Re: [Harp-L] Special 20s

[Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx>]

I don't understand where you're coming from with these questions. Special
20s are amoung the most widely available, competitively priced harmonicas
around. They're certainly much cheaper than Manjis or Crossovers. If you
like them (and many people do) why not just buy them? That would be much
cheaper in the long run than buying harps you don't like and trying to mad
scientist them into SP20s.


On Fri, Dec 28, 2012 at 7:39 AM, Eric Miller <miller.eric.t@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:

> So, there is something about the special 20 that makes it far and away my
> favorite.  It has to do with three things that I've listed* at the end of
> this in case anybody cares.  It's mostly physical feel (not sound related)
> benefits.
>
> Two questions:
>  Can one easily convert other Hohner harps (specifically MBs/Blues Harps)
> to have the same physical qualities of the Special 20s by changing the
> cover plates and/or combs?  (put the guts of another harp into a Spec20
> body essentially)
>
> What *other *harps by any manufacturer have similar physical qualities to
> the Special 20s?  I *really *hope the Crossover and Manji are on this
> list...I hear so many good things about both of these instruments, but if
> they are set up like the MB with the comb set back under the covers, that's
> a deal killer for me, unless they can be easily modified.
>
> *list at the end of this in case anybody cares.
> -  The comb protrudes out generously from under the plates, instead of
> being tucked up under them (slightly, like .5mm) like on a MB style harp.
> -  The plastic surface is smooth and rounded, and when the plastic is wet,
> its like grease.  The MBs wood comb has a bit of a sticky drag to it, and
> the front edges of the plate sticking out make the whole thing a little
> sharp.
> -  The hole spacing seems (to me) a little bigger, and so I can feel the
> holes better in both embouchures.
> - (this is the only sound benefit I perceive) It may be because my Spec20
> is a G harp, but it seems to automatically "stick" nicely on the right
> tones when bending when you get close to the right pitch...it jumps to it
> and sticks.
>



-- 
Arthur Jennings
http://www.timeistight.com