Re: [Harp-L] Favorite Brand/Model of Diatonic?

[MundHarp@xxxxxxx]

I've tried most available diatonic harps... There is more difference in the 
REED PLATES than anything else....

I like Hohner MS harps. It is probably because they are slightly larger and 
also seem to be louder than standard Hohner HM or Lee Oskar harps.... I like 
Hohner "Blues Harp" MS cover plates A LOT... The best harps (for me) are EITHER 
Antony Dannecker's metal combed "Dannecker Blues" harps... BUT WITH BLUES HARP 
COVER PLATES... or Mark LeVoie's titanium comb MS harps, also with Blues Harp 
cover plates... If you live in the USA, beat a path to Mark LeVoie's door. 
His harps are FANTASTIC... If you live in Europe, go to Tony Dannecker His harps 
are fantastic too...

Years ago, I preferred wood combs... But they swell up and rip up your 
lips... Then I got to like plastic combs... They DON'T rip your lips... But these 
days I like metal combs the best... Titanium, stainless steel or nickel plated 
brass. It doesn't matter. They just seem to play more responsively. AND seem to 
be louder.

OK.â I know ... you can make combs out of cement and the audience won't know 
the difference...

But the harmonicist WILL  (probably) know which "feels"  best... :-)

Sadly great harps are not available "out of the box"... You need to go to a 
specialist.

John Walden
London
England