Cheap Harmonica Review II: Tone Comparison

A comparison between the Fender Deluxe, Easttop T008K, Huang Star Performer vs the Suzuki Bluesmaster and the Hohner Special 20. And why you probably shouldn't worry about these things.
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[@nachochips8090]

I don't know how I managed to find this but you got some AMAZING harmonica skills

[@Tim48103]

Some quick buying guides: I've been getting all my Easttop T008's from Ali Express's "SevenAngel" store. Free shipping is about 2 weeks, sometimes a little less. If you insist on getting an expensive harmonica, like for example for specialty keys (low F or high G or whatever), I would try Rockin' Ron's rockinronsmusicsd.com/harmonicas.html which has great prices and free FAST shipping - usually within about 2 - 4 days. Thanks for watching!

[@rajanikantk7406]

rockinronsmusicsd.com/harmonicas.html Is above online store is trusted?

[@Tim48103]

@@rajanikantk7406 oh yes - I order from them online all the time. If you're nervous, though, you can call them on the phone, too.

[@rajanikantk7406]

@@Tim48103 thank you so much

[@smilingdog2219]

I liked your Easttop comparison and agreed for the most part. I lean toward the Hohner Special 20 because it has a deeper full sound. Having said that, I will order a few cheap harps myself and see if I can score a deal.

[@Tim48103]

The special 20 is a good/great harp, and yes, it's acoustic tone is better than the Easttop. However, in amplified settings, like I say, nobody in the bar will be able to tell one from the other, so my thing always comes back to the fact that I can get 3 Easttops for the price of one SP20 (plus or minus) and they play VERY smoothly. Also - haven't had much luck with the Huangs lately, so I've been avoiding those. Keep on Harpin'!

[@faethe000]

I could hear how much less air it took to play the Special 20 than it did the Fender. But you're right that you don't need to spend $50 anymore to get that kind of response from a harp.

[@alanbooker1955]

Great video, thank you, I really enjoyed it. As I can only afford cheap harmonicas it was great to see them compare to the pricier model and play just as well.

[@Tim48103]

Thanks - it's funny actually - over the past couple of years, through accident or design, I've collected a number of mid priced harps like the Special 20 (which if you look hard enough you can find for around $30) and the Suzuki Harpmaster (also around $30). And they're good harps. BUT, come gig time, I still find myself reaching for those $13 Easttops, time and again. Great harps, great price. Now the Special 20s are "backups" that I use while a replacement Easttop ships in from China, lol.

[@alanbooker1955]

@@Tim48103 Hope you keep making videos, good to see someone who understands that not all of us can splash out a load of money and would like to see a fair balanced view of what we can afford. Keep up the good work.

[@Tim48103]

@@alanbooker1955 Thanks, man. I honestly don't understand the expensive harp fanatics - for the cost of 2 Seydels, I can buy an amp. For the cost of a full set, I can get a new roof on my house. Anyway, the next vid will be a battle of the $30 harps once a Kongsheng Bluebird I ordered finally gets here. Spoiler alert: I doubt any of them will beat the Easttop for overall quality/price ratio. Stay tuned!

[@Jack-fs2im]

Love yr talent and reviews .I have just started learning and got a Hohner pro harp.Will I end up with lots of diff harmonicas like all the youtube reviewers.oh dear .ha.like your vids thank you.better start saving up methinks haha

[@Tim48103]

lol - it's inevitable - the next one's always the best one!

[@felixgaming3236]

Good video man! I subbed and clicked the bell!

[@Harp_and_Guitar_Moving_Forward]

Nice click my bell anytime

[@AncientEL07]

Something about the fender deluxe sound I like compared to others, the fender dirtier and muddier while the easttop sound dirty but crisp.

[@Tim48103]

Correct. The Easttops have a reedy, metallic quality, while the Fenders are softer and darker in tone. Acoustically, I prefer the fenders. Amp'd, I prefer the Easttops..... Harp on, bro!

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

Fender Deluxe is not raspy. I like it.

[@mat_iskuy]

Thanks for the review... 🙏

[@janseendiguiseppiThomasMC]

I’m really missing all the wood combed harps my dad use to have.

