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

[Mike <mikefugazzi@xxxxxxxxx>]

I really really really like the Thunderbirds - even bone stock.  My LF# is 
a double-plated Special 20 (Thank you, Matt Smart).  Should I destroy that 
set of reed plates, I would most likely tune down a G to LF# OR just buy a 
LF# Marine Band Deluxe, which is an awesome harp anyways.

The only potential con of a LF# MBD is reed rattle, but that is easily 
fixed either by the owner or buy purchasing conical cover plates.  You can 
buy a LF# MBD and a separate pair of TBird coverplates for less than the 
cost of a TBird.  



On Wednesday, March 6, 2013 8:50:46 AM UTC-6, Doug wrote:
>
> 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. 
>