Customer Reviews

Hohner Special 20 Harmonica, Key of A

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hohner Special 20 harps are the best sounding harps that you can buy. Easy to bend reeds and hit single notes. Only drawback is that they don't last forever. Eventually a reed goes bad and you have to replace the harp. Some of the other harps (like Lee Oskar) are more durable, but not as easy to play.

Hohner slightly less leaky than a Lee Oscar but both easy to bend and I love each.

This is a great harp. It has wonderful sound and the quality is exceptional. I highly recommend it for all levels of experience.

Wahoo special 20!

I have been using Lee Oskars and a Hohner Big River harp and I can honestly say, this is my favorite so far.

The tone is clear and not too bright, the volume is loud without compromising the note, and the reeds are easy to bend without sounding flimsy or weak.

If you're a newbie to the mouth harp, I highly recommend clunking down a couple extra dollars for this harp. The shape of the harp is not as thick as the Big River, thus making it easier to play and the ridge on this harp is smoother. (The Big River actually had a sharp edge and was painful to play after a bit.) Playing single notes is much easier on the Special 20 as well.

Try Seydel harps. They are a bit more expensive, but the tone and action can't be beat. Also, torn reed plates are fixed for free!

One of the reeds inside rattled and did not sound true right out of the packaging. I imagine it would be a real nice harmonica if it didn't arrive broken right out of the packaging.

I had been waiting for this guy with the hope that it would give me a good strong E (draw 2), strong enough that I could reproduce some of the music I've been listening to on CD. And it does. But here's the problem. If I play E followed by C# (blow 2), a high pitched ring accompanies initiation of the C# note. Think of another unwanted short-duration note stacked way above the C#. This is obviously a big distraction and not at all what one would expect from a harmonica in Hohner's Professional series. I've returned it to Amazon.

I have to admit, I'm becoming a bit jaded where $30-$40 harmonicas are concerned. I have one gem--the Hohner Blues Harp in the key of C. But I have a whole list of problem harmonicas: the Suzuki Bluesmaster in key of C, which I've reviewed here at Amazon; the Hohner Blues Harp in the key of A, whose E note is almost inaudible; and the Hohner Special 20 in the key of D, which has rattling 2 and 3 blows after a couple of months of on-and-off playing. Do I need to spend more, or should I try the one remaining manufacturer: Lee Oskar? One blog out there suggests that the Hohner Marine Band is the best choice in this price range, but that the combs are sometimes misaligned due to the rigors of shipping. Doesn't sound too promising, but I'll give it a try.