It’s been a while since I posted, but I’ve been having a little trouble with two of my harps, I blew out my Low F Solist and I lost a nut for my Ab Special 20. The low F Solist was the first harmonica I ever blew out (specifically the 5 draw), but I didn’t see a crack in the reed, I plinked it and it still made a sound. The gap was super low, but it didn’t respond when I tried to gap it and it came back to the extremely low gap. And I don’t know what loosened the square nut on the Special 20, but I never intended to take it apart so that was a mystery to me. So I’m out of two harps.
So my best bet is to find some new harmonica models for these keys. I’m currently looking at the Kongsheng Mars to be replacements for those keys. I know from the Kongsheng harps I’ve owned (the Bluebird and the Solist), they are very loud and play well. I’m still looking for something similar to the Golden Melody, so I’m looking at the Mars for this reason.
I like the Mars, but I would not say it is similar to a Golden Melody.
I bought one (the gold with metal comb). I bought extra coverplates as well.
It is ET tuned, but the response is not as lively. I do think Kongsheng has other harps with a more lively response.
Suzuki pro master comes to mind to try. But the new style golden melody will likely be most similar. If you don’t like the new design, I wonder if the new plates can be retrofit?
I’d speculate that plates should be good. The plates are the heart of the harp,
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The cover plates don’t fit at all.
Is the new one a recessed comb?
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No, but the cover plates have been redesigned to go inside of the sandwich comb instead of on top of the reed plates.
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