All the Hohners that I play (MB, GM, Rocket and S20) get better to bend and to respond the more I played them. Thanks for the stuff You do on youtube Luke❤️
@Harmonicacom10 ай бұрын
INTERESTING. Thanks for sharing!
@norfolknwhey4787 Жыл бұрын
Finally! Someone did an honest review that wasn’t biased. It was getting old watching all of the Hohner affiliates praise what appears to be a faulty design. There seems to be an issue with the new coverplate retention system that causes air leakage. Sidenote, I’d love the opportunity to customize one of your harps that didn’t score well and send it back to you a sweet playing stick!
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Oh wow, that would be cool. You're a customizer? Can you send me an email at Luke@harmonica.com?
@anandaarju5389 Жыл бұрын
At last.... We've found the best video till now about new Hohner GM . Except this , rest of the other videos are biased . Thanks Luke . God bless you .
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it. I don't know if they're necessarily biased. Different strokes for different folks, you know. But I appreciate your kind words Ananda!
@OnceTheyNamedMeiWasnt Жыл бұрын
@@Harmonicacom We all carry a level of bias. Even me. And my middle name is Nonbias. Great video though Luke. Honest, raw and rock hard, like you. I cannot hold a candle to you and have achieved nothing in this life. But your harp videos give me some hope to carry on.
@quyenvo5280Ай бұрын
Thanks a lot . This is truly review , honest , trustable !
@evanwilliams430211 ай бұрын
Thanks for the clear, detailed review! I love my old GM’s and will probably stick with them! Side note: the Lee Oscar at the end sounded so much better, although that’s not even the intended topic of the vid!
@Harmonicacom11 ай бұрын
Cool, thanks!
@Mueleski Жыл бұрын
Thanks, I love the old GM's and was looking at getting the new one and your review helped in letting me know what to expect.
@rhatid Жыл бұрын
Nice review! Good one! Thanks!
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! 😎🙌🏼🎶Glad it was helpful!
@sargfowler9603 Жыл бұрын
To me, the new GM is quite a lot brighter and perhaps critically, I'd call it tinny. When you played the Lee Oscar next to it at the end, the GM was outclassed. That's progress I guess!
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Cool. Thanks for sharing!
@kishascape9 ай бұрын
Modern day overindulgent pseudo progress.
@prodoverjeff287611 ай бұрын
I have had hundreds of GM's. Clearly my favorite. The world is throwing me yet another change. I'm in no hurry, but I will see>
@everettdorado4261Ай бұрын
One of the reasons why it seems a little unresponsive at times it's because it has not been broken in properly. It needs to be broken in just like a baseball Mett You gotta break it in, so it's more flexible. Sometimes things work great out of the box and sometimes things need to be worked out a little bit, you understand.
@HarmonicacomАй бұрын
I think it's more that the new ones just aren't air tight. I've grown to like them less and less since doing this vid.
@itsspoken61114 ай бұрын
Hey Luke hope you're well? Firstly you're definitely the best guy I've watched so far in all your content and you explain everything really well and clear so thanks for that!! Just a quick question pal which Lee Oscar harmonica are you playing is it just simply in a key of C or has it got a specific name? Thanks in advance and come the middle of the month I'll be starting the lessons too!
@Harmonicacom4 ай бұрын
Hey my brother thanks for the kind words. Yep, just simply key of C. He doesn't have different models, just different tunings. You want Diatonic Harmonica 1910 Key of C. Looking forward to hearing how your journey goes! Rock on! 😎
@sepultura7771 Жыл бұрын
I wouldn’t mind so much if they kept the old golden Melody also, but to completely scrap it and give us this one really sucks I haven’t played one yet personally, but every time I hear it on KZbin it doesn’t sound very good
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Yeah, here's the low down on that: The tooling for the old design had aged and needed constant maintenance to continue to produce harps consistently to Hohner’s quality standards. Hohner either needed to build new machinery to manufacture the old design or redesign the Golden Melody. They decided to take feedback from engineers and players over the years and see if they could make it EVEN BETTER. But the Golden Melody serves a smaller niche market, and the smaller demand wouldn’t warrant having two models of the same harp. So here we are, for better or for worse!
