Half valved with TB

Does anyone have an experience with half valved harmonicas while using tongue blocking? Does it make sense to combine TB textures with half valved bends? Or is it to hard to bend it while TB that it’s not worth it?

Lose the valves in my opinion they aren’t great. I’ve took them out of my lucky 13’s as they sounded pretty awful they made a pretty crappy noise when I played em. I also took them out of my Hohner super Chromonica I just didn’t like them

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PT Gazell does it quite well… :smile:

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Easttop valves are terrible. Seydel valves are fantastic. They don’t buzz, don’t stick, and give you great control of your bends.

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Are there any other known half valved harmonica players except Brandon Power and PT Gazell?

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I think there are some Japanese and Chinese manufacturers that do them, JDR, Kong Sheng and East Top who do Lucky 13’s (I have 3 of those but I removed the valves I didn’t like em.

I almost forgot I think Suzuki might do them too. @Hogie.Harmonica knows a lot about some of those makes too maybe he can enlighten you further

I think that the original poster (@Adam1) was asking about players of half-valved harps rather than manufacturers. It’s a good question and I would also be interested in the answer.

As already mentioned by @dominico, the valves that Seydel sells seem to be the best. I also find that they are quiet and seem to rarely stick.

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I play half valved exclusively. Been doing it for about 25 years. (been playing harmonica for almost 60 years now) so I can’t really answer your question as it is easy for me having played so long. Make my own mostly, have some Suzuki, but usually get the non valved model and add my own. I Tongue block and purse lip.

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The JDR Quartz Clock is a half-valved chromatic. I have one. But I am not well-versed in half valve playing so I can’t really give an opinion.

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