax, but not C-melody, concertina but not duet.

Zubivka · Post by **Zubivka** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 5:00 am

Wombat wrote:I play sax, but not C-melody, concertina but not duet.

Couldn't a C-soprano work just fine for ITM?

ok, had your fun? Now think of it...

PS: Cran, how come the green colour of your new flag avatar reminds me more the US$ bills backside than the Green Party? It's really the same moldy hue...

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 5:05 am

Zubivka wrote:
Wombat wrote:I play sax, but not C-melody, concertina but not duet.
Couldn't a C-soprano work just fine for ITM?

ok, had your fun? Now think of it...

PS: Cran, how come the green colour of your new flag avatar reminds me more the US$ bills backside than the Green Party? It's really the same moldy hue...

OK then:

tama
kora
vibraphone

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 6:29 am

Some more instruments I don't play:

guitar
tuba
trap set
koto

Loren · Post by **Loren** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 8:57 am

DazedinLA wrote:
Loren wrote:
Kev man, you're starting to scare me........

Loren

Whadda mean??? Nothin wrong with a little harpin, now, is there?

Nah man, (diatonic) harpin' is good, I've been know to do a bit myself now and then over the years but Chromatic......that's the devil's instrument my friend

It's the road to madness I tell you, MADNESS!!!!

Loren

DazedinLA · Post by **DazedinLA** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 10:22 am

Loren wrote:
Nah man, (diatonic) harpin' is good, I've been know to do a bit myself now and then over the years but Chromatic......that's the devil's instrument my friend It's the road to madness I tell you, MADNESS!!!!

Loren

I do believe I set my foot firmly upon that road the day I took up the fiddle.

To confirm my descent, I'm now looking around to find a good-old-fashioned galvanized washtub to make a washtub bass. Home Depot only has plastic tubs, and Dat juss wont DO!!!

Bartleby · Post by **Bartleby** » Fri Jan 16, 2004 2:14 pm

Between the Hohner and Lee Oskar I'd choose the later for it's superior response, breath requirements, and the fact that the reeds are replaceable. For an excellent harmonica at a very good price, check out Suzuki.http://www.suzukimusic.com/harmonicas/Pages/home.html As far as I know, they don't sell replacement reed plates, though.