Hello. I bought a set of 10 Huang Silvertone deluxe harps... Which tune should I start to practice with, and what kind of practice, do you have some link or something... I also have a Hohner Blues Harp in E ... It's my first harp and I already got into it a bit, but I don't know where my practice should start... So if u could give me some tips I'd be thankful... Greetings from Bosnia!
@Dexstasy - There are many opinions on this..... I would recommend asking this question on the Modern Blues Harmonica forum and see what kind of answers you get. As for me, I hope to have some instructional materials available soon. I started playing gospel tunes, and learned a lot from listening to players like Buddy Greene and Terry McMillan.
Yes, Cham Ber did design the Golden Melody for Hohner. If you check you will find that Hohner is 90% owned by a company in Taiwan R.O.C. very few of their instruments are actually manufactured in Germany anymore, even so, the parts were probably made in China. About 70% of the harmonicas today are made in the Shanghai National Harmonica Factories 1 & 2 including Huang. Products in China are made to specifications for companies, good specs, good product, bad specs, well you get it!
@tinfeet Some of the cheaper Hohner models are made in China, but the Handmade classic models are all still made in Germany. Confirmed this with Hohner and with Steve Baker this year at SPAH. Huang harmonicas are inconsistent, but the one in this video was set up from the factory. This video will probably be deleted soon, as I have changed my opinion on Huangs since the time that this video was posted. They also seem to be becoming obsolete.
Outstanding..I believe Huang makes Hohner for them in their factory ..may be wrong on this one. Fermata music carries the line of Huang harps, they are in the carolinas someplace..Thanks for the video
Can anybody tell me what the story is with Huang Harmonicas they seem to have no website, their availability other than ebay seems to be non-existant...
Good question. Someone at Huang told me recently that they weren't sure how much longer Huang Harmonicas would be around. One thing is for sure, they certainly can't compete anymore with the many harmonica brands that exist today. Huangs are decent harps, but require some work to make them playable. The ones in this video were customized by Huang. Its a shame that they never produced a better product - they certainly had the potential to be great harps.
If thats case I think I'm gonna stock up on them big time, but I hope some miracle happens for the folks at Huang, and I was just starting to take a break from Marine Bands, and loved my new Silvertone in the key of E cost me only 12 euros, and it played quite nicely for me out of the box...
Todd, I agree that the Huang Star Performer is a fine harp. I have one in B flat and I worked on it and customized it. I find it to be one of my most responsive harmonicas and like you said, my SP bends to no end. I have all kind of models~ Hohners, Bushman, Herring, Lee Oskars, You name it. I find that my SP is real tough also and it won't blow out any reeds. Now, I have other Huangs that I wouldn't give a nickle for, but this particular one is great!!! Thank you for posting.
Hi Todd, just found you on youtube and I have really enjoyed your videos and particularly your great playing. It's good to hear that I am not the only fan of the Huang Star Performer, sure they do seem to need a little work out of the box but spend 30 mins. and you end up with good value for money. I have had Marine Band harps that have needed much more work than Huang from the box.
p.s. I do open the back on the Huang and find that it improves the tone.
Brother Todd, speaking of Blues and Keys. If you had but one choice for a Key. What single Key would be your choice. Or will you say that you cannot answer a question like that. Then what is your favorite Key for Blues?
Well, that's a tough one.... I would say a harp in D is what I usually keep handy. Of course, you use a D harp to play in the key of A. For blues, I also like harps in E and D-flat, and sometimes E-flat.
Ok, about the Flat Keys, are they lower sounding. D re-tuned to D-Flat is the Flat tuning a lower pitch or sound? An A that is re-tuned to A Flat is this also a lower pitch does the Flat tuning in this case actually raise the pitch?
I have been playing special 20's for a while and I thought I would try a huang I find you need more air flow to make the reeds work I would think if you use this harp for practice and when you pick a better quality harp you would have developed a better breath tenique in the way you play and sound "hold notes longer" all in all better chops when it's all said and done.
I would caution buying Huangs out of the box. The quality is sometimes inconsistent, but they can sound good if you give them a little bit of work. I would suggest the Hohner Golden Melody instead. The Huangs in this video have been customized. I also learned from Huang that they may not be in production in the near future. Let me know if I can help you further.
