oneill, I upvoted you for the funny remark, and NOT for having had your tibia snap in half ! I got hit by a car when I was 7 and broke my femur. That was not fun at all....
you all probably dont care at all but does someone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me.
That was the most clear and scientific comparison I've ever heard. Really helped me hear the clear quality of sound characteristics of each harp. Can't imagine spending 320 euro for a harp, but it certainly sounded good.
I started with a EUR10 (AUD$16) Hohner Silver Star just to see if I wanted to play. Luckily, I upgraded fairly quickly and could not believe how much better a more expensive harp was. Everything seemed easy...including the impact on my ears. What I'd like to see is a video explaining the differences in manufacturing between a cheap piece of junk and a "good" harmonica.
Nice to see you put out a tune on the super cheap harp's (so often people make these video's, and try to make the low cost harp's sound even worse than they are).
Thank you Joel for putting together this video as it puts clarity into the differences of sound and breath necessary to get the sound that is trying to be achieved at what price point. I am finding that learning to bend on an inexpensive harp is literally sucking the life out of me.... I will tune it up, work on it and then when enough $$$ saved get a newer more efficient harp. Thanks again!
wow! It is the first time i think, someone take time to well explain it! I think you answered well to all my fans better than i! Bye! Guy Bélanger RÉPONDRE
Great demo! The 3 Euro model is the best torture device invented. I have to put on ear plugs and play that thing for obnoxious neighbors when they play music too loud. Imagine that sound amplified 10 times! It will drive out cockroaches.
Last three are all hohner marine bands but the last two are custom marine bands which means someone modified the classic ones to sound richer in sound and have better responsiveness as well and also be louder. They are used for live performances and studio recordings. If you want to start learning, classic marine band for 32$ is an excellent choice
@@projectx5154 while I love a marine band, after years of playing, I’d say an ABS comb harp is best for a beginner. The natural combs can be harsh on the mouth/lips when learning embouchure and new players always have an abundance of saliva lol
You can play one of those cheap ones for maybe an hour or two, but after that, the constant bending wears them out and they just become insufferable to listen to and play.
I have had some good times composing tunes around poor harps 🙃 Sometimes you have to take what life throws your way ... thankfully I wasnt hit with a Tuba. Nice comparison video Joel .. Thanks!
I’ve been playing for quite a while, and have several custom harps, but I have never even heard of a $320 harp. Zero chance it’s that much better than a standard custom for $120-$200
This video is great. My only complaint is there are a lot of harmonicas between 6euro and 30 euro, it would of been cool to review one of these. For example, an eastar harmonica
most of the 20 and up models will play out the box .... if you want something that will play loud and soft so you dont got to give it the beans ... the custom harps are worth every penny ... all holes play smooth from 1 to 10 all bends come with ease ( im not paid to say this or nothing but i know his work is good) ....
The 3 euro one sounds like Darth Vader playing the harmonica. There's a reasonable harmonica sound in there somewhere but it's buried under a ton of breathiness.
The sound is so close that only a professional should bother spending the extra $$ (imo). The difference might be more apparent when playing something more intricate. (I'll stick with the Suzuki Bluesmaster and Hohner Special 20 [for I am a noob])
420Kyle1620 anyone who takes the harmonica seriously should buy a custom harmonica, the sound from the harp is of course one difference but the biggest one is the response in bends, overblows and regular notes.
@@irishharmonicaHoward Levy say he 'play[s] Hohner Harmonicas, some customized, some out of the box. My favorite models (in no particular order) are: Crossover, Marine Band Deluxe, Rocket, Golden Melody, Thunderbird, and Special 20.' Do you think maybe he's being influenced by a sponsorship deal?
It would be worth your time and money to save up and buy a quality harmonica because nothing could be more frustrating than to try to learn to play a cheap one because the tone, responsiveness are just not there and they are more difficult to play. You quit in disappointment thinking who can learn to play such a difficult instrument. The quality harmonica almost encourages you to continue and they are much more enjoyable. A quality harmonica is are tight and takes little effort to get a good sound. The cheap harmonica is so leaky they leave you gasping for breath.
That makes no sense. Like saying you cannot afford a car so you buy a rickshaw. The 3 Euro one is not a Harmonica. It is a torture device! Work harder and buy THE BEST only.
