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Date: Thu, 25 Apr 2002 10:51:38 -0400
From: Shawn C Harding
Subject: Re: Bluesmaster? Or What???

Vince,

I believe the GM's are tuned Equal Temperament (same as LO's) -- but to
my ear they don't sound as discordant as the LO's when doing chord work.
If you're looking for harps tuned Just Intonation, I'd go with the Marine
Bands -- the wood combs can be a pain at times if you don't seal them,
but of all the Just Intonation-tuned harps I've ever played they have the
sweetest tone (again, you can go with the Special 20's if you prefer
plastic combs -- but even though the claim is that they're Marine Bands
with plastic combs, I don't think they're tone is as sweet.)

I use Marine Bands when I'm doing primarily accompanient work as part of
an acoustic duo, and GM's when I'm playing electric and doing primarily
fills and the occassional solo. To my ear, this is the best setup -- but
it took a lot of bread, 14 years, and a lot of worn-out harps to figure
it out :-)

Again, that's my two cents -- hope it helps. But it really all boils
down to your personal preference.

Stay safe,
Stew

On Wed, 24 Apr 2002 15:33:56 -0500 "Vince Cheney"
writes:
> I thought that Golden M... had a different tuning. Is this true or
> are they
> standard diatonic tuned? I thought they were county tuned or
> something. If
> they are standard tuned I will buy 2 of them. I also have decided on
> a Steve
> Baker 14 hole Marine Band (Low D) and 2 Lee Oskar Replacement
> plates. That's
> a ton for $100, it will give me 5 new harps (counting the used
> coverplates
> and combs on the LO).
>
>
> Vince
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Shawn C Harding"
> To:
> Cc:
> Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 8:50 AM
> Subject: Re: Bluesmaster? Or What???
>
>
> >
> > Vince,
> >
> > For my money, I'd go with the Hohner Golden Melody. I've been
> playing
> > Lee Oskars for the past five years and just recently switched back
> to the
> > GM's (they were my first harps.) They play great out of the box
> with a
> > bright, clear tone; have great response up and down the line; feel
> great
> > in your hands with or without a mike and seem to be much easier to
> cup
> > than most harps. Plus, I'm a pretty hard blower sometimes and the
> GM's
> > seem to take the abuse better than the LO's.
> >
> > If you're looking at the Special 20's, I'd go with the Marine
> Bands
> > instead -- they seem to have a much warmer, sweeter tone to me.
> >
> > The Hohner Pro Harps look cool, but weren't very playable right
> out of
> > the box -- the reeds seemed a little stiff.
> >
> > Just my two cents -- hope it helps.
> >
> > Stew
> >
> > P.S. How's your trip going?
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 23 Apr 2002 15:46:48 -0500 "Vince Cheney"
>
> > writes:
> > > I recently have had an itching to try a different harp. I don't
> > > believe in conforming to just one brand or model. I love my Lee
> > > Oskars but have been on a search for something comparable to the
> > > life of lee Oskars and also have a good tone. My next in line
> > > "favorite harp" is the Special 20, and the life on most Hohners
> are
> > > almost as comparable, with my playing styles anyway. I have
> never
> > > tried the Suzuki Bluesmaster. I am going to get $100 worth of
> gifts
> > > for my birthday soon and wanted to know which harp I should get.
> > > Since I will be giging w/ these harps it is important I don't
> > > purchase a dud. Does anyone on Harp-L know if the Bluesmasters
> have
> > > long life and sound good? I was going to try Hering after
> falling in
> > > love w/ one Charlie Musselwhite mailed me, but I was later told
> they
> > > now use a terrible reedplate and after I heard about the *owner*
> of
> > > Herings crooked dealings, I decided to give my money elsewhere.
> I
> > > also have never played the Hohner Pro Harp. Does anyone have any
> > > suggestions? I'm sure there are a lot of good, experienced
> players
> > > that can help me decide here.
> > >
> > > OK so here is the big question, If you had $100 and was going to
> > > order 4 - 6 new harps w/ it, what would you buy? (Please keep to
> my
> > > price range).
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Vince
> > > vin~luzharp.com
> > >
> > > Vince Cheney Plays
> > > Lee Oskar Harmonicas
> > >
> > > Willie Foster Legacy Show May, 18th 2002
> > > http://deltablues.net/williefoster
> > > ___________________________________________
> >
> >