Thanks for your question.... I personally have never cared much for harmonicas with a wooden comb, unless they have been customized. As for the MS Blues Harps, I find them stiff as well, though I do have & use a couple of them. I've never been that impressed with the MS series in general. I'm not sure why Hohner, if they wanted to compete with Lee Oskar, couldn't have just offered replacement reed plates for their non-MS harps. The non-MS Cross Harp, for example, was an awesome harp.
As for Huangs, I don't really find any of them to be "consistent". The Huangs that I use were customized by the folks at Huang & play great. I did buy a new Silvertone today in C, & it seems that they are now nickel plating the cover plates, but the reed gapping is still inconsistent across the harp. Once I customize it myself, it should play well. The thing I like about the Silvertones is the feel, not so much the tone, which as I mentioned, is thin.
I bought a Huang Jazz Harp in F from Coast to Coast for a whopping 5.50 and am disappointed. Very thin tone and small. It looks attractive but between the poor tone and odd tuning I have trouble trying to play anything worthwhile on it so far. I'll go practice on it again in a bit for grins and giggles just to see if I can make any decent sounds on it but I will not hold my breath waiting for it to sound good (pun intended).
Did you watch the video? I'm discussing Huang harmonicas that have been customized, which Huang used to do free of charge if you purchased directly from them. I only suggested buying one for beginners who may have trouble bending notes & stated that the out of the box quality can be inconsistent. They play & bend great, but just sound a little thin. However, many players have used customized Huangs; Stevie Wonder, Norton Buffalo, Madcat, Sugar Blue, etc. Again, I use Hohners primarily.
Regarding cheap harmonicas, some people simply prefer the tone of certain harps. Charlie McCoy used to used the Hohner Old Standby, which is also a cheap harp. Listen the clip of "Selah" on my personal site. It was done with a $6 Hohner Hot Metal harmonica. I just liked the tone of that harp in the key of A, but not in other keys. Even Jason Ricci mentions out of the box Hohner Marine Bands can be a waste of money. Again, this all just a matter of opinion - play whatever works for you.
I like some of my Hot Metals OK. They can be inconsistent like other Chinese made Hohners but are generally quite airtight, have a relatively full tone for a cheap harp, and bend better than others in their price range. I hate their crappy tin covers though. They reportedly leech chromium into your lips and the ones I have played allot on get dark coloration all around the 4 hole from heavy 3rd position playing. I prefer them covered in a TurboHarp shell which costs another 9 bucks.
Hello. I bought a set of 10 Huang Silvertone deluxe harps... Which tune should I start to practice with, and what kind of practice, do you have some link or something... I also have a Hohner Blues Harp in E ... It's my first harp and I already got into it a bit, but I don't know where my practice should start... So if u could give me some tips I'd be thankful... Greetings from Bosnia!
Dexstasy 1 month ago
@Dexstasy - There are many opinions on this..... I would recommend asking this question on the Modern Blues Harmonica forum and see what kind of answers you get. As for me, I hope to have some instructional materials available soon. I started playing gospel tunes, and learned a lot from listening to players like Buddy Greene and Terry McMillan.
AceOfHarps 1 month ago
Damn! You play brilliantly! Your Huangs sound great to me. Have to look into getting one.
raindog951 10 months ago
@raindog951 - Thanks! With Huang, it really is a gamble, as sometimes they play good, and sometimes not so good. Good luck!
AceOfHarps 10 months ago
Yes, Cham Ber did design the Golden Melody for Hohner. If you check you will find that Hohner is 90% owned by a company in Taiwan R.O.C. very few of their instruments are actually manufactured in Germany anymore, even so, the parts were probably made in China. About 70% of the harmonicas today are made in the Shanghai National Harmonica Factories 1 & 2 including Huang. Products in China are made to specifications for companies, good specs, good product, bad specs, well you get it!
tinfeet 1 year ago
@tinfeet Some of the cheaper Hohner models are made in China, but the Handmade classic models are all still made in Germany. Confirmed this with Hohner and with Steve Baker this year at SPAH. Huang harmonicas are inconsistent, but the one in this video was set up from the factory. This video will probably be deleted soon, as I have changed my opinion on Huangs since the time that this video was posted. They also seem to be becoming obsolete.
