choosing a harp

[Jeffrey T Pinzino <jtp42773@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here's as comprehensive a list as I can muster about which harp to choose and
why(from what I know).

1) WOOD VS. PLASTIC VS. METAL -- This is probably the biggest difference
between harmonicas.  The material that the comb is made out of really
determines the tone.  Wooden comb harmonicas include Hohner Marine Bands
and Blues Harps, and the Suzuki Folkmaster.  Wooden comb harmonicas give
a breathy, downhome kind of sound.  They are relatively inexpensive, but
are also the most tempermental of the three materials to play with (I'd
say they wear out the fastest, but usually the reeds wear out before the
comb does).
	Plastic comb harmonicas are the most common, and include Hohner
Pocket Pal, Special 20, Golden Melodies, and Pro Harp, and anything made
by Huang or Lee Oskar.  These have a clearer, more solid tone than wooden
comb harmonicas.  They are range in price from $6 to $26.  Whether you like
these or wooden ones better is a matter of personal preference (see Jeff&
Ollie's New Harp Theory below).
	Metal comb harmonicas have really come into fashion in the last
few years.  They have a bright sound that sounds great, but they're
very expensive($40-$100).  These include Hohner Cross Harp and Meisterklasse,
Suzuki pro master(see warning about valved harps below) and Joe Filisko
custom specials.  Joe Filisko is a harp god who lives near Chicago who
customizes harps for the likes of Howard Levy, Junior Wells, Charlie
Musselwhite, and Peter Madcat Ruth.  The comb and cover plates are solid
brass.  These are instruments to be proud of.  I don't know offhand how
to get in touch with him, for those of you that might be interested, but
I'll try to find out.  Anyway, metal harps sound great, but don't fit into
the budget of most harp players.

2) HOHNER VS. LEE OSKAR VS. HUANG VS. SUZUKI -- There are differences, though
this again is personal preference(see New Harp Theory).  Hohner harps have
a dark tone compared to the Asian models.  They are durable, and are good
for overblows(another story for another time).  They are comparable in
price ($17-$22 for most of them).
	Lee Oskars have a brighter tone than Hohners, but are still solid
harps.  They run $26 for a new harp, but after you've bought it, you don't
have to replace it when it goes bad -- you can buy a new set of reed plates
for about $12.
	Huangs (Pocket Pal's fall into this category too) are mass produced.
Silvertones run $8.25.  They have a very bright tone, but the reeds are very
thin, so they aren't as durable as Hohners.  Some of the favorite harps
that I've owned have been Huangs, and some of the least favorite have been
Huangs.
	Suzukis are interesting.  I know people that love the folkmasters,
and the pro masters without valves are excellent(see valved harp warning
below).  They just don't make plastic harps.  Tone like Lee Oskar, bright
but reliable.

3) WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALL THE HOHNER MODELS? -- Not much.  The
biggest distinction is in the comb.  Blues Harp/Marine Band -- Wood,
Special 20/Golden Melody/Pro Harp -- plastic, Cross Harp/Meisterklass --
metal.  Also the Golden Melody is banana shaped.  What's inside is
virtually the same for all of them.  The only real difference that I'm
aware of is where the action is set.  ie., it's easier to bend notes on
a blues harp than a marine band when you buy it from the store.  You can
set the action yourself with a bent paper clip(another story for another
time).

4)VALVED HARPS -- Don't ever buy one.  Suzuki charges $60 for a pro master
with valves that allow you to bend blow notes.  It's really a waste of money.
No one bends blow notes anyway.  If you're to the point where you need more
notes, learn how to overblow.  You can't overblow on a valved harp.

5)JEFF & OLLIE'S NEW HARP THEORY
		OR
  THE THEORY OF HARMONICA RELATIVITY

	Whatever kind of harp you've been playing on, the next harp you pick
up will sound better than the one you've been playing on.
	This happens pretty much without fail, and there's no good explanation
why.  I guess when you get used to the sound of your harp, anything different
sounds better because you're not used to it.  I've forsaked marine bands
for pocket pals and vice versa.  Lee Oskars for Hohners for Huangs.  There's
no real rhyme or reason to it.  Once again, it's only a theory, but I don't
think I'm alone on this one.

6)DON'T STAY UP LATE AT NIGHT WORRYING ABOUT IT -- You can't go wrong with
any of these harps.  If you feed it through an amp, it'll all be distorted
anyway.  It's great to experiment.  Just remember that it's not the harp so
much as who's playing it.
							Jeff