@SpadeLE29MC Жыл бұрын
Thanks for this great review. Is it possible to get the tab or the name of the song of the riff at 1mn03 please?
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Yeah, Spade - Work Song by Paul Butterfield -2 -2 -3' 4 -4' -4 -4 4 -4 -5
@qwmx5 ай бұрын
OK. I'm NOT going to altar my Hohner Special 20 for overdraws now. I bought it back in 2021. It was already special before, BUT it's even more special now!
@Harmonicacom4 ай бұрын
Sp20 or GM?
@mattlawyer32454 ай бұрын
As of today (April 2024) Rockin Ron’s Music gives you a free hex bit when you buy the harp on their store, so you don’t need to worry about not having the tools.
@Harmonicacom3 ай бұрын
Wow! Thanks for sharing. That's probably an indicator of how well it's selling for Hohner. 🤣 I never play mine (except with the kids because I don't care if they mess it up.)
@studogable Жыл бұрын
Great review! Thanks!
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@waynegilchrist1596 Жыл бұрын
Most importantly, does this mean we are now stuck with this "new one"? Secondly, we have to ask the "why" is there a need for the new if the old one is the standard we've all come to respect and rely on? My father, who would have been 110 the 6th of Feb. this year but passed a number of years ago, was a M. Honner fan from his youth and was quite an accomplished harmonica player. I understand some of the ergonomic improvements but if it sacrifices the quality of it's tone and playability it's not better. Sadly many companies send their manufacturing to China and other foreign countries to cut cost and iconic and respected products and instruments are never the same and lost to history. Please assure me that is not the case here.
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Yes, we are "stuck" with this "new one. As to the "why" I addressed this in another comment. To keep quality consistent Hohner had to decide either to buy new manufacturing equipment or design a new harp based on customizer's feedback. All of Hohner's harmonicas starting with the Big River model and upward are made in Germany I can assure you that 100% I don't find the new Golden Melody to be better, but I'm willing to try another one in the future and see if given time their quality control improves on this model.
@harmonicanick Жыл бұрын
Nice review thanks but I was surprised you didn't mention the comb (new) which has always been a bugbear for us GM users ?
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
What about the comb?
@cameronmyers74354 ай бұрын
I wondered how the tone and responsiveness may improve with use since the one I assume is well used and the new one is not broken in. Things do change over time.
@Harmonicacom4 ай бұрын
I've had the new one for quite awhile now, and I think I like it less than when I bought it. I don't recommend the new GM's.
@cameronmyers74354 ай бұрын
@@Harmonicacom That is too bad. I was thinking of getting one. Thanks for responding.
@jonathanwhitehouse-wi2er Жыл бұрын
Hi luke slightly different topic but is there a way to get rid of the metallic smell and taste off new special 20s? Thanks. Love the videos helping me a lot as a beginner
@sepultura7771 Жыл бұрын
I play Special 20s all the time Never noticed that at all
@jonathanwhitehouse-wi2er Жыл бұрын
@@sepultura7771 just got them so I don't know if it's an isolated problem or not denture cleaner seems to be the fix
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Yeah, I was gonna recommend soaking them in Listerine and then rinsing off, You got the right idea. Here's a cool forum thread on cleaning harps: Here's a cool forum thread on cleaning harmonicas: forum.harmonica.com/t/tricks-and-fixes/7613/31?u=luke Please post any further questions is the thread! 👊🏼 Rock on, Luke
@bleczycki7 ай бұрын
Hi, I really like your videos. But if you want to compare sound of two harmonicas, in my opinion you should hold each instrument the same way in your hand. If you block by fingers higher notes, the sound will be warmer. I'm sure you know what I mean :) Thank you for yours really interesting videos. All the best!
