OT: Harmonica selection question
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OT: Harmonica selection question
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.
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.
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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.
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
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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
Good Luck,
Jon Harl
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Here's the link:
http://www.coast2coastmusic.com/
http://www.coast2coastmusic.com/
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Kev man, you're starting to scare me........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.
Loren
- Walden
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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.
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.
Reasonable person
Walden
Walden
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Here's a guess:Jerry Freeman wrote:OK, let's see if we can name three instruments Walden doesn't play.
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
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Couldn't a C-soprano work just fine for ITM?Wombat wrote:I play sax, but not C-melody, concertina but not duet.
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...
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OK then:Zubivka wrote:Couldn't a C-soprano work just fine for ITM?Wombat wrote:I play sax, but not C-melody, concertina but not duet.
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...
tama
kora
vibraphone
- Loren
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Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free - Location: Loren has left the building.
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!!!!DazedinLA wrote:Loren wrote:
Kev man, you're starting to scare me........
Loren
Whadda mean??? Nothin wrong with a little harpin, now, is there?
Loren
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I do believe I set my foot firmly upon that road the day I took up the fiddle.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
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!!!
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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.