Hey y’all, I just broke my East Top Happy Harmonica, and I need a new one! I would love to spend under 50 bucks if possible <3 Any suggestions?
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The two I see most recommended are Hohner Special 20 and Lee Oskar, but they are $50-60.
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Buy once cry once!
If I were you, I’d buy a nice one that will last you for years. Or keep buying cheap ones that will keep breaking over and over again. I’ve seen special 20s or MS Blues harps for $42.99-$46.99
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I would wait until you can get a Hohner Rocket or Crossover. Both lay very well and you will not have to upgrade as you progress. Over the long haul you will spend less. I started fishing when I was very young and upgraded my rod five times. Sold the first four for fifty cents each. I now have the most expensive rod around. just an analogy.
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How does one " break " a harmonica ?? 
I would try with a big hammer 
For me, I’m mainly a Hohner gal. I started out playing Special 20s and mainly use both versions of the Golden Melody for gigs. But I can’t deny that buying these cost way too much money now thanks to tariffs (I’m saying this as somebody from the United States). Especially the newer Golden Melody, it went from $55USD to $65USD within a span of three years on the market. Ever since the realization that I now can’t afford the harmonica model I’ve been playing for over 6 years, I’ve been looking into different models from different brands.
One of my favorite harmonica brands as of late is the Japan-based Suzuki. I got my first Suzuki harmonica back in 2023, a key of Bb Bluesmaster, and I really enjoyed it. I originally bought it because I was extremely skeptical of how the Gen 2 Golden Melody was gonna be quality wise because I heard from a couple of my harmonica friends who did play the Gen 1 model that the newer one was terrible. I wanted something that was similar in appearance and sound to the original, so I decided to go with the Bluesmaster after doing my own research. Afterwards, I would get two more Bluesmasters in the keys of D and Eb.
Back in April, I tried out their Manji Sky model and I actually like it more than the Bluesmaster. I feel like with the latter and the Harpmaster harmonicas, the comb’s holes are a lot wider compared to the Hohner Rocket series or the Special 20. To me, they’re more similar to the combs of the Seydel Session Standard & Steel and the Tombo Lee Oskar: as they all have recessed combs with large holes. With the Manji Sky, I feel that I’m more comfortable playing with it due to the smaller holes and the “tin sandwich” style construction that I’m more familiar with in my main set of harps.
I did reviews for both of these harps and clips of me playing the blues with them on my Youtube channel in the past. I don’t call myself a blues player at all (I play more rock and country when I’m out doing gigs), but it so happens that many people from both inside and outside of the harmonica community like how I play the blues.
My Bluesmaster Review:
My Manji Sky Review:
After years of playing it the low C reed literally snapped (plus I never properly cleaned it when I first started, so that probably didn’t help)! I have a C Major harp, for the record
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Thank you so much for such an in-depth reply! I already got a Lee Oskar, however, because I heard that it is very durable. Thanks again though!
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Thanks for the advice. I unfortunately got a Lee Oskar though! When it breaks I will probably take your advice.
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You’re welcome. Also I love your profile picture!
I was at a harp festival two years ago and one of the instructors was starting out and trying to play a chromatic. He told me things were not going his way and he let it fly through a window.. His mom hear it and said "that sounded like your chromatic while cooking dinner She never looked up but the chromatic was no more. One of my biggest accomplishments since starting the harp has been to never lose my temper and let a harp fly. Given my temper years ago with myself years ago it is something my wife is surprised by. I have bent a few aluminum baseball bats but only hit the ground when it was dry and hard, Never threw one.
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Haha, thanks! It was supposed to be a .gif but I don’t know what happened
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Wowza. Good job about that!
I think the Harmo Polar harmonicas are great. $39-$40! Regardless of price, they’re comfortable, reliable, nice tone.
I don’t think the LO will break @ChetLIV. But as I did for years and years and years, you’re probably using too much force with your air pressure!!
Yep, I got that one when I was about 9. So, I was probably treating it terribly, on top of getting saliva in it (probably triggering mold growth), and being an overall pretty bad harmonica.
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Here we go you sound exactly like me Fishing, firearms, snowboards, surfboards, bicycles, harmonicas. When I jump In I dive head first lol. Me and my wife do ok but we are not rich, you gotta find ways around the wife.
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Blow the reeds out, break the comb, or abuse. You know Harmonica abuse is real call 888 clean your harp.
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