Fender Blues Deluxe Harmonica Review

A quick review (and defense) of the ultra-cheap yet good quality Fender Blues Deluxe Harmonica.
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[@alscott]

This was TOTALLY worth it just watching and listening to you shred those harps dude well played indeed.

[@Tim48103]

Aw shucks, thanks Al. Just trying to demo these harps. Since I've done THIS vid, I happened across the Kongsheng Amazing 20s - about $15 - another harp to definitely consider if you're looking for an inexpensive recessed-reed harp. Here's the review of those: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2nUkIZnbZ2tqpo

[@nebseven7]

With this introduction, it motivates you to learn how to use and make the most of a harmonica!

[@Tim48103]

Thanks! Go for it!

[@liamcook2812]

Man, I’m looking into gettin the Fender Deluxe in C coz i love my blues, glad i found your video man

[@Tim48103]

Good harp for the money! Also, look into the Easttop T008k (you can find them on Ali Express or from Rockin' Ron's). Another good bargain/hi quality harp.

[@liamcook2812]

Tim Douthit lots of people are telling me the FBD isn’t good, but if theres a rattle thats easy enough to sort surely? I’m jus looking to get started after playing blues guitar for years. What key of the fender would you suggest for that?

[@Tim48103]

@@liamcook2812 well, I've had good luck with them, and you can hear from the vid that they sound okay. I don't gig with them (not loud enough for my taste), but I do practice with them. If you're just starting out, get a harp in C - good all-around key, and many of the KZbin tutorial vids show their examples in C so you can follow along.

[@liamcook2812]

Tim Douthit thanks buddy appreciate the help I cannot wait to start playing :)

[@warrenfloyd1484]

I like this, a bunch of seasoned harp players conferring and discussing their art! Rock on brother subbed!

[@arlaabrell8658]

I have 3 of these, have had them over a year and have had no problems I have them in Bb, A, and G, and like you they are often my "car harps" and I keep a couple at my desk and the Blues DeLuxe G is usually one of them. Are they pinpoint perfect in pitch? prolly not, but just practicing and messing around they are fine. I also agree they are one of the best for sure at this price point. I am also old and wise enough to know that there is no "magic harp" a good player can make pretty much anything sound ok and sometimes ok is good enough. Thanks for the fair review of these nice little "entry level" harps.

[@jamesryan6224]

I just bought a set after watching this video. I am a beginner. Thank you so much.

[@Tim48103]

Excellent! Have a blast. Keep in touch and let me know how your journey unfolds.

[@mattsmart705]

My go to is a Hohner Rocket C. I have a fender Blues De Ville which is ace. But as you say. 7 we’ll made fenders at that price. A Bargain. I’m going for it. So many bad reviews. So pleased to hear an excellent player, like yourself, showing they are great harmonicas. 👋😎🎵

[@Tim48103]

Cool beans. Quick note tho: The Blues Deluxe won't be a good as your Rocket. But if you're looking for a good set with all the needed keys for a great price, they are awesome.

[@Tim48103]

okay, lol - I mention in the vid that I like the Easttop better, by which I mean the Easttop T008K. Also, though I have no evidence, I'm almost certain that the Fender Blues Deluxe is also made by Easttop, and just rebranded by Fender.... Sooooo.... maybe too much Easttop kool-aid...

[@warrenfloyd1484]

They do resemble the hohner special 20, sound and appearance

[@scottbryant6220]

I am really surprised at the sound and the accuracy of the tuning of those harps! Great sound, man!

[@Tim48103]

I really like 'em. Absolutely my favorite practice harps. They'd probably be my gigging harps but I discovered them after I bought a gazillion T008s. And the T008s are louder. But still, these are surprisingly good.

[@scottbryant6220]

@@Tim48103 I am just getting started playing harp, but I have a few now. I have a few t008 harps ordered and am pretty excited about getting them, but I am going to order a couple of these Fenders to try them out, too. One more question. Do you have to do any work on these to make them play this well or are these bone stock harmonicas?

[@Tim48103]

@@scottbryant6220 about 80% of the Easttops are fine straight away. For the other 20%, I find I'll need to decrease the reed gaps for the 2 and 3 draw, but it's very easy to do, takes like 5 minutes, and then they're perfect (lots of vids out there on how to do it). For the Fenders, like my vid says, so far of the four that I've bought, 3 were perfect out of the box, and the F could stand some reed gapping, but I haven't done it yet (lazy). And BTW if you're just starting out - the gapping is only to make bending notes easier. You can still bend notes, even on a larger-than-optimal reed gap, but it's harder to do and sounds "wheezier". So mostly just nit-picking, really.

