Hohner MS Blues Harp transformation with help from Dave Payne & Chris Michalek

[BillMorrison90]

I have a question...I have a Hohner Blues Harp in D key (was a gift)...In order to play blues with an another instrument simultaneously, does the song has to be from an A key so as to match with my harmonica's sound ? I mean how does this work? Apparently I'm an amateur and please i need your help...thank you in advance

[N62KNM]

@BillMorrison90 Hi Bill, If the band is playing in A then a D harp is correct for 2nd position.

If you played along with an A harp you would be in 1st position. 2nd position is also known as cross harp. Google blues harmonica cross harp and all will be explained.

[BillMorrison90]

@N62KNM Got it!thank you for being helpful!

[N62KNM]

EXD33S Watch all the vids you can on embossing and gapping and you will end up with some nice harps after a bit of work.

[EXD33S]

Just inherited 35 of these :D

[Cairns70]

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[LondonCitygent]

Fantastic

[dustinlindellstudios]

rock on grandpa, i freeeken love it! yep

[elkriverharmonicas]

Glad I could play some small role in that. I really enjoyed the old Blues Harp, the one from back in the day, I used to play those all the time when I was a kid.

[yobbos1]

Yeah got a German made Hohner Blues Harp in C. 7 and 8 draw is terrible and the 2 draw is, shall we say, temperamental. There is a shop in my area that carries the Special 20, think I'll try that one. Thanks for the advice.

[N62KNM]

Hi Yobbos. Were you unlucky enough to buy a really bad harp?Tthe only way you can be 100% certain that you get a really good harp is to buy a custom. If you do go that way look at the sites of the two guys I mention in the video, they are among the best.

I.M.O .the best out of the box are Suzuki blues or pro master, hohner Special 20 or Lee oskar.

If you have a friend who plays, take them with you when you go to buy a new harp.

[yobbos1]

Love your vids. Learning a ton from you. Only been playing two weeks and you're right. I thought I couldn't bend.

[isaacullah]

Quite nice... I too have struggled with these harps... Embossed the heck out of the two that I have, sanded the combs, etc... Got them into MUCH better condition... Now that I'm into Seydels, however, that's all in the past... I still play my Blues Harp in A, but i'm just waiting for it to "blow out" so I can replace it with a seydel! :) Thanks again fro posting these vids...

PS, I know EXACTLY what you mean by the crappy 2 draw on these harps! They just suck out of the box.

[heybuddyheybuddy]

@isaacullah yeah i have a MS Blues Harp... never drew at all on the 2 hole, really crappy... anyway the rest of the general sound is good

[N62KNM]

Hi Harmonicazhin.The thing that suprised me was the before and after contrast. I have a few of these lying around that were so awful to play I was going to use them for parts. I only did the one shown because i had some spare time.

Now I suppose I have to do the others as well.

I also have a couple of pre MS Blues Harps

that, other than the coverplates, seem identical to a handmade Marine Band. I wonder what they are going to turn out like

[harmonicazhin]

I REALLY KNOW what you mean when you say that these harps need a massive embossing job.

Out of every harp I've tried these ones take FOREVER.

But yeah, the work on them is worth it. They really sound MUCH better don't they :)

[N62KNM]

Thank you.