Re: [Harp-L] RE: Cheap Harps

[Elizabeth Hess <TrackHarpL@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, but...

If you're going to give someone -- young or otherwise -- a gateway harmonica, you will do them a huge favor if you tell them, "This is an inexpensive harmonica to have fun with.  If you decide you like it and want to do more with it, you should know that there are higher quality instruments (more expensive, (but higher quality!)) that produce a better tone more easily, and are easier to learn on when you start to get into some core techniques."

Inexpensive "toy" harmonicas have their place and purpose.  As do harmonicas that are "serious instruments".  As the Iceman would say, "Vive la difference."  But please, dites la difference, aussi.

Elizabeth H. (aka "Tin Lizzie", dredging up her high school French)


On Jun 25, 2013, at 11:06 PM, Dan Hazen wrote:

> From: Dan Hazen <bluesmandan76@xxxxxxxxx>
> Date: June 25, 2013 10:49:07 PM GMT-04:00
> To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Harp-L] RE: Cheap Harps
> 
> 
> 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.
>