[Harp-L] Low F# Marine Band Deluxe?

[Doug Schroer <dougharps@xxxxxxxxx>]

After I posted about liking my Low F# MBD I looked for one online and did
not find any U.S. vendor that had them in stock.  Are they still being
manufactured?  The Low F# MBD plays wonderfully, and really surprised me at
how the ease of playing on a lower keyed instrument.  Playing the Suzuki
Low F Promaster I have had since the 1990 has always been a struggle
despite adjustments, so I didn't expect the LF# MBD to play so easily.  I
was thinking I might pick up another LF# MBD just in case, and would also
try a Low F MBD to see if it played easier than my Low F Suzuki Promaster.

I did notice that the Seydel Session Steel has a Low F# harp available, but
I don't know if they play as nicely as the MBD.  I don't care for the
Hohner MS series harps, finding them to play stiffly even in more common
keys.

After I started playing my LF# MBD I decided I would never buy another
"normal" (high) F# harmonica due to the shrillness of that key of
diatonic.  My use is almost always when playing 2nd position accompanying
guitar players and vocalists on songs played in D with the guitar tuned
down a half step making it Db.  The sound of the LF# is very similar to the
same song played on a G harp had the guitar player not tuned down.   The
normal (higher) F# just loses the impact of the mellow sound you would get
on a G harp.  I like the LF# MBD's sound and how easily it plays, though
the higher LF# certainly can be played much faster.

Has Hohner discontinued Low F# MBDs?  Is it just in the U.S. that no one is
carrying them?

Doug S.