..............One question I am frequently asked is "what is the best harmonica to buy for a beginner".......or some variation of that..... and while there is no one specific 'right' answer to that question, my short and simplest answer would be: A HOHNER SPECIAL 20 ......TEN HOLE........DIATONIC HARMONICA in the KEY OF C..... which should look like photos 1-4 below, grey box, black plastic comb. .....photos 3 and 4 show the COMB of the instrument, which is the black plastic piece,........ The main difference between the Hohner "Marine Band" and the "Special 20" is the Special 20 has a PLASTIC comb and the Marine Band has a WOODEN COMB(see photo 7 for a picture of a WOODEN comb, which should make it more obvious why it's called a 'comb') Some people prefer Wood Combs, some Plastic.......the best thing for you to do is TRY BOTH.....get two harps, in different keys, one with a wood comb, one plastic and compare them. See which FEELS better to you......HEAR which sounds better........ ALL of these harmonicas have METAL REED PLATES, which are pictured below in photo 10. .....One of the most common misconceptions about Harmonicas is that the REEDS are made of wood. they are not. Last but not least is the Hohner "Golden Melody", easily identifiable by it's RED plastic comb.(photos 8 and 9) Prices of these three harps as of 2008 should be approximately: HOHNER SPECIAL 20 $28.00 (photos 1-4)
HOHNER MARINE BAND: $20.00 (photos 5, 6, 7)
HOHNER GOLDEN MELODY: $26.00 (photos 8 and 9)
*you may be able to find these harps for less money if you shop around......SCROLL DOWN for MORE PHOTOS of the MARINE BAND and the GOLDEN MELODY, as well as a photo of a WOODEN COMB, and the REED PLATES of a Harmonica......
THESE FOUR PHOTOS ARE OF THE HOHNER SPECIAL 20:
1. 2. 3. 4.
THE TWO PHOTOS BELOW ARE OF THE HOHNER MARINE BAND: 5. 6.
HOHNER MARINE BAND WITH WOODEN COMB:
7.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE HOHNER GOLDEN MELODY: 8. 9.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEASTER, a rare and elusive picture of the fascinating INNER WORKINGs of a harmonica, the MAGIC that makes it all happen, the REEDS!!! there are TWO reed plates in each harp, one for the BLOW notes, and one for the Draw notes......the longer the reed, the lower the note, and so on..... 10.
and if you have made it this far, there is one more page HERE of some other harps I use, to give you even more options, and help you to spend even more money!!!