I know that there's no point to customize a cheap harmonica (your work costs 300 eur and harmonica that you customize 30, no point to try and save 20 Euros here) but I wonder what could you make of an easttop 008k harmonica. Is it possible to customize it at all, will it get to a level of somewhat good harmonica etc. And how much could a beginning customizer realistically achieve. For me it would be great if was able to use $10 harmonicas as my first projects i suppose I'm gonna screw up a few times...
The amp manages to make the best instrument sound cheap. Excellent comparison. What I’ve found in any instrument is that a better one will make playing easier, more enjoyable & you spend more time on it. Then you get better, and can make a bad one sound good. If you get good enough, you will have bigger rooms, and your amp will make you sound like crap.
Kevin, I don’t know jack about JA harps, but I switched from Hohners to Seydels last year. I use the Session Steels and the steel Noble 1847. The Seydels have a superior tone, build quality and air tightness over the Hohners. And, they last much longer. ...topping out at about 100 euro for the 1847 steel. ...325 euro?? That’s in the Chromatic price range. What does that harp do? Cook your breakfast?
Hi,, nice video and it gives a useful informastion. Thanks for sharing. Just a big question comes in my mind. Is there any possibility that a cheaper harp could be adjusted , (By reed gapping or other mechanical works) so the sound would be morealike a higher quality (more expensive) harp. Ps : sorry for my bad English. 😊😊😊
Just took an interest in harmonicas for strange reasons. Either way, great video, but for future. Please have a good set up of camera and microphone. I don't know if ur using mic from camera or not. But the quality of the sound could be much better. And even adjust it in software. There is no point in making a video for comparison when you can't experience the full quality. But either way im still new so I would have probably not heard a big difference either way.
They’re great harps for the money. Sometimes they need a bit of work adjusting the reed gapping to play perfectly, but they’re true workhorse harps. I love using them for gigs.
I bought a 3 dollar one as a beginner maybe just me but I can't lip purse which sucks since when i try the only one that actually works is hole 1 and i need to blow really hard for a single note to sound and when I do lip purse the other holes produce sounds while drawing is easy I wish i have a decent one so I can start my harmonica journey hopefully I get to save up for a decent one (probably a fender or a hohner) lesson is don't waste your money on the cheap option welp ima practice with my 3 dollar one Edit: is there a way to tell if a harmonica is functioning correctly?
That €6 one doesn't sound to bad I'm only a beginner so I guess I can't speak from alota experience but I didn't mind the sound until it was compared to the Honer you can easily tell the difference in sound quality
@Dan Didnot ..... really no amp surely you would want to be louder with softer play then blow like fuck and get out of breath ? ... thats no good for noone ... besides did you hear how airy that harp was ... its a toy you couldent do to much with it lol ....
Was the 320 euro ($352 US) a customized harp? I can't imagine paying that much for an off-the-shelf harp. I pay Suzuki Manji's. They have great response, but I do have to work harder than I'd like on the draw notes. I should mention that I'm mainly a trumpet player. I have good air on the "blow" notes but playing the horn doesn't help me at all on the draw notes. I'd like to get around the harp more easily. I know: practice, practice, practice, but still I'd like a few easier blowing harps. Thanks for the vid.
bixntram yes sir that is a custom harmonica: www.jaharmonicas.com Practice yes, but if you practice on an instrument that does not respond as it should, then you could practice forever..
Yes, you get what you pay for. There is a huge difference in sound quality and playability as you go up the price range. They are still ridiculously overpriced. Who makes these things? Nike?
Jake 3752 Nothin wrong with Lee Oskar harmonicas, Jake 3752. I had a few that lasted years and years blowin’ the blues. Real workhorses that sound great when played well. :)
You only played the first few low notes and most harps its the short reeds/ high end that makes the big difference .. and the ability to draw and blow bend
Good idea - but I’d have liked to hear how they work on melodies..... as opposed to a ‘blues type’ growl with too much gain; that was actually a painful experience..... but I managed to get to the end....
well personally after listening to these comparisons; And someone thats wanting to learn to play! I can tell that unlike, say guitar; Not to start off with a cheap one first! I think I will just go ahead, and buy an expensive, cause of how much more I can hear the bends bite down. First three or four didn't bite at all!!! Or am I wrong
All those classical players have been customizing their harmonicas to make them playable, some where buying in bulk and choosing the right ones. True enough, they were customizing $3 harmonica, but look at aj works- harmonica before his work was worth 32 eur and after he was done with it- 300 eur.