[@gabrielleassis3014]

Beautifully played 🙂

[@nathanieldaiken1064]

wail brother wail!

[@herbertwells8757]

I bought four of these a few weeks ago. The Bb is the best, but I actually prefer the Hohner Bluesband, and I don’t mean because the Bluesband is less expensive, although it is. The Fender A is so-so for the price-considering that I can’t seem to find a Bluesband in A.. The G and F are garbage and way out of tune.

[@richardlee4730]

Because of your recommendation I bought two of these Fenders and returned them immediately. I have two Hohner Special 20s and the Fenders were obviously inferior to the 20s. Both the 2nd holes on the Fenders (keys of G and A) were very weak on inhale. You get what you pay for. I am not a good player, I just play them on recordings. Maybe a great player such as Tim can make them sound good but I can't.

[@Tim48103]

Oh gosh - well first off, thanks for the kind words, but yeah, the SP20s are definitely better harmonicas. But, they're also much more expensive than the Fenders. One thing, if you give the Fenders another try, is to check the gaps on the reeds. "Weak" notes (leaky, breathy-sounding) are usually due to the reeds being gapped too wide (both on the blow and draw side of things). Anyway, there are tons of KZbin vids out there on how to do this, and it's quick and easy. Once you get into it, you'll find yourself gapping every harp you get, even the expensive ones! Anyway, keep on harpin' Richard, Cheers!

[@richardlee4730]

@@Tim48103 Thanks for the response and the information about how to deal with weak notes. I will keep that in mind for issues -- if they arise -- with better harps. The bottom line for me is that the Fender sound was just too thin. I like the richer Hohner sound from the Special 20 - which you can get cheaper than retail now and then with luck. Again, you made the Fender sound really good.

[@sepultura7771]

This looks like the perfect chance to ask my question about Lee Oskar.I’m a Hohner guy overall,love em.but i got a couple LOs,they’re all airy on holes 1-2-3.I saw online,maybe on their website,that LOs are like this.And you have to get used to playing them differently to overcome it,even if you’re experienced,and i am My question is should I try to learn to play them differently on low holes or open them up and gap the reeds, even though I have minimal experience gapping reeds

[@johncracker5217]

Nice whammer jammer at the end there

[@Tim48103]

lol - I've been compelled to learn that tune since it's the one (1) harp song most people know by name, and by set three, when everybody in the bar is ripped, that's all they shout out (other than Freebird, of course).

[@geoffleach5390]

thank you

[@AGSammy]

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

[@warrenfloyd1484]

Sounds good, but I prefer the hohner ms series,just me

[@blitz99x]

good review tim i've been playing the blues devilles for the last couple of years , gig and practice and i've found them to be fine harps for both. i've bought a couple of hohners in that time and was disappointed in the quality, just wondered what you thought. thanks, bill

[@Tim48103]

Hi Bill - I've bought a few - two Special 20's and a Golden Melody. From a quality perspective, honestly, I think they're fine. Hohner makes a good harp. BUT, I don't think they're 5x as good as the Blues Deluxe. I think they're better, but not so much so as to warrant all that extra money. Another harp that's been making it into my gig bag lately is the Suzuki Harpmaster. Feels and sounds like the Special 20, but about $15 less expensive. Still twice what I pay for an Easttop, but the sound isn't quite as harsh. The Suzuki is also probably not worth the 3x cost over the Blues Deluxe, either, but they're meant to last longer. I haven't had them long enough to judge tho - we shall see!

[@blitz99x]

i've heard a lot of good things about the suzukis I guess i'll have to try one

[@TheSamuraiGoomba]

@@Tim48103 How's the harpmaster holding up? Beginner here and thinking of going for that one.

[@Tim48103]

@@TheSamuraiGoomba Hi Samurai - the Harpmaster is a great harp for starting out - responsive and easy to play, not that expensive. Well built, too.

[@TheSamuraiGoomba]

@@Tim48103 Thanks man. My main concern right now is how easy it is to play and if I have to learn how to fix harmonicas before I can play one. I'm trying to avoid buying a cheap one that will require servicing out of the box, like how you've talked about in some other videos. Would you say the bluesmaster and harpmaster are comparable, btw?

[@extremedead]

that song you play on 1:27 is it a specific song? it sounds amazing and want to learn it =D

[@Tim48103]

Thanks, but no, I'm just messing around with some chugging patterns there - no specific song, that I'm aware of (of course, it COULD be a song that I'm subconsciously ripping off, lol, but nothing that I can name....)