@Harmonicacom7 ай бұрын
You are SO right. I appreciate this. I'm trying to do better about this going forward. Aloha. 🙏🏼
@modularcuriosity Жыл бұрын
I wonder if the bending and responsiveness would get better as the harmonica "breaks in" or warms up.
@sepultura7771 Жыл бұрын
It’s always seem to me that a harmonica plays the best out of the box, and it only gets worse from there, not talking about if you open it up or anything
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
My understanding is that "breaking in" in is an urban legend. I'm happy to be corrected on this. But that's the consensus I've encountered so far...
@ronkonig6307 ай бұрын
i bought a new g.m. and it definitely got better after playing it a few days
@PonziZombieKiller Жыл бұрын
Great Job man
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
thanks bro
@WorldRockumentaryChannel10 ай бұрын
I've had mine for six months, Brand new, it's starting to sound like is going sour. It's hitting some stale sickly sounding notes. Do these need maintenance cleaning?
@Harmonicacom10 ай бұрын
Try rinsing under hot tap water.
@nicclarkmusic Жыл бұрын
The last riff you played during the “Responsiveness” segment is labeled wrong. The last harmonica was the old one not the new one. You can see the new divot in the middle of the cover plate. Enjoyed watching the review!
@josephdunlap6793 Жыл бұрын
Hey! Can you please do a video on Ron “Pigpen” McKernan? He’s the reason I wanted to pick up the harmonica and it’s sad to see no one has translated his playing into tabs.
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Right on Joeseph. Can you post some of his stuff in the forum please? forum.harmonica.com
@reoscorpioАй бұрын
How much more was the old style broken in vs. they new one.?? i'm a curious old school purist.. i have a few of the old ones, that i hooked up with different metal combs.. my favorite has a Blue X Lab Aluminum Comb. They play and sound the way i like.. i don't need anything else
@HarmonicacomАй бұрын
I don't recommend buying a new one.
@reoscorpioАй бұрын
@@Harmonicacom Thank you .. i concur 😎
@RaviSreenivasanOrthopod Жыл бұрын
How would you compare the Hohner Golden Melody with the Hohner Meisterklasse diatonic harmonica?
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Ravi - I haven't tried the Hohner Meisterklasse. Have you tried either/both of them?
@RaviSreenivasanOrthopod Жыл бұрын
I have the Hohner Meisterklasse and the Marine Band Deluxe. Meisterklasse is miles ahead of Marine Band Deluxe. Yet to try Golden Melody. The deep relaxed embouchure that you teach is the way that I learnt to play single notes. Thank you 😊
@all9472 Жыл бұрын
Does anyone know the technique name were someone plays harmonica and than stops to sing and takes turns with singing and playing ? Ive beem trying to find the name of the technique seen alot of old blues using it in solo harmonica acts
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Wooping
@uripmargono94610 ай бұрын
I have been playing Folkmaster for the last three months. And I got Hohner GM old two days ago, Luke. I wander when I 'll be able to bend it. I can hardly wait. I do all what I heard and watched. No change and progress. 😂 Any suggestion? Thank.
@Harmonicacom10 ай бұрын
kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6C5oaFjoqd5qJo
@hanns-josefdegraaff2667 Жыл бұрын
where can i get the T shirt?
@chrishammonds72 Жыл бұрын
Wondering why you haven’t done a review of the marine band deluxe yet or the blues harp?
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
On my list Chris!
@SteveHomer8 ай бұрын
Would the new Golden Melody be ok for a new total beginner?
@Harmonicacom7 ай бұрын
OK. But I'd recommend a Lee Oskar, Hohner Special 20, or Hohner Rocket over the GM.
@myjames483 ай бұрын
At what cost ? Our South African Rand to $€ throws a potential player, especially a retired one into a dream world. Besides the chances of buying one in a local music shop is nil. One has to rely on someone who travels overseas to bring one or 2 back. Any idea on price please ? 😢😢😢😢😢
@Harmonicacom3 ай бұрын
I would not recommend spending your hard earned money on the new Golden Melody. Do you have any local music shops? If so, what brands/models do they carry?
