Customer Reviews

Hohner Golden Melody Harmonica, Key of C

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Back when I was learning to play harmonica I tried many different styles and brands before discovering these Golden Melody harps. I really like the sound they produce and the ease of "bending" notes, even for beginners. I also really like the fact that all of the edges are rounded, making it much more comfortable on both your mouth and your hands. I know many of the greats swear by the "Marine Band" harmonica, and to tell the truth I wish the Golden Melody had wood instead of plastic edges, but I choose this one as my favorire based on the results I get with it.

Now as for the key of C... I get a lot more use out of the keys of A and E, but thats another story...

I really enjoy playing with this harp whenever I get a chance to because it produces a very good sound without having to blow or suck a lot of air in. I found it very easy to bend notes, in fact this is the first harp in which I was able to bend notes on. The roundedout edges are also very nice on the hands and it makes it easier to hold. It is made of plastic and not wood but that hasn't caused a problem so far. So I would reccomend a Hohner Golden Melody in any key to anyone. Although I would choose the one in the key of C, if you're a begginer because it would be easier to learn on I think.

Still just a novice, but bought this more expensive model by looking at the reviews.
WOW, what a nice sound, and still a great price.
I find hitting single notes easier on my Hohner 81 Pocket Pal (still entry level skills), but if I want to sound better than I am, and I'm playing chords, I go for the Golden.

I have played harmonica, mainly blues style, for close to 45 years. But not professionally. I play alone, in my room, most of the time, along with my cd's. For the past year I have been playing with a guitarist and bass player at my church (I go to a very cool church, geared toward people in recovery). We have a blast playing gospel and blues and the folks seem to like it. During my youth I played the classic Marine Bands, in the usual keys (A, C, D, F, G). When I first started they were maybe $4 or $5. When your harp got bound up, you'd dip it in a glass of water, tap out the extra H2O, and it would play twice as loud, for a while, anyway. But the water--or beer, if you didn't have water--would have deleterious effects on the wooden combs of those harps. The wood would swell up and pooch out from the metal bars; sometimes I would actually take a razor blade and trim off the front of the comb. Reeds and other internal parts were always getting gunked up, too.

One thing that was cool back in the late sixties and seventies was that we were not so paranoid or politically correct. You could actually go into a music store and, using your own lips, blow into a brand-new harp, just to try it out....and you didn't even have to buy it if you didn't want it! Now you can't get do that; you have to use the "harmonica tester" accordian device. Pardon the pun, but that whole thing "sucks" because the device can't bend notes.

Twenty five years went by. I finally picked up a red plastic-combed Golden Melody a year or so ago, and I was really pleased with the sound, right out of the (red plastic, again!) box. This is a terrific harp! It's much louder, clearer, and sweeter than my old Marine Bands. Bending is real easy, warbling (moving your head/mouth rapidly from side to side as you blow or draw on a single note) is easier, the holes all take and give air equally, the rounded feel is a nice contrast to the sharp, squarish Marine Bands. You won't tear your lips on this instrument. It's ridiculous how expensive these things are now; I paid about $32 each for the essential five keys mentioned above. I haven't tried soaking them, mainly because I don't feel the need, and I'm nervous about screwing them up after spending all that money!

I wish I would have had one of these when I first started. An outstanding choice. I'd love to try a Seidel or Turboharp or Lee Oskar, but for now I will stick with my Golden Melodies.

I have played the Golden Melody since 2006. I have played several other harmonicas prior to that, but Hohner Golden Melody is by far the MOST comfortable. The Marine Band harmonicas sound good but have sharp corners that can irritate your hands and make it more difficult to get a good seal around the instrument. This harp is comfortable in both the hands and the mouth. This harp is also VERY tight; meaning the reed covers are snug against the reed plates with no gaps for air to escape. The plastic comb will not warp as will wooden combs (e.g. Hohner Blues Harp Harmonica, Key of C); therefore, these harmonicas stay air tight. The less air that escapes--the less effort it takes for you to get a loud, rich tone. These harmonicas are loud, comfortable, and very responsive to your breathing. I used to play the Hohner Blues Harp but the wooden comb warped over time and caused air leaks. I have also found it easy to bend the notes (in Blues style) on the Golden Melody. Due to the comfort and the efficiency of airflow caused by a plastic comb and tight reed covers, I think this is the BEST choice for a "first harmonica" for beginners. They are comfortable and easy to play. Some professionals (e.g. Jason Ricci) played Golden Melody harps. Although Jason Ricci plays customized harps now, he states that he had played Golden Melody harps for quite awhile. That should be considered a good testimony to the quality of these instruments.

I recently pulled out my 20+ year old Special 20 Harmonica and tried to play some songs for the kids. I found I was having a lot of trouble getting decent sound out of the high draw notes (7-10 draw). I eventually concluded the old harp was worn out and decided to replace it. I chose the Golden Melody Harmonica because I mainly play melodies of folk songs or kids songs.

The new harmonica arrived today and I couldn't be happier. The sound was clean and sweet. I had no problem hitting any of the blow or draw notes. I also noticed this harmonica didn't require quite as much air pressure to get a decent note out. I highly recommend this harmonica.

By the way, I tried a few blues riffs and bending some notes and that worked fine as well. Not something I do much of anymore, but I was curious how this would compare in that area to a Special 20. It did just fine.

I bought one of these a few weeks ago, and it has played better than expected. I'm just a beginner - having started out with a cheap Hohner "International" (made in China) BluesBand harp I received this past Christmas. After practicing with the Golden Melody for only about two weeks, I have two observations: 1) I don't understand why ALL harmonicas aren't made with rounded corners like this one. It's just so much more comfortable to hold, plus I don't see any "acoustic" difference between round corners and sharp ones. 2) How to "bend" notes just came to me the other day while reading how and trying to do it on the Golden Melody. It's just like the light bulb came on and *poof* I started doing it. I find that on this harmonica, I am able to bend just about every note - blow or draw - even the high blows. It's amazing. Highly recommended!!! (Now if I can just figure out "tongue blocking......")

This is a nicely built harmonica, easy to play and notes bend easily. However, because of the exposed brass strips above and below the holes along with the stainless steel metal covers, there is a strong bi-metal/galvanic effect. I have a silver filling in the back of one of my front teeth which hurts whenever I play this harmonica. My wife can play it without any problems and just looks at me weird when I describe the problem, but she's only got one or two silver fillings in her back molars. I don't recommend this harmonica to anyone who has silver fillings in the front teeth simply due to the galvanic effect.

Otherwise, this harmonica has a beautiful sound, and is comfortable to hold and play.

Being something of a beginner, I cannot use the technical terms many reviewers here can, only give my impressions and experiences. I have several different harps which I use in my learning process, but find myself using this one more often than not. The Key of C seems to sound better and with the book I have seem geared toward this key. I like the rounded edges of this harm; they are more comfortable. The instrument is quite easy to hold (I have small hands) and hitting single notes seems to be easier with this one. I like the sound of this harp. I have little musical talent and need all the help I can get. I carry this one with me. It does have plastic edges and I suppose the wood is better, but I really have no complaints in this area. I can only speak as a beginner, and as a beginner, I do recommend this one. Perhaps those with more experience can make better recommendations and give advice that I do not yet have access to.

The golden melody is a nice harp though I prefer the delta frost by bushman it has a better sound and only cost about five dollars more.