[@Tim48103]

lol - well, they're still out there, but they ain't cheap. The least expensive is still the Hohner Marine Band (which I used to play when I was a kid). It's responsive, but is really uncomfortable to me nowadays (I did a quick review of that harp on my channel). Then there's the Marine Band "Deluxe", which is a very good harp, wood is triple sealed and comfy, but at about $60 each, way beyond my means. Another is the Kongsheng Sunrise, which is supposed to be good, too, but I haven't tried it - about $50. But yeah, I hear you.

[@ZBurres]

Wow this was really helpful, thank you! I could baaaarely tell a difference between the harmonicas on the first couple riffs but after a minute they definitely all sounded pretty similar.

[@Tim48103]

Thanks Zach - at some point I'm going to post a vid on how amplified playing further reduces any possible tonal difference between various harps - cheap, expensive, etc. The bottom line is really a) is the harp in tune and b) is it responsive/comfy to play. Beyond that, most of it is clique-y hype and marketing. Cheers!

[@ZBurres]

@@Tim48103 Thanks for the info! Today I just got my hands on the fender blues deluxe set from amazon :) just starting to learn!

[@miguelangelcolon1345]

Honer Special 20 is the champion undefeated.

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

It sounds too crisp. Fender D key was much more interesting.

[@jantonisito]

Tonally I liked the harmonics on Suzuki the best. Tone was richer and more 3D.

[@Tim48103]

The Suzuki's have a very nice "clean" tone compared to many others. A nice clean canvas!

[@jantonisito]

@@Tim48103 Just got Bluesmaster - very impressed - supercomfy and easy to play - thank you for the suggestion.

[@Tim48103]

@@jantonisito That and the Harpmaster are both really good harps - don't get fooled into upgrading to the Manji tho - that one was a real disappointment for me. Next step up from the Bluesmaster would be the DaBell Contender imho. Anyway - have fun and keep on playing!

[@jantonisito]

@@Tim48103 Thanks - got some good words on DaBell on Slidemeister. Also thumbs up from one and only Christelle Berthon ;-) I went actually the opposite way - got Manji - hated it and then based on your comments tried Bluesmaster.

[@Tim48103]

@@jantonisito oh right - you posted something about that in Modern Blues Harmonica, right? TOO MANY FORUMS, lol. I need a database. Cheers!

[@jantonisito]

On Hohner SP20 vs Fender Deluxe - SP20 is definitely more defined - less "blankety" than Fender. And reeds vibration do not die instantly like on Fender. Is it worth extra $40? Maybe. I like SP20 a lot and for me they last forever - I have one that is 10yo. If I needed several keys and did not want to pay the price I would go for Kongsheng Amazing 20.

[@Tim48103]

I totally agree - that immediate cut-off, or lack of resonance, in the Fender is noticeable when compared to the SP20, but we're talking bang for the buck here. I do agree that given a choice between the Fender and the Amazing 20, the Kongsheng wins pretty easy, although those odd little holes still bother me. Easttop is still the king of the el-cheapo's for me.

[@jantonisito]

@@Tim48103 I am not familiar with Easttop - never had any product by them. My experience with Kongsheng was generally positive - except perhaps for aluminum comb Mars which definitely was not worth twice the price of basic Mars. And like you - I really liked Solist and I wish them offered them in more tuning. At this point I want to get a Powerbender harp and it is a choice between budget ones - Easttop or Kongsheng or Seydel Session Steel.

[@janseendiguiseppiThomasMC]

Subscribed! I just ordered 3 Easttops last night. 2 of my Lee oscars are currently on their last leg and I don’t want to fork over as much money. If the three easttops I ordered are what I’m looking for I’ll be purchasing the rest to make a full set

[@Tim48103]

Very cool - I buy different harps from time to time depending on what's hot and new, but always find myself coming back to the Easttops. They're not "just" cheap - they really play well, too. Let me know how you fare with them!

[@janseendiguiseppiThomasMC]

Tim Douthit will do! Thanks for all the great info. Keep making these videos they are great!

