Play Hohner Crossover , Lee Oskar , Marine Band 1896 & Hohner Golden Melody
3 Likes
I play chromatic, Trochilus, and diatonic.
Diatonic is my mainstay. Style-wise I got my own thing going. Blues-Jazz (notice blues first), classic harp licks connected with winding and chromatic lines. Into neo-soul, chicago and west coast swing blues, Jazz-blues, jazz standards, and recently harmonica orchestra and classical chromatic.
Brandwise I was a Hohner guy for a long time. I do still play a few Hohner harps, I also have an Easttop Chromatic and Kongsheng chromatics, but mainly Iām playing Assassins, Trochilus, and JDR chromatics.
2 Likes
Why assassins over hohners? 
2 Likes
In short, playability. They do everything I need out of the box without being adjusted or customized. Overblow 1, 4, 5, 6 and overdraw 7, 8, 9, 10 no squeals and very bendable Also a little less biting sound on the high end. Was similar with the Trochilus set I bought. Little to no issues when overblowing and overdrawing despite me not doing any gapping.
2 Likes
Do you have experience also with Arkia harmonicas?
1 Like
I do not, but I would be excited to try one. They take plates from Kongsheng and Hohner and outfit them with a special plate to help them play overblows. Seems ingenious to me! But Iāve not had a chance to try.
Thereās other customs I want to try - just need to let the harmonica credit card cool off a little.
2 Likes
I would like to try both Assassin and Arkia but probably I would need to choose one for now. Not so cheap 
1 Like
To bend:
Put your tongue down in front of your bottom teeth, and press it against your lips. When you draw in air (with the harp slightly angled upward), slowly pull your tongue back away from the air hole. You will have bent the notes!
Remember that you can only draw bend holes 1-4, and 6.
1 Like
Thank you. I know the technique from the lessons. I just canāt get it to work! Iāve given up!!
1 Like
@jeffw
Let me know if you need more help. It is one of those things that more simple than it seems.
1 Like
It takes time and perseverance, try putting your tongue against the hole you want to bend and as your drawing air in say Te-oh in your mouth moving your tongue down say the T should help and on the - of Te-oh angle the harp down on the oh relax your jaw. This is how I did it when I started playing, now I donāt do that at all but itās a good place to start
1 Like
Thank you. Iāve been trying and persevering for months. I might give it another try
Hi Jeff @jeffw
Giving up is obviously not going to help. So, if you have not listened to this yet, be sure to listen to Liam Wardās video in this post here on the forum ā hopefully it is what will get you started with your bending.
But please: donāt give up !!
Regards,
ā Slim 
2 Likes
Thank you. I see your point but I get a lot of fun out of just playing easy tunes and keeping to my own limited skill level. And there are other factors at play here which I canāt go into. Iām never going to play in public or for others so I plan to stick to what I know. But Iām sure Iāll give bending another try from time to time
2 Likes
@jeffw This may seem a daft question but are you trying too hard? I couldnāt bend for ages and then, when not trying it happened and once it happened that was it, bending was never a problem after that and I even bend on chromatic. Try relaxing, playing what you like and can play and you may find the elusive bend just happens, Jay1
1 Like
You may well be right! Could also be an age thing!! But the encouragement Iām getting on this forum may help me give it another try. Iām currently playing around with midi keyboards and learning to play bass guitar. I try to keep it simple and do some improvisation making up bass lines etc and I find this very relaxing
1 Like
I tried playing double bass until I found out just how difficult they could be on the underground (subway/metro for those outside the UK); not as bad as a drum kit. 
Donāt accept the age thing but I do understand not wanting to join a band with all the commitments. Just chill out and enjoy what you can do, itās probably a lot more than most. Jay1
2 Likes