AceOfHarps 1 year ago
Outstanding..I believe Huang makes Hohner for them in their factory ..may be wrong on this one. Fermata music carries the line of Huang harps, they are in the carolinas someplace..Thanks for the video
graybeard19 1 year ago
Outstanding..I believe Huang makes Hohner for them in their factory ..may be wrong on this one. Thanks for the video
graybeard19 1 year ago
Outstanding..I believe Huang makes Hohner for them in their factory ..may be wrong on this one. Thanks for the video
graybeard19 1 year ago
Outstanding..I believe Huang makes Hohner for them in their factory ..may be wrong on this one. Thanks for the video
graybeard19 1 year ago
so do you ever play amplified?
jazzharp52 2 years ago
I do play amplified sometimes, but not too often.
AceOfHarps 2 years ago
Years back I used to use Huangs a
lot. It seemed when you got a good
one it was a Good One! Pretty much
stick to Golden Melodies now.
Diggsblues 2 years ago
Also Todd do you have any contact details for Huang (if they're still around) where I could possibly order some?
By the way have you ever tried Bushman harps before? I just got one in D and I love it, very air tight, and really loud too!
SuperCat 2 years ago
Can anybody tell me what the story is with Huang Harmonicas they seem to have no website, their availability other than ebay seems to be non-existant...
SuperCat 2 years ago
Good question. Someone at Huang told me recently that they weren't sure how much longer Huang Harmonicas would be around. One thing is for sure, they certainly can't compete anymore with the many harmonica brands that exist today. Huangs are decent harps, but require some work to make them playable. The ones in this video were customized by Huang. Its a shame that they never produced a better product - they certainly had the potential to be great harps.
AceOfHarps 2 years ago
If thats case I think I'm gonna stock up on them big time, but I hope some miracle happens for the folks at Huang, and I was just starting to take a break from Marine Bands, and loved my new Silvertone in the key of E cost me only 12 euros, and it played quite nicely for me out of the box...
SuperCat 2 years ago
These are the only harps Norton Buffalo uses.
harpo10 2 years ago
In spite of what I said about the Huang SP., I agree with you again~I like the Golden Melody the best of all my brands.
Thanks again.
Broaart 2 years ago
Todd, I agree that the Huang Star Performer is a fine harp. I have one in B flat and I worked on it and customized it. I find it to be one of my most responsive harmonicas and like you said, my SP bends to no end. I have all kind of models~ Hohners, Bushman, Herring, Lee Oskars, You name it. I find that my SP is real tough also and it won't blow out any reeds. Now, I have other Huangs that I wouldn't give a nickle for, but this particular one is great!!! Thank you for posting.
Eddie.
Broaart 2 years ago
I've noticed you never do the head-shake, Todd....are you just forgetting to throw that in now and then? You're awesome, btw!
angrywhiteman09 2 years ago
Hi Todd, just found you on youtube and I have really enjoyed your videos and particularly your great playing. It's good to hear that I am not the only fan of the Huang Star Performer, sure they do seem to need a little work out of the box but spend 30 mins. and you end up with good value for money. I have had Marine Band harps that have needed much more work than Huang from the box.
p.s. I do open the back on the Huang and find that it improves the tone.
N62KNM 3 years ago
Brother Todd, speaking of Blues and Keys. If you had but one choice for a Key. What single Key would be your choice. Or will you say that you cannot answer a question like that. Then what is your favorite Key for Blues?
slingger3 3 years ago
Well, that's a tough one.... I would say a harp in D is what I usually keep handy. Of course, you use a D harp to play in the key of A. For blues, I also like harps in E and D-flat, and sometimes E-flat.
AceOfHarps 3 years ago
Ok, about the Flat Keys, are they lower sounding. D re-tuned to D-Flat is the Flat tuning a lower pitch or sound? An A that is re-tuned to A Flat is this also a lower pitch does the Flat tuning in this case actually raise the pitch?
slingger3 3 years ago
I'm not sure I fully understand your question, but, yes, flat keys are a half step lower.