[@philm9593]

I'm in a similar position. A while back I picked up an Easttop in B. Now I'm looking at hitting the "buy now" button on Ebay for one in G. At the time of writing, they go for in and around £10:89. If I'm happy I'll start a collection. But hey, I'm just starting out, and based on price this brand seems like a good way to kick things off.

[@johncruz7895]

The East top has a cheap, toy like sound. Fender and Hohner sounds full and clear.

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

Just what I have been thinking.

[@petersapienza697]

What about durability?

[@stuffnuns]

I can hear air leak on the Fender. I suspect air tightness is better on the Spec 20. I like the Hohner Big River for cheapies. Then I go right up to Golden Melody.

[@MeteCanKarahasan]

The D key was good, A key was definitely not as good as Hohner.

[@tdcrom]

How did you learn to play? Best book....DVD.....CD?

[@Tim48103]

lol - I learned to play before there even were DVDs or CDs. These days, tho, I would start with the online lessons that Adam Gussow has on KZbin. He has dozens of very helpful vids on all manner of techniques, tips and tricks, and plus he's an awesome dude. Start there. That said, IMHO, the best way to learn is just to listen to the old masters (Walter Horton, Little Walter, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, etc. etc.) and play, play, play. Start simple, don't overreach, be patient and have fun.

[@Cnj310]

Great vdo i want to ask i have Suzuki easy rider harmonica which is very cheap (6 dollar) can i produce bend note from it.?I found it is very harder to produce bend note from hole no.3

[@Tim48103]

Hi Shekhar. I have no experience with that particular model Suzuki, but I do know that many of the ultra-cheap (

[@Cnj310]

@@Tim48103 ok sir thanks for reply 🙏

[@3345646]

October 2020 Easttop T008k $18+ on eBay free shipping. Very responsive/Quality build/zipper Case after taste in the mouth? Let them air out. eezy reeder has Low and minor tunings.

[@3345646]

My former best harp for the money was huang star performer.

[@Themetrius76]

🔥🔥🔥

[@tyronejohnson7979]

What's good with new content..??

[@steveb9666]

I am thinking about buying Easttop Pro 20 set of 12. Have you ever used the green pro 20 before and if you have is there any difference that is noticeable. A set of 12 008K I can get now for about 150.00 and the Pro 20 set of 12 is 299.00.

[@Tim48103]

I've never tried the PRO20 so I can't really comment. I know the PRO20 comes in a plastic comb and an aluminum comb version (which, if nothing else, will be heavier), and from the looks of them, they have a few extra cover plate screws, so I'm guessing that the reed plates are at least somewhat upgraded relative to the T008k. I should probably buy one and find out, but if I were to wager, I'd bet they ARE better, but aren't twice as good as the T008k's, which is what the price would suggest. Not hugely helpful here - sorry!

[@crimsonchrome3012]

where was your cat? lol......i really like the easttops and kongshengs...got a solist that i put suzuki olive covers on........which is better a kongsheng bender or bluebird?

[@Tim48103]

the cat turns up on its own schedule only. As to the Benders and Bluebirds, I've had two Benders over the last year and didn't like them as much as the Bluebirds. From a quality perspective, the Benders are about like the Fender Blues Deluxe. They're good enough, but the Bluebirds have a higher quality feel/sound to them. In the Bender price range, I'd stick to the Easttops.

[@ryanquiriconi2318]

Jesus Christ spend the money and get the special 20. It's not about quantity it's about quality

[@Tim48103]

Lol. If you've GOT the money, get a Marine Band Deluxe. If ya don't, tho, and still want a good harp? Maybe a couple different keys? Easttop, baby!

[@ryanquiriconi2318]

I have a crossover. It's a pinch more expensive than a special 20

[@Tim48103]

@@ryanquiriconi2318 that's one I haven't tried yet. It's on my list tho, I like the idea of bamboo combs...

[@ryanquiriconi2318]

Me too. The fact that the comb was sealed I didn't even realize that the comb wasn't sealed on the original Marine Band until like a month or two after I bought it and did more research and whatnot but definitely better quality

[@sepultura7771]

Special 20 is a great harmonica, but it’s not the be all -end all of harmonicas, Suzuki blues master is a great underrated harmonica Although i am a Hohner guy overall The Suzuki blues master kicks ass