Відео

Do you have a link for the JDR Gentle Monster? I can't seem to find it anywhere 😕

Great sound harmonica but i play for years SPECIAL 20.Its anazing harp...warp deep sound!

I enjoyed your presentation ...what key would suggest for a start.....l love my C diotonic would A be better for this model? Thanks Jon

Blow 5 and Blow 6 are the same note also

What a great review. 🤘😎 Pretty funny! Do more reviews. Lol I was tempted to get one mini amp called Vox. They said is pretty good for harp player. But im kinda beginner... About 7 months only. So i hold my horses... Now im tempted again. 😂

Great review! Great playing too! I'm in! 😎🩵🎶

Hey Tim sounds good. Looks like a great busking amp. louder than your Cicadas there !

Nice!!

no line out, right?

Nice man! That's a huge sound for such a tiny amp.

Hi harmonica friends! Does anyone know of or has experience with a comparison from a players perspective between : 1... the JDR TROCHILUS And 2... the POWER series of harmonicas invented by Brendon Power, like the POWER DRAW, POWER BENDER, and the POWER CHROMATIC, and specially his Lucky13 versions which bring an additional low octive Thanks very much for your feedback Joris

wail brother wail!

Thankyou for the concise demo. It’s nice not to wade through the extraneous when researching ; its very welcome. Thanks again!

I received my origin today, the corners are sharp, it pulls my moustache, and it doesn't bend as well as my special 20. Very disappointed with it for £80.

Just to share.. I have both the Kongsheng Amazing 20 and the Kongshen Amazing 20 Deluxe. Some differences between them.The Amazing 20 has smaller holes and the sides are vented! It does sound louder and brighter. I did know there was a difference till I got the Amazing 20 from Kongsheng directly. I think it's a better harmonica and the ivory comb is quite attractive.

🎼👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😁😎

Right now, in Canada, there's a set of Special 20s for $259 CAD. They also are offering a set of Rockets for $309. The Rocket set, however, has a Bflat , instead of an E . I'm tempted to get the Rocket now just for that. Not only do I get a 'better' harp set, I get one a bit more 'functional', I think. Not a ton of F# blues songs around. The Rocket Amp is like a buck more than the regular Rocket, also with a B flat. I'm just a stupid a$$hole that can't make his mind up.

Specia 20 is much better harp!! Chords are better play!!

Hi, Tim. Mars1 for 5 bucks more expensive than JDR Ninja ($33 x $28 as my best prices), which would you get? I've bought a JDR-Ninja in C when the MARS1 was more expensive, and like it, well tuned for my ears and little knowledge. would like to have another Ninja. Better get a MARS1 instead? Thanks fot your material. Regards from Brazil. JAIL FOR JAIR!

Here in the UK they are even more expensive. Even the Fender Deluxe is the equivalent of $20. Lee Oskars are prohibitive at around £50 - that's near enough $60.

Don’t short change yourself brother you are a baddass player too! I’m trying to decide between the Wilde tuning and the powerbender. Both have pros and cons but I’m trying to make my mind up since I’m dropping $110 on the 1847. Have you played the powerbender? Do you find the Wilde tuning is pretty intuitive? Thanks

Welded or riveted reeds?

I got that A one and it doesn’t sound ANYTHING like that. Maybe cause I suck but still 😭

This is awesome!

Q U E S T I O N - I've been looking for a standard-tuned (NOT blues) VALVELESS chromatic harmonica in the keys of G or any other EXCEPT C (which I already have way too many). Are all the Trochilus chromatics sold on Amazon, Walmart, eBay, etc. ONLY in blues tunings??? Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks man! Was thinking of splashing out on one of these now I don't think I will lol

And the Signature model is supposedly even better, is it not, Tim?

Thank you!

Now with the recent price markdowns, the Suzuki Bluesmaster is now in the $30 range. I absolutely love playing them as much as my signature harp, the original Hohner Golden Melody. Not only are they comfortable to hold, but they have a bluesy sounding rasp to their timbre. I especially love how I can control the hand-wah and make that little harmonica 'cry' in combination with its big tone and the Terry McMillan style licks that I play. I'm more of a country player, but these Suzuki Bluesmasters rock!

This fellow mumbles to much as he lets his voice trail off. Speak up! Step up to the mic! I am interested in what you're saying.

Hey, there. OG Golden Melody player here. I have been playing the original version since 2020. I bought one because 1. I thought the design looked cute; and 2. Terry McMillan played them all the time and I wanted to sound like him. I always loved the shape and tuning of the original, however many "players" on Facebook wanted me to play a Marine Band or a different harmonica that isn't a GM because they think it's poorly tuned. I have been told this for many years because I play more than just melodies on them. I do a lot of Terry McMillan's repertoire, which is mainly blues scale-based country and gospel licks, and he knew how to get the most out of those harps with the limited range he could play with only bends, not knowing how to overblow/overdraw. He gave them such an iconic sound that made him stand out from other country players. So I kept buying them because I love the sound and feel of them. I was originally skeptical of the harmonica's recent design change, but I found it to be pretty good out of the box. I haven't tried taking it apart because I don't have a torx screwdriver, so I can't testify about the cover plates. But it has a slightly brighter sound than the old one. I loved how sweet and raspy the old one's timbre was so it seemed like there was a slight tonal change about it. The only complaint that I have with it is what the divet in the back is for. It was marketed as "a place to hold your fingers at", but I find that to be BS. If it was to keep the cover plates crushproof, they should've said that than the latter comment.