AceOfHarps 3 years ago
Always very interesting and informative.
slingger3 3 years ago
Todd thanks for the review, you play really well, I bought a silvertone no D and I'm quite satisfied, but the overbending isn't so great.
bartendersb 3 years ago
I have been playing special 20's for a while and I thought I would try a huang I find you need more air flow to make the reeds work I would think if you use this harp for practice and when you pick a better quality harp you would have developed a better breath tenique in the way you play and sound "hold notes longer" all in all better chops when it's all said and done.
1bluesbrother 3 years ago
Thanks for this. I've been looking for a change from my Hohner Pro Harps, and Huang seems like a good choice.
BardofCornwall 3 years ago
I would caution buying Huangs out of the box. The quality is sometimes inconsistent, but they can sound good if you give them a little bit of work. I would suggest the Hohner Golden Melody instead. The Huangs in this video have been customized. I also learned from Huang that they may not be in production in the near future. Let me know if I can help you further.
AceOfHarps 3 years ago
Thanks for your question.... I personally have never cared much for harmonicas with a wooden comb, unless they have been customized. As for the MS Blues Harps, I find them stiff as well, though I do have & use a couple of them. I've never been that impressed with the MS series in general. I'm not sure why Hohner, if they wanted to compete with Lee Oskar, couldn't have just offered replacement reed plates for their non-MS harps. The non-MS Cross Harp, for example, was an awesome harp.
AceOfHarps 3 years ago
You make the Silvertone sound good. If I was to try one, what key have you found them more consistently 'good' in?
quinoacat 3 years ago
I take that back. I was confusing it with the Star Performer in A you played on. The Silvertone still sounds too thin for my taste.
quinoacat 3 years ago
As for Huangs, I don't really find any of them to be "consistent". The Huangs that I use were customized by the folks at Huang & play great. I did buy a new Silvertone today in C, & it seems that they are now nickel plating the cover plates, but the reed gapping is still inconsistent across the harp. Once I customize it myself, it should play well. The thing I like about the Silvertones is the feel, not so much the tone, which as I mentioned, is thin.
AceOfHarps 3 years ago
I bought a Huang Jazz Harp in F from Coast to Coast for a whopping 5.50 and am disappointed. Very thin tone and small. It looks attractive but between the poor tone and odd tuning I have trouble trying to play anything worthwhile on it so far. I'll go practice on it again in a bit for grins and giggles just to see if I can make any decent sounds on it but I will not hold my breath waiting for it to sound good (pun intended).
quinoacat 3 years ago
Wholeheartedly agree, used to love my Silvertone Deluxes, just can't find them in the UK anymore.
theloveboxquartet2 3 years ago
why should anyone buy inferior Chinese Huang harps when there are affordable German, Japanese, & Brazilian harps?
ReedMasterDude 3 years ago
Did you watch the video? I'm discussing Huang harmonicas that have been customized, which Huang used to do free of charge if you purchased directly from them. I only suggested buying one for beginners who may have trouble bending notes & stated that the out of the box quality can be inconsistent. They play & bend great, but just sound a little thin. However, many players have used customized Huangs; Stevie Wonder, Norton Buffalo, Madcat, Sugar Blue, etc. Again, I use Hohners primarily.
AceOfHarps 3 years ago
Regarding cheap harmonicas, some people simply prefer the tone of certain harps. Charlie McCoy used to used the Hohner Old Standby, which is also a cheap harp. Listen the clip of "Selah" on my personal site. It was done with a $6 Hohner Hot Metal harmonica. I just liked the tone of that harp in the key of A, but not in other keys. Even Jason Ricci mentions out of the box Hohner Marine Bands can be a waste of money. Again, this all just a matter of opinion - play whatever works for you.
AceOfHarps 3 years ago
I like some of my Hot Metals OK. They can be inconsistent like other Chinese made Hohners but are generally quite airtight, have a relatively full tone for a cheap harp, and bend better than others in their price range. I hate their crappy tin covers though. They reportedly leech chromium into your lips and the ones I have played allot on get dark coloration all around the 4 hole from heavy 3rd position playing. I prefer them covered in a TurboHarp shell which costs another 9 bucks.
quinoacat 3 years ago