JAZZ MUSIC

Which Harmonica Is Better?

I Just Recently Bought A Hamonica Which Was The Hohner Special 20 Key Of C, There Was A Problem With Drawing On 1 and 2 So I Took It Back, And The Woman Exchanged It For A Marine Band 1896C, Which Was At The Same Price, I’ve Heard Alot Of Good Things About The Special 20, But Not Sure That This New One Is As Good! Someone Help Me And Tell Me If I Should Re Exchange It For The Special 20?

Actually you should have sent it to Hohner in Virginia for warranty work.
Hohner, Inc.
1000 Technology Park Dr
Glen Allen, Virgina 23059
(804) 515-1900
Hohner doesn’t do exchanges for different products. They send you back what you sent to them. I wouldn’t purchase anything from the woman who exchanged the harmonicas for you. She probably sold it to someone else. This is a no no for wind instruments. Undoubtedly, she is breaking her contract with Hohner. I recommend that you purchase all your future harmonicas on-line. You are not allowed to test them in the store anyhow.

A significant number of people have difficulty bending notes on the lower draw tones. It probably has to do with technique. I’ve never had a bad special 20. I did purchase a bad Marine Band once. It was the gap! I have more than 100 harmonicas. The only other bad purchase I made was a Hohner Weekender, a $5 chinese tremolo marketed by Hohner. You won’t run into too many bad special 20s out there.

Your technique has to interact with the gap on the reeds. The gap is the distance between the reed plates and the reed. A loose gap is best for someone who bends a lot. You bend a note by opening your mouth and reducing the turbulence inside the harmonica. This reduces the speed of the vibrations, thereby lowering the tone. If you overblow/draw you increase the turbulence inside the harmonica, and the reeds vibrate faster, producing a higher tone. This technique works better with tight gaps. Most off the shelf harmonicas are set up with medium gaps. You can change the gap yourself with a tooth-pick. Experiment! Better to change too little than too much. If you change it too many times, or change it too much, you ruin the reed.

The special 20 and the Marine Band are both German Hand Made harmonicas. They have the same reeds and reed plates. The Marine Band is harder to work on because it is put together with nails. The Special 20 is put together with self tapping screws. The combs are shaped differently, and produce a slightly different sound. If you are a tongue blocker, you might appreciate the recessed reed plates of the special 20. You touch the reed plates on the Marine Band, something a lot of people don’t like to do. I pucker, so touching the reed plates is no big deal for me.

Hohner Special 20 demonstration

Hohner 560 Marine Band Special 20 Harmonica Key of E Major – authorized dealer! $31.99

Hohner Special 20 Pro Pack (3-pk – G, A, C) (Special 20 Pro Pack 3-pk) $99.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of C $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of Db $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of D $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of Eb $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of F $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of E $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of G $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of F# $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of Ab $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of A $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of Bb $34.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica KEY of B $34.99

Hohner Special 20 Pro Pack – 3-pk – G, A, C (Special 20 Pro Pack 3-pk) $99.99

HOHNER SPECIAL 20 560 HARMONICA LOT KEYS OF Ab, Eb, AND G BRAND NEW $89.50

Hohner Special 20 (Key of A) (Special 20 Harmonica, A) $37.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Diatonic Harmonica Key of C $37.99

Hohner Special 20 – Key of A (Special 20 Harmonica, A) $37.99

Brand New Hohner Special 20 Available in 9 Keys $39.95

Hohner STEVE BAKER SPECIAL Harmonica in A – Extended Range for Blues Players! $79.95

Hohner Marine Band Special 20 Diatonic Harmonica~Key of D + Oskar Lee Case $9.95

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of country tuned A $64.95

Hohner Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica, Key of G $37.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of country tuned D $64.95

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of Natrural Minor B $64.95

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of A $64.95

Hohner Special 20 – Key of D (Special 20 Harmonica, D) $37.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Harmonica with Country Tuning B $37.99

Hohner Special 20 (Key of D) (Special 20 Harmonica, D) $37.99

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of country tuned E $64.95

Hohner Special 20 Harmonica Assortment with Case includes C G A D & E SPC $219.95

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of G $64.95

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of country tuned Bb B flat $64.95

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of country tuned Eb E flat $64.95

Hohner 560 Special 20 Marine Band Harmonica key of D $64.95

Vintage Hohner Special 20 Marine Band harmonica Key C $16.50

NEW Hohner, 560BL-A, Special Twenty Harmonica, Key of A $34.99

ABC of the Blues $49.67 This 52 disc Ultimate Collection features music from the Delta to the Big Cities. This special first edition also includes a historic puck harmonica.How blue can you get? You will find your favorites here and discover some hidden gems, as the ‘ABC of the Blues’ brings together the best of the best.It presents some of the most influential Blues musicians – some of the most influential musicians, pe…

Country and Blues Harmonica for the Absolute Beginner with Jon Gindick and BB King [VHS] $18.95 The Hohner HVC-1 Harmonica Instruction Package includes a 60-minute Country & Blues Harmonica instructional video and a Hohner 10-hole diatonic harmonica. Try this simple step-by-step guide to playing harmonica—bending notes, warbling, wailing, and more. Learn techniques for slant harp, straight harp, and cross harp…..

