[Harp-L] RE: Cheap Harps

[Dan Hazen <bluesmandan76@xxxxxxxxx>]

I still own my first harmonica, which I purchased about 22 or 23 years ago
when I was 15 or 16.  A Hohner Pocket Pal in the key of C. It is still
quite playable and in tune! I think I must not have played it very much for
that to be the case. But I know that a few years after buying it, I got
into Special 20's, because I read that's what John Popper used. I play
mostly Suzuki Bluesmaster and Hohner Meisterklasse now, but I still play
Special 20's some. The Pocket Pal is just a keepsake.

So that was my first harp: a cheapo. But it gave me the bug to keep going.
You can play chords on it, chug some rhythm, and practice melodies. That's
all a novice really needs. It actually feels pretty tight and responsive
today, and I imagine bends would be no problem. (I remember struggling to
learn bends so many years ago... probably on the Special 20's, and not the
Pocket Pal, as I didn't even learn about bends for some time.)

I say give a kid a cheap harp, and see if they get bit! Old Standbys, Hot
Metals, Pocket Pals, American Aces can be had for 7 or 8 dollars shipped on
Amazon. Adults can buy a decent Suzuki or Seydel or better Hohner. If they
don't have $30 for that, they dang sure can't afford to get into music! I
somehow bought all 12 keys in Special 20's when I was a flat broke college
student! (I have no idea how I afforded them!... (maybe I begged for them
as a Christmas present or something).

Point being: where there's a will there's a way. (I know I was bit the
first time I breathed through the harp.) Just give em SOMETHING! If it
takes it takes, and they'll get something better somehow sometime.