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Forums :: General Discussion

Pro Master or Special 20 for Beginner?

3 replies [Last post]
Sun, 02/07/2016 - 14:35
RussInVegas
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Joined: 11/12/2015

Howdy -

I've read, or heard, recently that as a beginner the harp I'm gonna get best on is the one I begin playing with, and or course play more often.. here's my question -

 

I've recently started and am still in tongue block study #1 - I bought a Special 20(in A)  & 3 ProMaster Valved(in A & C & F# - the F# was too cheap to pass up)

My question is this... in MOST of your opinions, which are better harps?

 

Thanks,

 

RussInVegas

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Mon, 02/08/2016 - 12:30
#1
Nick_Papagorgio
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Well in my opinion the

Well in my opinion the promaster is a very solid harp.   However i wasnt really happy with the playability of the one i have.  Mine is not valved.  I also think you shouldn't be playing valved harps yet.

 

I would say SP20 or even Seydel Session Steel.  Great beginner harps.

Alot of folks dig the big river.  Never had one so couldn't say.  But the price is right. 

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Mon, 02/08/2016 - 15:02
#2
Expert Winslow Yerxa
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Play both and appreciate the differences

I'm not sure it's necessarily a good idea to stick with just one harp or model, even when you're just starting.

Valved harps will sound different from unvalved - the blow notes wil be louder, and may even bend when you don't mean them to , which is good for your bending control and for your tone, as it helps prevent you from closing up your oral cavity.

Suzuki and Hohner have difference philosophies about how a reed should sound. Hohner goes for more high-frequency overtone energy, which players characterize variously as warm, bright, and even dirty. Suzuki goes, for a pure, round tone that has relatively little high-frequency overtones in the sound, which is mellower.

Another difference is finue tuning. Promasters are equal-tempered, which puts all the single notes in tune with a piano but makes chords sound a bit harsh. Special 20s are tempered to make the chords sound smooth, but at the expense of some notes sounding a little flat relative to a piano.

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Tue, 02/09/2016 - 14:50
#3
Nick_Papagorgio
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Food for thought

Man winslow you always have the best answerz.  I never even thought of the valves being used that way. 

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