Plastic Finger-Size Castanet $1.15 These plastic Finger Castanets are colorful, safe, fun and great sounding! Once you get the hang of holding these in your upturned palms and snapping them shut with your fingers, you’ll have a hard time putting them down….

Turtle Xylophone Musical Toy $16.95 An enchanting musical turtle that’s sure to delight! Children will adore making music with this cute, colorful character. The pentatonic scale and accurate tuning ensure an effortless and rewarding musical experience….

Hohner HO56020A Special 20 Harmonica Key A $48.53 Key of A. Hohner Special 20 Harmonica. Pro quality. Richter tuning. Genuine brass plates. Plastic body.

Hohner HO56020C Special 20 Harmonica Key C $48.53 Key of C. Hohner Special 20 Harmonica. Pro quality. Richter tuning. Genuine brass plates. Plastic body.

Hohner HO56020E Special 20 Harmonica Key E $48.53 Key of E. Hohner Special 20 Harmonica. Pro quality. Richter tuning. Genuine brass plates. Plastic body.

Hohner HO56020G Special 20 Harmonica Key G $48.53 Key of G. Hohner Special 20 Harmonica. Pro quality. Richter tuning. Genuine brass plates. Plastic body.

Hohner HO56020D Special 20 Harmonica Key D $48.53 Key of D. Hohner Special 20 Harmonica. Pro quality. Richter tuning. Genuine brass plates. Plastic body.

Hohner HO56020BF Special 20 Harmonica Key B Flat $48.53 Key of B Flat. Hohner Special 20 Harmonica. Pro quality. Richter tuning. Genuine brass plates. Plastic body.

Hohner HO56020DF Special 20 Harmonica Key D Flat $48.53 Key of D Flat. Hohner Special 20 Harmonica. Pro quality. Richter tuning. Genuine brass plates. Plastic body.

Hohner HO56020FS Special 20 Harmonica Key F Sharp $48.53 Key of F Sharp. Hohner Special 20 Harmonica. Pro quality. Richter tuning. Genuine brass plates. Plastic body.

HOHNER INC. HOHMS4001 TODDLER MUSIC BAND $48.92 Vendor: Hohner Inc. Category: Music Product Type: Instruments Grades: Ages:. FivePiece Band Will Get All The Little Ones Involved In The Fun Of Music Making. Set Includes Three Musical Shapes Wave Drum And A Xylophone And Comes In Attractive Packaging With Easy To Carry Handle.

HOHNER INC. HOHRB1 RHYMES SONGS ACTIVITIES INSTRUC ION BOOK $19.29 Classroom instruments. Hohner rhymes songs and activities instruction book. Theme: Rhymes. Language: English. Package Quantity: 1 CD. Usage Ideas: Instructor s book coordinating with the rhythm band instruments. Country of Origin: USA.

HOHNER INC. HOHSP030 Egg Shakers 2 Pack $20.58 Pick Up These Egg Shakers And Be Ready For DoubleFisted Fun Great Shape Is Easy To Hold And Play. Learn To Shake Quickly Or Slowly Or To Roll The Beads Inside For A Different Sound. Suitable For Children 3 Years And Older. A Great Pair Of Egg Shaped Shakers For That Add A Fun ShhShh To Any Beat. Introduce Your Children To The Fun Of Music Through Playing Their Own Percussion Instrument. Perfectly Sized For Child Hands To Grasp And Play. One Of A Full Line Of Fun Kids Percussion Instruments By Hohner. For Ages 3 Years And Older.

Hohner HO53220A Blues Harp Harmonica Key A $49.79 Harp Harmonica is engineered for consistent volume and tone when used for intense blues playing. This harp can hang with the toughest players on their most serious gigs. Highly bendable with a dirty dark hard rocking sound this harmonica is designed to emphasize all the best qualities of blues harmonica playing. Blues Harp Harmonica Key A. Famous Hohner quality. Great for 2nd position notebending. Wood comb. Made in Germany.