Post by jbone on Apr 22, 2020 22:54:51 GMT -5
A friend- probably bored with the isolation thing currently and cleaning out a closet- but also a guy who has given me several harps over the years that he had tried and decided he didn't plan to use again- recently sent me 3 harps. One was a Lee Oskar in key of F. Lee Oskar makes good harps but generally I don't care for how high they are tuned. This F is an exception. Plays very well and I expect it will last a long time. It's in my main kit and the old Big River that was there is now a spare. Side note, Lee was the first harmonica builder who came out with replaceable reed plates for sale to the public back in the 80's. I'm not sure what the Lee Oskars go for these days but a guess would be $50 each.
The other two harmonicas were Eastop brand, out of China. The brand has been out for maybe 3 or 4 years tops. They are pretty good harps generally speaking and prices are well below say a Marine Band or Suzuki Manji. One was a low F harp, which is a great key to have for certain applications. I have a couple but one is about worn out and the other I like to keep in a separate set for busking. So the low F is also in my main gig case now. The third harp, also an Eastop, is in the key of Ab, a very seldom used key for me. In fact I had one already that pretty much never gets used. I may find a use for them someday and now I have a new one.
These harps, the Eastops, run maybe $25 or $30 each. A Marine Band Deluxe which is what I use are closer to $65. Suzuki Manji are about $62. I have bought a couple of Eastops and they lasted pretty well, in fact one I still have as a spare. The other I wore out. The Eastops usually are not repaired as far as I've seen but nonetheless they are a decent budget harp.
I'm hoping we will play some tomorrow and I will get the 2 F's out and put them through the paces!
The other two harmonicas were Eastop brand, out of China. The brand has been out for maybe 3 or 4 years tops. They are pretty good harps generally speaking and prices are well below say a Marine Band or Suzuki Manji. One was a low F harp, which is a great key to have for certain applications. I have a couple but one is about worn out and the other I like to keep in a separate set for busking. So the low F is also in my main gig case now. The third harp, also an Eastop, is in the key of Ab, a very seldom used key for me. In fact I had one already that pretty much never gets used. I may find a use for them someday and now I have a new one.
These harps, the Eastops, run maybe $25 or $30 each. A Marine Band Deluxe which is what I use are closer to $65. Suzuki Manji are about $62. I have bought a couple of Eastops and they lasted pretty well, in fact one I still have as a spare. The other I wore out. The Eastops usually are not repaired as far as I've seen but nonetheless they are a decent budget harp.
I'm hoping we will play some tomorrow and I will get the 2 F's out and put them through the paces!