Hohner Rocket Review

Are the Rockets ten bucks better than the regular Hohner Special 20? Yeah, I think they are, plus the Rocket Amps have these great green-colored combs! Are they worth all 65 of the dollars you'll pay for one? I dunno, but hell, lunch at the diner'll cost you 65 dollars these days, so maybe, yeah. Why, back in my day.... etc. etc. etc. Harp on, y'all!

[@GnashvilleUK]

I play the Rockert amp harps. really great when playing through a tube amp and my Astatic JT 30 mic. Good review

[@GnashvilleUK]

I play the same through a Fender bassman. Sounds amazing

[@NateWilson922]

I have an Open side vent Rocket right now in C and it's super sweet. Easy playability and huge tone. I definitely recommend them. Cool Vid

[@bonedaddy6600]

Very helpful review. I can hear a distinct difference between the two harps. the Rocket is much louder but I don't hear much difference in tone etc.. I dunno, I'm cheap plus I like medium size holes ;)

[@Tim48103]

I'm cheap, too, but I'm not completely against different sized holes. THAT, however, is a review of an entirely different color, lol.

[@bonedaddy6600]

@@Tim48103 Ha!

[@8360365]

You didn't mention that the Rocket cover plates don't have that annoying split on the corner that sometimes catches on your mouth like the Special 20... Big PLUS!!

[@DP-hw9uq]

Finally someone who says it clear! The big-ass holes (noticed the hyphen?) are said to give more responsiveness, but I actually feel the opposite! S20 is faster and easier to bend.

[@davidcastellanos881]

Really?😢 I wante a rocket as an upgrade for my special 20.

[@Amper-o-mat]

Rocket Amps are meant to be louder only when play amplified. When playing acousticaly, regular Rocket is much louder than Amp...Generaly I would say, grey Rocket plays better and give more power, has bigger holes...and i don't know why they made Rocket Amps at all, it doesn't make much sense...

[@miamistomp]

my 2 cents- Rocket for sure sounds better to my ear

[@AncientEL07]

The amp sounds better, I hear the difference. That's the deal breaker on the big holes..it's good though... Crossover and deluxe might be the best Harmonicas out there...

[@Dustin-xp7xq]

Is it harder to bend notes on the orange one. I play seydel lighting but also i play rocket amp cause depends on song. I also play seydel orange ones. But joles are so small. It bad. Its better with larger holes for me to bend notes for longer time and but the green ones for me i blow the reed on 6 hole too much. Lol. Ok great video thanks for you time. Sounds great.

[@peteaustin5327]

I never owned a Rocket amp. I've been told they are louder. but every review I see on them they don't seem much louder to me than the special 20. I think the blues harp by Hohner is louder, but I will never spend the 60 bucks for one of those. I just keep replacing the reedplates for 1/2 the money

[@Tim48103]

I agree with you - it's not a bad harp by any stretch, in fact, it's a good harp. But there are more economical ways to go - the reedplate swap is always a great option, where available. And, you know, louder is one of those things that's touted as a plus, but really? If you're playing amped, well, then you have an amp. If you're not, I dunno, even the quiet ones (like the Mars, say) is loud enough to hang at a campfire.... So louder isn't really necessarily better-er imho....

[@sepultura7771]

The Rocket is a LOUD harmonica You cant tell on KZbin videos But in real life,it’s WAAAAAAY louder than Special 20

[@fuckbored4724]

That's a rocket amp, which is not meant to be louder than a special 20 acoustically. The regular rocket (blue comb) is the one that is meant to be louder acoustically. Appreciate the review all the same

[@Tim48103]

As far as I can tell, comb color and side vents are about the only differences. Lack of side vents probably does make the harp seem quieter to the user tho. And thanks!

[@lennylink8772]

Do you think the bigger hole size will enable a beginner to find them easier? I was looking to get the rocket amp or session steel I think they both have a larger hole size... (plus I have a big beard and moustache that I don't want to have hair ripping out issues with).

[@Tim48103]

I think the beginner would not notice a difference here - single note stuff would be about the same for any of the harps you mentioned and/or the "regular" Special 20. I can't speak to the facial hair issue - I have the beard any 12-year-old could grow - but looking at the fit and finish of these harps, the Sessions AND the Hohners all have gaps and cracks at either end that might trap the errant beard hair. But again, I'm NOT the guy to ask - might be something to Google.... ?

