Have you tried a Kongsheng Solist harmonica yet ?

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I am part of the global harmonica community. I guess being interested and involved in the harmonica community over many years has lead me to be elected as Vice-President of HarmonicaUK, and that's quite an honour - the President is Paul Jones from the Manfreds/The Blues Band
If you love harmonica lessons but don’t love me try Joe Filisko, David Barrett, Tomlin Leckie, Liam Ward, Adam Gussow, Ronnie Shellist and there are others!
When I heard Elwood Blues playing blues harp in the Blues Brothers film from the 80s, I couldn't get over the crazy sound of the harmonica. I watched the film over and over - even watched it last night! Had to get me a harmonica...
Seeing Paul Lamb playing the Station Tavern in London was the final straw - I started having lessons from him and became a Sonny Terry nut. From there Little Walter, Big Walter and gradually found out about all the greats.
Brendan Power introduced me to other players such as Charlie McCoy, JJ Milteau, Howard Levy and then I was hooked - a dead duck!
I started teaching professionally in 1995 while studying how to teach and began running workshops in London inherited from Brendan Power as he was joining Riverdance. The first lesson in school I taught in was Dulwich College in London and then in Bristol.
I've had the luck to study personally with Howard Levy (one week residential), Paul Lamb, Brendan Power, Joe Filisko, Richard Sleigh, Carlos del Junco, Sonny Terry (recorded lesson) and in workshops with Charlie McCoy, Lee Oskar, Steve Baker, Keith Dunn, Rick Estrin, Rick Epping, Adam Gussow amongst lots others - and thanks to all of them for the help which I now pass on to other students.
Performance wise, I have played in many blues bands, and different musical groups as well as performing solo and on cruise ships. I've played on the same bill as Larry Adler in 2000, jammed in concert with Jools Holland and had a long, hilarious and fascinating lunch with Billy Connolly showing him some harmonica techniques he wanted to know about.
Fine players of the harmonica include Big Walter, Little Walter, Sonny Terry, Sonnyboy Williamson Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Jason Ricci, Adam Gussow, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Magic Dick, Robert Plant, Steve Tyler, Taj Mahal, Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Reed, Larry Adler, Dave Gage, Furry Lewis, John Popper, John Sebastian, Neil Young, Bruce Willis, Sugar Blue, William Clarke, Paul Delay, Tom Ball, Mark Hummel, Jerry Portnoy, JJ Milteaux, Rod Piazza, Gary Primich, Rob Paparozzi, Joel Osborne, Shakira Starr, Alanis Morisette, Bono, David Bowie, Darth Vader, John Mayall, John Gindick, Jonny Mars, John Lennon, Allman Brothers, JP Allen.
Types of music to play to play on the harmonica: Blues, jazz, country, rock, bluegrass, folk, funk, classical, rock, hiphop, rnb, r and b, reggae, r'n'b
Makers: hohner, seydel, suzuki ,hering, sonnyboysmusicstore.co.uk
Models: Marine band, crossharp proharp crossover, big river, marine band deluxe, special twenty, special 20, pro-master, blues bender, golden melody, mostly Richter tuned.

[@billrok]

I bought one in D. Its incredible. I almost hate to say it but the Chinese can really make a fine instrument.

[@harmonicamastery]

People are starting to realise this now. I don't think they will suit everyone but they must be worth trying right?

[@giusepperesponte8077]

I love this harp, just got another one today in G, I love the way it feels in the hands. Personally I think it’s bright sound really lends itself to the lower keys, like from G to Bb. On high keys like D and higher, I definitely prefer a wood combed harp like the crossover, the aluminum comb is just too screechy on the high keys to my ear. But that bright “flavor” of these Chinese made harps, especially aluminum combed ones like the solist, sounds great on low keys, especially for train song, it gives a raspy yet clear sound if that makes sense

[@harmonicamastery]

Excellent comments Liam, thanks for that - I hadn't thought about the brightness/lower keys aspect until you flagged it up.

[@AlexAgus78]

I totally agree with you, in fact I bought one in A and Bb and they are both great. Lower keys are probably its best sound expression. The harp is Smooth, easy to play, bendings and overblows no problems. Very good material, shape, high sound... I recommend definitely 👊

[@michaelwkf00]

Recently I got one KongSheng Solist after I watched your review here. Now it is my favorite harp compared with my others (Hohner blue band, MB crossover, and Suzuki Manji). It is easy to blow and sounds bright which I loved the most. I started with the Hohner Blue band that comes along with JP Allen's harmonica lesson 15 yrs ago. Hard time learning the bend with the Blue Band harp. Anyway thanks for this review.