@uripmargono946 Жыл бұрын
How can I, a beginner recognize which is new or Old Golden Melody? Is there any sign or feature to know? Thank.
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Yes the different shapes on the back, the serial numbers (provided at beginning of vid) and the screws on the the new one are on the sides.
@user-zh3bv6xx2o10 ай бұрын
Well I'm new a learner I've got one in c the older one can tell the difference when your playing them can the new ones be fixed 😢 to play better their price is high maybe a up graded to the new version ? The Lee Oskar was sounding better 😢
@CrueLoaf Жыл бұрын
It’s a beaut to play. I find it a bit brighter and louder than the Special 20.
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Coo, you got one of the new ones?
@CrueLoaf Жыл бұрын
@@Harmonicacom yes, I lost my Special 20 and bought a new GM to replace it. Both very different animals! I’ve found myself thinking I may to also buy a Special 20 anyway. Lol
@duanewoodbury8314 Жыл бұрын
Well then You sold me On Lee Oscar's that is Personally I would like to hear the golden melody in the key of G VS. the honer ms blues harp ( which I play) Or better yet the Lee Oscar VS. The blues harp key of G
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
OK, noted. But the Blues Harp is tuned like the Special 20's and the Marine Band's (sweeter chords and double stops.)
@benbaker2962 Жыл бұрын
Great review! I wonder if you have or might review the Suzuki (Hammond) HA-20 series?
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
I love the hammond - it's probably my favorite of the Suzuki line. Of Course you have to like the aluminum comb.
@TalkingPoints1 Жыл бұрын
A Golden is a beautiful harp. But I myself avoid them at this point. I always found the reeds weak. Durability was a problem. Of course, destroying reeds is the hallmark of a brutish player so I know it’s me. But still, it’s less durable than other harps.
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this. I found the Special 20's to be the most susceptible to breakage. But yeah I think for "brutish" players lol, the Seydel's are probably the best brand!
@jonmustang3 ай бұрын
What would you say is the darkest-tone equal temperament harmonica you've played?
@Harmonicacom3 ай бұрын
I would not get a new Golden Melody. It's just not a good harp. If you can get an old stock, they're great. Otherwise, for equal temperament, I'd go Lee Oskar.
@thomaskoch3110 Жыл бұрын
Thx for the comparison! Thats a cool shirt! Where can i get this?
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
You're welcome. It's my pleasure. Rock on! 😎 Here's the shirt: www.amazon.com/Harmonica-Periodic-Table-Elements-T-Shirt/dp/B07C59551L/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1KQ8FYDYRZNVZ&keywords=harmonica+elements+shirt&qid=1684921862&sprefix=harmonica+elements+shir%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-5
@stuffnuns Жыл бұрын
Got some FYI for re the price of the old versus the new Golden Melody. The old one has also been priced at $60 (well, $59.95, actually) for several years - at least since 2016. I know, I’ve bought 4 of ‘em. The playability of the old vs new in your video is highly subjective. I love the old GM’s but I alway replaced the factory combs with Blue Moon custom, because the factory comb was sometimes a little leaky, and had sharp corners that were uncomfortable. The New GM comb has rounded, polished corners. . .as well as air-tight, larger reed chambers. I also found, out of the box, NO difference in bendablity. Now, I will still do some gapping for my way of playing. You should at least mention the importance of self-customizing (aka reed gapping) in reviews. The only harmonica I didn’t have to tweak out of the box, no matter the brand, is the Hohner Rocket. I was extremely wary of the new GM, and I have been pleasantly surprised. And, if your having ANY trouble bending on either GM, you should take a hard look at your technique. All GM’s are like butter when it come to bending, draw and blow.
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
OK Great stuff here! Thank you for sharing! I think also Jimmy was mentioning might have taken lil while to get quality control together. I bought one of early ones off the line! Yeah, can't argue with the importance of self-customizing. I've just never done it (yet!) I'll get there...(hopefully.) Thanks again.👊🏼
@kishascape9 ай бұрын
Great now I gotta rush to get one while new in box versions are still out there. This also usually reflects the start of a bad trend of a company about to go down the faddism rabbithole, might wanna buy some extra spares of other harps you like before they Hohner goes sour and ruins those too.