[@geoffleach5390]

I'm looking for info on cleaning half valved Harmonica's. The set is named Fender Blues Deluxe and Fender Hot Rod on the back cover plate. Is there a difference in cleaning them from standard diatonic's?? I did not realise the set was different. If had known I would of got the right set.

[@Tim48103]

Yeah, not sure - I imagine it just takes more care since the valves are really just thin strips of plastic glued onto the reed plate somehow - I don't know how the glue would react to normal cleaning solutions, or even water. There's probably some info on the internets, tho - Google it and see what comes of it OR join the Modern Blues Harmonica group on Facebook (if you haven't already) and ask there - TONS of helpful people in that forum!

[@shivambhatt5352]

I have a question. I am looking for a harmonica for around 25 dollars or less so would you recommend any to me? I was looking at the Fender Blues Deluxe and Hohner 1501BX Harmonicas. Which key should I buy? I am just a beginner looking to try the harmonica for cheap.

[@Tim48103]

Hi Shivam. For

[@Nidyalejandra1]

thanks for the comments, do ypu have any opinion in regarding the harmonica C? I just bought one and I looked up for comment and it had very bad reviews

[@Tim48103]

Yeah, there are a number of people out there that don't like the Fenders very much, but I think they're fine for the price - now, to be sure, they don't compare to $50 harmonicas, but people tend to forget that they're only 12 dollars or so, and in my book, along with the Easttop T008k, they're the best 12 dollar harmonica you can buy, and just fine for beginners or for knockaround harps/backups. Cheers!

[@AnimeLover-dh4fm]

Hello Tim I got a F key fender blue deluxe harmonica and is it a good choice ?

[@Tim48103]

Hiya Rat - if that's the ONLY harmonica you have, I would advise you get another, lower key, like A, Bb or C. F harps in general are hard to play - even the really pricey F harps are tough. On the other hand, if you already have a bunch of other harp keys, adding a Fender Blues Deluxe in F to your collection is fine, but know that F harps, like I said, are troublesome beasts. So far, the best F harp I've found is the Kongsheng Mars, but that's a $30 harp....

[@AnimeLover-dh4fm]

Tim Douthit ok that’s a lot 😀👍🏻

[@cantcheatkarma3493]

Hey Tim, how's it goin? I was wondering if you have noticed any difference between the blue t800k and the black one? Cheers mate!

[@Tim48103]

Hi David - the guts of those Easttops are the same. To me, the blue ones are a little slippery. I like the powder-coat feel of the black ones a little better. But no biggie either way!

[@cantcheatkarma3493]

Tim Douthit . Nice one Tim, thanks for the reply! I only ask as I recently got a blue one in D, I think I may need to break it in and gap it so it plays better. The black one in A is sweet, I love it, more than my marine band crossover, it has a very nice sound and it's loud! Cheers

[@backtoshallabal6662]

Is it possible to play the "Like a Rolling Stone" outro harmonica solo with this harmonica?

[@Tim48103]

Oh sure. I think Dylan's using a C harp there.

[@Tim48103]

Oh sure. I think Dylan's using a C harp there.

[@backtoshallabal6662]

@@Tim48103 Thanks! I haven't seen anyone play that solo note for note. Maybe you can? :)

[@Tim48103]

@@backtoshallabal6662 lol - haven't ever tried. But, you know, it's Dylan, so if you get it in the right zip code, you'll be fine!

[@ryanquiriconi2318]

Bro..... Jake knows fucking harmonica. But I like fender alot I have one in key of c .. works alright for the price

[@Tim48103]

Lol. Well, he knows good haircuts, anyways!

[@mikkey246]

This is the cheap one from Amazon right? Anyone else actually buy it?

[@Tim48103]

Amazon and pretty much all the online music stores (Sweetwater's, etc.) carry these. Hang in a couple days tho - I ordered two more just to see if anything has changed since my first review of these. I'll post a follow-up once they arrive.

[@mikkey246]

@@Tim48103 thanks so much!

[@barissssp]

mr. should i buy c key of this harmonica?

[@Tim48103]

If you're just starting out, C is a good key to buy since most of the popular KZbin lessons use C harmonicas....

[@geoffleach5390]

Are these Harmonica's Valved??

[@Tim48103]

No, the Blues Deluxe isn't valved. Fender offers a valved model, the "Hot Rod Deville", I think. I tried one several years back, and it was okay, but I don't care for valved harps, and the Fender version, at about $30, seemed expensive for what it was.... That was a while ago, tho, and I haven't revisited them since.