So would yall say to buy a honer sp20, a LO or the Suzuki olive? I’ve heard good and bad for all them. I looking for something with a good lasting and reliable?
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Sp 20 is my vote. Very reliable.
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What style are you looking to play?
Hard to beat a Crossover.
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Of the ones you’ve mentioned I’ve only tried a special 20, and this advice for people to get special 20’s now totally makes sense to me. I was finally able to learn how to bend using it.
Mostly worship/ contemporary Christian. But really looking for something that would last me. My easy top 008k I bought last Nov when I started the 8-9 hole keep not blowing well. I’ve tried to adjust them but no luck yet. I’ve followed some things to try to fix it on the internet but still having trouble so looking at upgraded and spending more for longevity and reliability.
Seydel 1847 models have stainless steel reeds and are very reliable – not cheap, but quality seldom is. They have models with combs made out of wood, plastic or metal. The choice is yours. They also offer a huge range of tunings and you can even design your own tuning.
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The Suzuki Olive is okay but it has closed covers. I prefer the Suzuki Manji – basically the same construction, but open covers. I’ve used it with praise bands and blues bands. Here’s how it sounds – three different approaches
Andy Just – Manji endorser
Filip Jers – endorser (songs 1 & 3)
Baby the Coast is Clear
As somebody who has played gospel music on occassion, I’d get a Hohner Special 20 out of those three. Lee Oskars sometimes have very sticky reeds and are usually less airtight than a SP20 (from personal experience). I’ve never tried personally never tried a Suzuki Olive so I can’t give you an opinion on that. For my harmonica stuff, I mainly use the Hohner Golden Melody (both versions) however both of the models are very controversial because of the whole equal temperment debacle. But Hohners in general are workhorses and will last for a long time without breathing too hard on them.
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I think you are making a smart move. If you want a great playing harp consider HARPSMITH to go through it. When you get it from Kinya, the owner, you will have a great playing harp that will last many years. He is the best. I have had him go through mine and every ne plays very well. SP 20 or a Crossover is all you should need.
These days I play Hohner Special 20’s and Suzuki Bluesmasters. I like unvented harps with plastic combs. In the past few years I practice harmonica hygiene in which I brush, floss, rinse teeth and keep hands clean before playing. I rinse the harps in warm water and wipe down after playing. Ultrasonic cleaning every few months. These Sp 20s and Bluesmasters play like new and will probably last me for years. Plastic over wood combs for me. Love the tone of the Bluesmasters and Special 20’s. Would love to try an Olive but not sure of rinsing and ultrasonic cleaning with wood fiber/resin comb. I hear the Olive is a very nice harp….
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There’s an awful lot of personal preference with harmonicas so it’s only by trying a few that you’ll settle on what you’re really happy with, some people swear by lea oscar, or special 20 of seydel or crossover or suzuki or (whatever).
Special 20 is probably the lowest risk given it’s reputation (I’ve not had one)
I will never have another comb made out of wood. With a good plastic comb you can dip the harp in alcohol and in 15 seconds it is clean and ready to go. I usually go over a harp with a hair drier on the low side. If the harp is as warm as your breath and the harp clean the higher draws are easier to play. Less pressure, better notes.
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Hill.Shayne91 - Have you tried running warm water through the harmonica, blowing and drawing, more warm water tap dry and leave out overnight to dry and see if it plays in the morning? Easttop is supposed to be good harmonica but saliva and food particles can freeze up reeds sometimes…
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I recently got an old model Golden Melody and I love it. Sort of like my bluesmasters and in a good way.
The old Golden Melodies are fantastic harmonicas, as these are the ones that I play the most. I got into that model because of Terry McMillan, a very famous Golden Melody user who sadly passed away in 2007, but the way he used them wasn’t a typical “melodies only” thing eltitists tell me. He straight up played blues licks on them and he sounded amazing with them.
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I recently received an older model Golden Melody in the key of G. Just love it. Similar to my Suzuki Bluesmaster. Like the Bluesmaster this Golden Melody is in Equal Temperament but I can’t tell a lot of difference to my compromise special 20’s. I’m 72 years old and have some high frequency hearing loss but my mid and low range hearing has tested above average. I like unvented harps for a mellower sound. Open vents sound shrill to me and my audiologist explained that would be a normal response for me. I play country, old time Gospel, Americana, and blues. Chords, fills and solos. My Golden Melody handles all of this easily. Like I said, much like my Bluesmasters.
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