@Harmonicacom9 ай бұрын
No they'll not likely be changing others. Old GM machines were wearing out so they made a tough call. But other "Improvements" they've left the old (Marine Band > Crossover, Special 20 > Rocket.) And the new versions of those are good too!!
@wriplay Жыл бұрын
it's a really helpful video!
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Glad it was helpful!
@jakefrye3827 Жыл бұрын
Sorry a little off topic. When you were checking responsiveness, what scale was that? 😂
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
3rd position pentatonic -1 -2" 3 -3" 4 -4
@jhhart4602 Жыл бұрын
What harmonica would you recommend for old music and civil war songs?
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Probably a Marine Band Deluxe if $60 is affordable. www.harmonica.com/which-harmonica-to-buy/
@deadmanswife3625 Жыл бұрын
A plastic box is plastic and nylon is plastic. So it's probably some type of re-design on biodegradable packaging materials
@deadmanswife3625 Жыл бұрын
And that probably accounts for some portion of the new $60 price tag. All their machines had to be put in place to use the new cardboard case instead of the plastic case
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
OK, Wendy. I like how you're giving them the benefit of the doubt! Maybe altruistic motives....
@kishascape9 ай бұрын
@@Harmonicacomno it's called naivete.
@chrisixus Жыл бұрын
Hi, I am a beginner and would like to know which Lee Oskar is it and what key is it in? Thx!
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Lee Oskar Standard tuning, key of C
@chrisixus Жыл бұрын
@@Harmonicacom Thank you for the answer. I will order immediately :-) and then practice, practice and practice
@Chicago_Carey Жыл бұрын
how are JP and Hal doing??
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
They're both doing well Carey. Thank you so much for asking!
@Chicago_Carey Жыл бұрын
@@Harmonicacom I'm confused 😕 were they injured in the same accident?.. or was JP injured in a separate climbing accident? 🤔 I'm guessing JP was injured saving Hal? .. and I used "Noob Luke" in a song I just wrote!! 🎵
@ralgor100 Жыл бұрын
Where to buy?
@deadmanswife3625 Жыл бұрын
Amazon
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Rockin' Rons is also good!
@jeffm5991 Жыл бұрын
Listening through a cell phone, the old GM sounds better to me. But I've never played either so...
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Sounds a lil sweeter to me too Jeff!
@ionutaurelian8164 Жыл бұрын
Personally,i dont like the new golden melody...i like the sound of lee oskar at the end of this video...for me...woww..thank you
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
Right on! Glad it helped. As you may know, I'm a Lee Oskar man myself...
@jasonstouder7 ай бұрын
they sound fairly different from each other.
@Harmonicacom7 ай бұрын
I occasionally play the old model. I NEVER play the new model. LOL.
@jasonstouder7 ай бұрын
@@Harmonicacom that's what I hear. The old model sounds sweeter. A lot of things being made around the globe have taken a quality hit since 2020. This is one of them.
@sergionarc31816 ай бұрын
👏👏😀🇧🇷
@oreoguygames9433 Жыл бұрын
So you finally found your Key Label huh? 🤣🤣
@Harmonicacom Жыл бұрын
🤣
@claydobbins93423 ай бұрын
I don't like the design. Regardless of performance, it doesn't appeal to my taste for looks because I don't see the indentation serving a purpose other than a new look and increasing the purchase price. Less is more, and if it is not broken, don't fix it, ala New Coke and Coke Classic. Long story short, because I love the fit of the old GM, I will never purchase the new model because I know I'll be disappointed as with other harps I just threw money at.
@Harmonicacom3 ай бұрын
Yep! Good call Clay!
@krzysztofjanuszb.9162 Жыл бұрын
👌😎👍👍👍
@netseraph0810 ай бұрын
I have the new version. It is a better harp, period.