I’ve seen recently a Chinese-made “Melody Maker” harp for sale on Ebay (seller klueyr) and also I believe on Temu (or a similar Asian marketplace). I’ve asked the Ebay seller twice for more information, but got no response so far. They sell the harp in all Major keys, but they don’t say if they label their version of this tuning in first or second position. Both Seydel and Tombo (Lee Oscar) label their versions in second position. Also they should specify whether a C harp (second position) is a first position low-F or a high-F. I go through about 4 reed sets a year and need to finder a cheaper way to support this hobby. I noticed the Chinese MM harps use bronze phosphor reeds (like Suzuki). I really like those reeds better than the brass ones used by Tombo and a way lot better than the steel ones used by Seydel (though I think the Seydel steel reeds probably last longer). But I digress. Any info about the Chinese melody-maker harps will be most appreciated.
Uh … say WHAT !! How hard do you blow and draw on your harp ?? Do you not have an amplifier? I think that any normal harmonica playing technique should allow you to play just ONE set of reed plates (the one that comes with the harp) for four years.
You need to do some serious re-thinking about your playing technique.
– Slim 
Uh, did I ask for a critique of my playing style? I meant to ask for information about the Chinese made Melody Maker harp with bronze phosphor reeds.
Hi @monkeymonk
First of all, I did not critique your playing style, but rather your playing technique. There is a difference between these, of course, but I will leave that as an exercise for you.
Until you change our playing technique, I truly doubt that you will find a solution to your stated problem. In order to attempt to assist you, I thought it best to point you towards the source of your desire to get information about another harp manufacturer (namely, your problem of going through about four reed sets in 12 months and this being rather expensive). I could have said that you should earn more money, or select a cheaper hobby, or some other such drivel. Or I could have researched the harp company for you.
But these alternatives would, in my opinion, have been much less helpful than offering advice that would really assist you. And, of course, it might also be the case that you do not see your rapid destruction of reeds as a problem – in which case there is an appropriate proverb for this situation:
“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.”
Good luck,
– Slim
@slim Hello again. I think of style and technique like personality and behavior. Style is your musical personality and technique is the behavior that makes it manifest. I think they are inseparable. You may aim to change your playing style, but you will need to change your playing techniques to do it. You may think you only want to change your playing techniques, but your style will change also whether you intend that or not. I know playing style (technique if you prefer) does affect reed life. Bends, for instance, do shorten reed life. I’ve read where some players thought otherwise. And it’s true that increase in breath pressure is not the main technique used to bend a reed. The main technique there is to change the shape of the oral cavity. But breath pressure is involved also. And the shape of oral cavity also affects stress level. I was interested in your belief that a reed set should last 4 years. I think most players get no more than two hundred hours from a reed set. Some only half that. I have gotten as much as 15 years off a reed set because I kept the harmonica in the box that long without playing it. My grandpa used to say you can put a lot of miles on a tire using it for a spare. The same is true of reed sets. Other factors involved besides hours of play are things like how dusty the environment is, how wet the player’s playing style is, how careful the player is to thoroughly rinse their mouth before playing, etc. All these things are great to talk about, and if you want to talk about them, please start a topic on another (more appropriate) category and mention me (@monkeymonk) and I will enjoy joining you as time permits. But this topic I want to be for discussing Melody Maker harps—particularly the new one that recently came on the market. I have learned they are made by Kongsheng and that this brand is available from Rockin Rons. I’m going to contact them today for more info about the MM tuned harps from this brand.
Hi @monkeymonk
No need to start any new topic(s) as all of these things have already been discussed here on the forum. Since you are very new here, it is not surprising that you have not found them.
This is a very good idea and will most likely provide you with the best information. Rockin’ Ron has an excellent reputation and will serve you well. Keep us informed about what you discover there.
– Slim
@monkeymonk welcome to the forum! Glad to have you here! I’m sure they’re labeled in 2nd position, since MM was brought to market by Lee Oskar, I think everyone would follow that naming convention. What did Rockin’ Ron say?
@Luke I got no reply from Rockin Ron about the Kongsheng MM harp. So, I took a chance and bought one. Just got it yesterday (9 days direct from China–the fast boat this time I guess.) Like you, I was nearly certain they labeled in 2nd position since Lee Oskar and Seydel MM-tuned harps are labeled that way. So, I ordered a D which would be a G harp in 1st position. (I’m well aware I don’t need to tell you things like that, but I try to keep aware that we may not be the only ones in the conversation.) Anyway, I WAS WRONG! The harp is in 1st position D. So, it requires an easy scale 4 draw bend to play it in D, but it plays the diatonic scale in A in 2nd position with no bends. Oh well. On a brighter note, it is a really good harp! Very smooth comb, very responsive, thick comfortable covers, the cover bolts use sleeve-type nuts, and it’s easy to get the simple bends required in most of the things I play, It’s just higher pitched than I prefer, so it won’t get used as much as some of my other harps.
Ah darn it! Sorry to hear that! It bugs me to no end the key labeling thing here.
Especially with Natural Minor, why does Hohner call it a C Natural Minor that plays a G Natural Minor scale in 2nd position. It’s not C Natural Minor! That’s false advertising. 
Glad you dig the harp, sorry it’s not really the key you’d wanted. How much did it set ya back?