Dear harp-lers. I would like to comment on the better harps thread. It seems that a common trait with we harpers is that we search for the harmonica that gives us what we want . I started playing in the mid sixties and there were none of the choices that we have today. There are many more models and brands available and plastic combs and modular style harps have supposedly made life easier.The fact is that all the models(even the hand made Hohners) are factory mass produced and consequently suffer (more or less)from a lack of uniformity in playability and tone.I remember an Echo Harp in "A" that was a joy to play right out of the box and it was my favorite for a long time until the inevitable reed failure.What a sad day that was!I was never able to replace it with another that played as well. Nowadays I would just put another reed in there and restore my baby to her former glory. In the 60's recycling meant getting on your bike twice.Now it means reusing junk and keeping something alive that used to be a throwaway.Some of us recycle (and some of us get told to get on our bike more than once). Mass produced harmonicas are great value for what you pay for them and one player will swear blind that L.O.s are the best harps and another will argue the Hohner case. I went round in circles until I played a Filisco Marine Band.This changed my life and opened doors I had never imagined to tone and ease of playability. So these days there are a lot more possibilities available from the humble cheapie to the hand finished finely tuned custom.One only gets what one pays for. I personally feel that the Marine Band is a fine instrument right out of the box .Another player will complain that the wood swells and cuts their lips.Another will swear blind that a hand made special 20 is THE harp. And on it will go.Every time a new brand or model comes out there will be a rush to see if it is an improvement on what has gone before and the whole consumer cycle starts again. I will continue to read with interest the opinions of contributors to harp - -l in relation to their search for the perfect harmonica. Kind regards to all, Neil