[@lennylink8772]

@@Tim48103 Thanks for the answer! I like your content 🤙

[@faethe000]

I think the Rocket is definitely worth the ten dollar upgrade. The question is whether the special 20 is worth the $50 price as the base. I don't think it is.

[@Tim48103]

totally agree.

[@faethe000]

@@Tim48103 I mean, I love how the special 20 sounds and plays, but physically it feels like something some dude put together in his basement with sheet metal and electrical tape. It feels like a harp where none of the finishing work was done, to save money, but then none of those savings are passed on to the consumer. It's a premium price for a half-finished instrument.

[@Tim48103]

@@faethe000 Right? The fit and finish of the lowly $12 Fender Blues Deluxe is as good or better than the SP20. But yeah, the contrast between the SP20's tone/responsiveness with it's sharp corners and chintzy construction is maddening at that price.

[@iforget8716]

Sold! even with your condescending tone, I’m buying a Rocket! I’m a BIG guy and the hole size of the Rocket is actually a selling point for me. But, most of all, considering KZbin’s condensing Yadayadayada upload algorithm the Rocket amp sounded like it was already amped too me, so…. Sold! It would be nice if you did videos like you DIDN’t have a gun to your head but whatever, the content is good. You did convince me to look into the Amazing 20s. Do they make a Low G model to accompany my new Hohner Rocket G harp?

[@Tim48103]

lol, well, you never know who might actually be standing stage left with, you know, a gun to my head. That said, I don't think Amazing 20's (or anybody else, for that matter) goes to low G, no. Even Seydel & Lee Oskar only go to Low C. Dja mean Hi G, maybe (tho the answer is still no....)?

[@anandaarju7517]

Which key is used for Rocket in this video ?

[@Tim48103]

the key of A.

[@landztranz]

Of the three you played, Tim, which is the best for overblows?

[@Tim48103]

I'd say the Rocket and the SP20 are about the same, both better than the Amazing 20 by a fair bit....

[@landztranz]

@@Tim48103 Thanks. Funny thing is, when I play with my band I never use overblows. I guess I just want to know that they're there if I ever muster up the courage to use them. Are you talking 4, 5 and 6 or just 6?

[@Tim48103]

@@landztranz 4, 5 and 6. I can't do 1, and the overdraws are a mystery to me. And yeah, every once in a blue moon, when I'm playing live, I'll eke out a 6 OB with the band - especially if there's not a large audience and/or we don't happen to be recording or doing a livestream, lol. But I *do* practice them a lot, so ONE of these days, by golly....

[@landztranz]

@@Tim48103 Overdraws are a mystery to me as well. And overblows are more of a bonus, something that I use when I'm playing a tune for myself at home, for now, but watch out, World!

[@hazmatite]

😂

[@norfolknwhey4787]

They’re nice, but overpriced… as are most of the Hohners for what you’re getting. I will admit, the grey rocket does sound better than most when played acoustically, but when you add an amp, the $20 ones sounds virtually identical to the $50-80 ones 🤷‍♂️

[@Tim48103]

And, acoustically, they sound pretty much identical to a "regular" special 20, which while itself not a bargain, exactly, is still cheaper than a rocket. Regardless, you're correct - a mic, a pedal or two, and an amp will absolutely wipe out any tonal difference any given harp may offer.

[@TheWingnut58]

I'll stick to big ass-holes.....I spent the money for a "Special 20" and got one so special that it came with a dead 3 draw reed.. And it's non-returnable......so yeah, fugg'em

[@Tim48103]

Lol. See? HYPHENATION! But yeah, it sucks when you pony up and get a dud. Doesn't hurt so much when it's an Easttop T008k, right? Harp on, mate!

[@TheWingnut58]

@@Tim48103 Exactly!....I have 2 T008K's, which cost less combined than the dud. In fact, I can get a third one and still will have spent less....they're hard to beat for the money IMHO

[@robertfrascone5568]

I had a similar problem. That is why I am going to purchase Hohner diatonics from Amazon. I tbelieve they still have a 30 day return policy on harmonicas. I returned a Hohner Chromonica 270 to Amazon, which had terrible reeds, with no problem. They might cost a tad bit more, but I believe it's worth it, if you've been burned before. I hope this is still in effect.

[@TheWingnut58]

@@robertfrascone5568 I'll stick with Easttop and Kongsheng.....the Hohner brand has gone down hill over the last few years.

[@miamistomp]

@@TheWingnut58 Actually, Hohner is a lot better than they were 10 years ago