[@harmonicamastery]

Glad I could help and very happy you liked it sir!

[@TalkingPoints1]

No doubt that the Kongsheng Solist is a fantastic harp. I’m going to phase out all my other harps as they die off and replace them with Kongsheng Solist. No other harp I have rivals the sound of this Kongsheng.

[@harmonicamastery]

Not a bad idea!

[@crimsonchrome3012]

ive got one in a .....i put on suzuki olive covers on it .....a no- mod swap......sounds great that way too

[@harmonicamastery]

ok, great to know that's possible

[@hillwooky]

@@harmonicamastery That seems impossible, as the Olive has screws along the center line of the body but the Solist's screws are considerably offset towards the front of the comb.

[@hillwooky]

Perhaps a set of Manji covers would fit the Solist?

[@GaitaGospel]

Interesting this harmonica

[@harmonicamastery]

Yes

[@Voltanaut]

Wuxi is pronounced Woo-shee. From what I know about Chinese, the x makes a sh sound, and a q makes a ch sound.

[@harmonicamastery]

Thank you kindly!

[@Voltanaut]

@@harmonicamastery You're welcome! I'm moving to China soon, so I'm trying to learn a little of the language. I'm also looking forwards to buying some harps since I'm living in Jiangsu.

[@paulfarkas1169]

I like your sound great tone and finess. But you forget to mentioned Buddy Greene , Toots Thielman, Stevie Wonder

[@harmonicamastery]

And plenty more!

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

The Amazing 20's are ... alright. But the Bender's harps are really good for what they cost. They're very affordable and you get a damn good instrument that's in tune and all the little holes work. Those are the only ones I can comment on but this one looks good too. But with the Amazings, I've found that they're very hit of miss. Many of the holes don't sound. They make good products but their quality control could use improvement.

[@harmonicamastery]

I think you tend to get what you pay for with harmonicas in my experience

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

@@harmonicamastery Yeah? I've been buying a lot of those Kongshengs because I can't afford much and they seem pretty decent. It's hard to tell though because I haven't tried that many different brands. But people seemed to have some pretty good things to say about them and you can't beat the price. But maybe I should try a Hohner. Seydels are pretty much out of the question. But I could use a new C. Could you maybe recommend one? This would be the one I'd use most often and I do plan on gigging eventually. So maybe I can spend a little more. Do you have anything in mind that might work for me?

[@harmonicamastery]

@@PaulTheSkeptic Sure, try an Easttop Pro 20

[@PaulTheSkeptic]

@@harmonicamastery An Easttop Pro 20. Alright. I'll try it. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@1selronds1]

hello, for you that harmonica is the easiest to play oberblows?

[@harmonicamastery]

It's very easy I find - the Dabell harps are even better out of the box in my opinion

[@LuvBlues64]

I love the harp, can you get replacement reed plates for it Ben?

[@harmonicamastery]

Yes I believe we can - although we don't keep them in stock

[@netseraph08]

I tried a Bb. It is a horrible one. Too leaky.

[@harmonicamastery]

Send it back, they should not be leaky - and that’s the first time I’ve heard that comment about this company. Obviously things to go wrong sometimes so just get it changed or fixed.

[@Jonathan-L]

How are these harmonicas for durability/longevity?

[@harmonicamastery]

Too early to tell, they are new designs

[@drax9000]

1 question please, the aluminion have contact with your mouth or lips? If the aluminion have contact with your mouth and lips is not healthy

[@harmonicamastery]

Your mouth lips and tongue is in constant connection with the comb Dan. Combs come in many alternatives to aluminium - wood, glass, abs plastic, different types of acrylic, even mammoth bone. We have to choose what suits us best. The Solist comes with aluminium and you are free to change that after you have got it - I can even ask the factory if there is an alternative if you like.

[@drax9000]

Ok, thanks for answering my cuestion!! A dont now wath brand to chose, but i see good reviews of the Dabell noble, im a beguiner but a i want a good harmonica to help me learn, easy to bend, and good aut the box

[@AncientEL07]

Is the holes small or big?

[@harmonicamastery]

No, they are normal size I would say

[@rcdesmond]

Just wondering, Being made in communist china, why do they cost so much?

[@harmonicamastery]

Interesting question - I think you can email the factory and ask them - I really don't know their business model

[@GardeningZ]

Many factories in Jiangsu state were created in the 1970s and 1980s as city owned business. A big portion of them were privitized in the 2000s. The bigger ones nowadays would even go “public” again, but for the stock market.