Hey man, thanks for the review. I'm just wondering, can you use the slide to get the flatted 5th in hole 2, and the natural 6th in hole 3? So, on a C harp, that would be Gb on hole 2, and A on hole three. I'm looking at the tuning chart, and despite it saying the richter version is fully chromatic now with the slide, I don't see those notes on their tuning chart at all.

I am 25 getting in to the harmonica and i am mad that i cant Get a old one in c in Norway anymore. Expensive to import anything 😢

I just pulled the trigger on getting a Fender in key of G. Debating now to get the A or Bb one

I’d like East Top a whole lot better if it weren’t for that nasty taste the paint leaves in the mouth. I heard a lot people complain about that. When I was buying my first chromatic harmonica I went for an East Top Forerunner as it was so affordable. They seemed to get good reviews. But as soon as I tried it I thought “there’s that horrible taste everyone was talking about with the diatonic harmonicas”. I don’t thinks it’s even a matter of cheaper materials. If you don’t use paint at all, there would surely be no problem? I’ve never tried Kongsheng or Fender. The name ‘Amazing 20’ is a turn off for me as it sounds like a cheap Special 20 knock-off. But I’ve toyed with the idea of getting a few Baby Fats just for fun, so I can have something relatively cheap as a carry-around harmonica. That way I don’t have to risk sitting on my MB Deluxe or 1847s, or accidentally leaving them on the bus!

Dayum you can toot those! I'll never be that good BUT I might just buy this set. It's been... 40 years since. Time flies.

You are awesome, I'm just about to buy them

When I heard about the American Sound pedal, I kept an eye out for a used one and got it. Still trying it with an amp to get the settings right, but took a screenshot of your settings. I know you can use the same mic and harp and get nowhere near the same sound, but at least it's an idea. I know I've written this before, but this is the stuff I need to hear before I drop big money - you are giving people a much needed guide to things and letting them make up their mind. I wouldn't have bought a Lone Wolf product, as they are even more expensive. The Jason Ricci microphone alone is $500 here in Australia. The Hohner HB52 will do me - that was just over $200 here, though I did buy a King Bee Mic from Bone Daddy and I'm happy with that. I like small mics - was never going to buy a Green Bullet just because of its reputation as I like everything to feel good so I can concentrate on using the instrument itself and that mic is quite large, I believe. I like to feel like the mic and harp are one thing, as opposed to feel I'm juggling - otherwiset, I'd join the circus (if they'd have me back, that is) - did you know petrol is flammable ? We live and learn....

This is just the sort of thing I need to know before I order something unfamiliar. One thing I would really appreciate is to find out where to buy these things - I know that will vary depending where you are in the world, but when I can't find them in a music shop, it becomes a guessing game. Here in Australia, people are selling the Chinese Easttop Harmonicas on Facebook Marketplace, though I haven't purchased any that way. This is one of the downsides of harmonica playing - you can't try before you buy. This is where you come in, Tim. I get the feeling that there is not someone in shades standing next to you with a small bag of unmarked notes saying 'remember... only tell 'em the GOOD stuff now' - this is appreciated. The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind...or is that OUT ?😄

Wondering what your settings are on the Joyo American?

Playing a football, ha-ha!

Thank you Tim. Always honnest and balanced reivews. I trust you. ✌️

you rock man!

I have very large hands and often wish I had a bit more harp to hold on to, so the big size of this assassin might actually be a plus for me

Are they responsive like the special 20 or do you need to force air through em?

Hey Tim nice review! Yeah I think that harp is just too large. Did you try to cup it with a JT30 or something like that? Because I think my hands would get tired.

I just got a Hohner Blues Bender today in the mail. This is probably the best budget harmonica that I've ever played. I was scared to go for Easttop since I know they aren't very sturdy when it comes to reeds. My two Kongshengs play well, but they're over $30USD ($29 and under is what I consider to be budget). When I bought this from Rockin' Ron, I received a call from him and said that he was looking out for me and my satisfaction with a budget harp. He knows I play pro-grade harps so he was worried that I'll be disappointed with it. But I have serious good luck when it comes to OOTB harmonicas and this one is no exception to that. It plays really well as it is super responsive and airtight for the most part, but I don't like the tuning of it. I prefer my Golden Melodies's tuning more than the Blues Bender's tuning. Other than that issue, I like it.

Good topic and video. Have you tried any of the other Easttop models - T002, T009 or others?

Great playing Tim. You’ve given great reviews of a number of live performance set ups. What’s your go to rig for performing live?

I always had a bad taste in my mouth for the original Marine Band. Mainly because most of the player-base is filled with some of most stuck-up and rudest people I've ever met online. As a Golden Melody player who hates wooden combs, I get barraded all the goddamn time by these people because they hate the tuning on them and say that I should never play them and switch to a Marine Band because it has "blues tuning" compared to the Golden Melody, which should only be used for melodies according to them. Some even had told me that if I were to play my Golden Melodies in a band situation, the band will tell me to switch to a different harp entirely. And also they are also strong tone comb and embouchre purists too. They are the main reason why I will never become a Marine Band player because they think that harmonica is the dog's bollocks when it's just terrible.