[Harp-L] Re: Hohner Price Increase

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

Hohners do tend to have a distinctive sound.  What a particular  
player looks for and appreciates in tone is a subjective matter.  So,  
within rather broad limits, there's no good or bad.  I am under the  
impression that the sound of MBs  that many players find attractive  
probably has more to do with the vented covers than anything else.

The custom harps i have are made with GM plates and covers.  Superior  
precision and response as compared to OOB GMs, but they do retain  a  
recognizable Hohner sound.  Whether that's a good or bad thing is a  
subjective determination.  i do think Hohners, in general, have a  
more "open" tone with more overtones than the Suzuki Hammonds and  
Firebreaths which, to my ear, have a tighter more "focused" tone.  
Which you like depends on taste and playing style.

If players like MBs, that's great, and I'm certain custom MBs are  
terrific instruments.  But I just find it difficult to accept that in  
the 21st century a major manufacturer is making a harmonica put  
together with nails using unsealed combs that swell.  To me, it  
indicates a deep disrespect for the consumer and a PT Barnum business  
philosophy. But a  whole lot of players like them, buy them and play  
them.  I don't.

JP


On Jan 22, 2010, at 8:04 AM, fjm wrote:

> On 1/22/10 5:17 AM, John F. Potts wrote:
> > As i understand it, the entire harmonica customization trade  
> > originally
> > developed from the need to make MBs more playable.
>
>
> One way of looking at it.  I believe Joe Filisko started out making  
> Lee Oskar customs.  I tend to think that the reason the Hohner  
> handmade plates are the platform for many customised harmonicas is  
> that they have a lot to offer and not in terms of deficits.  Kind  
> of the same reason so many people use 350 Chevy engines for hot  
> rods.  I have a tweaked Seydel.  It's not the same as a hand made  
> plate.  In general the pattern is if the reed profiles etc resemble  
> the MB plates then I am happy with the results of a customisation  
> of the plate.  I have several MB knockoff customs that I adore.   
> There is a certain style of playing that is facilitated by the MB  
> plates.
>
> You can look at it at least 2 ways.  Virtually all customs are  
> based on a Marine Band plate because the stock product has so many  
> deficits or you could think that the other brands just don't end up  
> in the same place once they are customised.  And by the way I have  
> no love for Hohner.  fjm