Hohner Crossover

training.harmonicamastery.com... .harmonicamastery.com/5-steps?el=YT ✅Want to learn harmonica? Got a few minutes a day? 👀
Let me tell you more at www.HarmonicaMastery.com
🚀join the gang - / 977545059765569
😎Please ring the bell and subscribe to my channel so I can give you regular free lessons, instrument reviews, and things I think you might enjoy.
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.
✅Want to learn harmonica? Got a few minutes a day? 👀
Let me tell you more at www.HarmonicaMastery.com

[@steve3150]

I've bought one and can't wait to get it.

[@mauriciolacruz]

I have it and love it. Thanks for sharing! 👍🏻

[@whitelight2507]

Well done as usual Ben....Your reviews are the best, and you are a great guy....I like my Rocket's, but the Crossover's are next... Gary

[@sonnyburnett8744]

Yep, they are expensive but they are also worth it. I still buy and tweak/seal my standard Marine Bands but having tried the Crossover and the Deluxe I'm sold 100% although I do favour the Deluxe, for me it feels right! Good vids and short to the point... I like that.

[@heartywhistler]

+Sonny Burnett I'm trying to decide between the MBD and the Crossover. The MBD is at least $20 cheaper. Which one is louder? You mention you like the MBD better because it feels right. How does the Crossover feel compared to the MBD? Which would you recommend for a beginner? Thanks!

[@alfreddemuth6343]

Nice demo ....

[@harmonicamastery]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mauriciolacruz]

Wonderful instruments. 👍🏻 As far as I know, the Crossover doesn't feature a "composite bamboo" comb, but a "lacquered/sealed laminated bamboo" comb (proper bamboo, front lacquered/sealed to make it moisture resistant.)

[@harmonicamastery]

Certainly bamboo in some manipulated form yes, I'm not sure what you would call it, you may be exactly right!

[@mauriciolacruz]

@@harmonicamastery Well, "composite" refers to a formula, sort of mix of different materials. For instance, the comb in the Suzuki Manji is made of "composite" material (resin + wood). But the comb in the Crossover is just made of pure bamboo, no mix there. Yes, laminated (cut in layers) and sealed/lacquered, but not mixed as an amorphous mass with any other material. In fact you can see the internal structure of the bamboo.

[@harmonicamastery]

@@mauriciolacruz ok, perfect

[@CPerreault]

Would you think the gaps on the sides of the Crossover affect tone when playing with a bullet mic?

[@harmonicamastery]

Yes, but not so much

[@tommytramp]

I LOVE YOU FOR MENTIONING THERE EXPENSIVE TOO MUCH IT IS A SHAME HOW MUCH A BLUES HARP COSTS THESE DAYS, ITS A CRIME!!!

[@harmonicamastery]

Thanks Tommy. Yes it's a shame. Have you visited a harmonica factory? Can you imagine the set up costs and the staffing levels required, the fine engineering standards required, training those engineers for a year - it's a terrible business to go into (I imagine) and try to be profitable. They need to be profitable to survive and would stop making harmonicas if they are not. Yes harps have become expensive but I think they are better value than ever before so that's why I said 'reassuringly expensive'!

[@heartywhistler]

I have purchased your course on Udemy. I haven't gotten very far yet, but so far I like the course. I am wondering which is better, the Marine Band Deluxe or Crossover? The Crossover tends to be $20 more. Right now on Amazon, the MBD is $49 and the Crossover is $69. The main reason for the price difference might be the bamboo comb the Crossover has, as compared to the lacquered and sealed pearwood comb on the MBD. I have a Seydel Blues Session Standard and a Bushman Delta Frost, both with plastic combs. I like them, but want a more traditional harp, and don't want to buy a regular Marine Band. I've owned two Hohner Blues Harps. Ouch. Most uncomfortable harps I've played. I'll skip those from now on. I'm quite curious to find out if the Crossover is really worth paying $20 more than the MBD. Which is louder? Which is more comfortable? Should I just save money and buy a semi-traditional Suzuki Manji instead? For a player who isn't exactly advanced as of yet, would I notice much difference between the Deluxe and the Crossover? Thanks.

[@harmonicamastery]

+Kerkuil's Channel My advice is to go for the Crossover - that's what I do these days.

[@heartywhistler]

+Ben Hewlett I'm putting a lot of information here for the benefit of others who are shopping for harps. Prices are in US dollars and for harps in the key of C. I just ordered a Suzuki Manji a few days ago. Cheapest price I found was $37. Have you played one of these? I'm going to try that one out for a little while. Maybe I will buy a Crossover after. The Crossover is certainly expensive though! Currently around $69 and the Marine Band Deluxe is $50. I'm wondering if the Crossover is that much better. You know harmonicas really well, and you like the Crossover. That's a solid endorsement. Thanks. There's the Seydel Blues Soloist Pro to consider. I've read that harp is really rough on mustaches though. I might skip that one. Price is $45. And the Seydel 1847 Blues Classic with the steel reeds is very pricey: $87. That's a lot of money! I have plastic comb harmonicas right now: Fender Blues DeVille ($30, usually shipped with a case that won't open most of the time), Bushman Delta Frost ($37 and no case) and Seydel Blues Session Standard ($35, no case, just a leather sleeve. I buy Hohner zipper cases separately for around $6) I used to have a Special 20 ($37) and a Golden Melody ($37). Both of these come with good plastic cases. Strangely, I am allergic to the plastic Hohner uses, and so I don't play those two models anymore. Apart from my allergy, I really liked the Special 20. I had a Lee Oskar for a short time. Hated it. Tried a Suzuki Bluemaster briefly, didn't like that one either. The Fender BD sounds great, and has a unique tone. It also has a powder-coat matte finish paint job that is rough on the lips. Bushman DF isn't great. Takes more air than the others, and one of the draw holes is kinda messed up. The Suzuki Harpmaster looks identical to the Bushman and is cheaper ($30 with case). I wonder if it is better or worse? There's a harp called the Soul's Voice, which is American-made, like the Bushman, and looks just like the Bushman, except that the cover plates are available in a variety of colors. That one sells for $35. Haven't tried it. The Seydel Blues Session Standard is very good for the price, and has excellent tone, but because of its shape is not the most comfortable to play. These days, I'm not especially keen on plastic combs, so I'm wanting to try other kinds of harmonicas. There's a Hering 1923 harp with wood comb, ($47), doesn't get the best reviews. Probably not very good. I'm most interested in the Manji, the Marine Band Deluxe and the Crossover.

[@harmonicamastery]

+Kerkuil's Channel Look it's a huge subject, I don't personally go for Manjis, LOs, Seydel - all great harps but not my choice. Get a rounded and knowledgeable opinion on patmissin.com/reviews/reviews.html

[@heartywhistler]

+Ben Hewlett Cool, thanks!

[@emirobrand]

What key is that?

[@harmonicamastery]

It's written on the box at 7 seconds in - can you see it now? Also see if you can use your ears. When you hear me playing listen for 2 draw and work out what that note is. You will discover it is the note of E. So what is hole 1 blow? Can you work it out?

[@jrb4935]

@@harmonicamastery Why don't you just say 'A', you patronising twat.

[@feijaoempanado8306]

GOD IS GOOD

[@persiaguitar]

I contacted Hohner about washing this harmonica they told me that It will swell so why on earth should I pay more to have Bamboo when still I can not wash it with water ? Also the edges of this harmonica and marine band is sharp today I cut my finger while playing . All I can see is better appearance nothing special . Special 20 is much better :)

[@harmonicamastery]

Best to go with with the Sp20 if you prefer it. All the best.