The Marine band deluxe is dead easy to blow, is the manji just as easy, I bought the seydel soloist and I thought it was pretty poor I had to huff n puff really hard
Jesus what's with the wailing! I wish all you guy's who compare harps. I just wish you'd all pick three tunes of different styles that would show off the characteristics of both harps better. All I'm hearing is a screeching cat. Take a leaf out of Brendan Power's book and do a tune or parts of two or three tunes to compare harps.
I have been playing a Suzuki Manji for 19 months and it is still going strong. No harp I have ever played has lasted longer than this Manji. Tested the tuning after 19 months to a brand new Manji and tuning is the same 435Hz. When my Manji does start to feel sluggish I put it in my cleaner for 5min and it plays like new again. I have since bought two complete sets of Manji harmonicas, 24 harmonicas 2 in each key. I also have Lo C, Lo D, Lo G, Lo F, and one High G. I am waiting for my first Manji to fail before I start buying Reed plates. I also have a set of Suzuki Blues masters. I still play my Marine Bands and Special 20's but the Manji is my go to harp. The only harmonica I like Better than the Manji are my Yonbergs but the Manji is my go to harp for playing gigs.
The Marine Band really needs a bit of work before it's put on the line against any harp. Out of the box it might be the worst harp ever made. Manicure the slots, gap it, seal the wood, open the back then add screws and it might be the best harmonica ever made, bar none.
True enough; unless your own expertise in tuning is advanced, the sweat equity in making any standard MB into a fully optimized utilitarian machine for pro use exceeds by far the cost of most Suzuki or Seydel models that have won over those who make a living from the tool.
Great playing bud! I'm new to harmonicas but I'm a musician for a long time. I bought 3 Bb harps a Marine Band 1896, a Crossover and the Manji. The Manji is beautifull, confortable, but even the MB 1896 sounds much better. I made a blind test with me playing the same riff with the 1896 and with the Manji to many friends and ALL of them said that the 1896 was much better. The manji is really beautifull easy to play, well constructed but got no tone compared with a Marine Band. I was disapoited!
I have several Manji's and Crossovers. To me, they are about equal in playability. I don't notice a difference in their ease of playing - though neither compares to customised or Harrison (RIP) harps in that regard. I also consider any sound differences to be insignificant. Don't misunderstand. Both Manji's and Crossovers are pretty good (unless you get a lemon) out of the box, but they are not of customised quality.
my cross over plays much like my marine band, its lighter and the comb ends are rounded making it a lil esier to play. though its raspier and i think that has alot to do with the change in weight and comb material
I'll try and get something together soon. I tried the 1847 a few years back and didn't like them all that much. To me, they were a bit to leaky and don't give me the freedom of the Manji or the tone of the MB. If you are a beginner I would say to go with a Special 20 because they are a bit easier to play. Manji would also be good, but I've found that new people often do better with the Sp20. Its downside is that its a relatively brittle harp and can go flat pretty easy so dont play it too hard.
Yea, I know exactly the one you are talking about. I think he was doing some scales, but as I recall it was one of his custom harps. Ultimately though, Jason's tone is Jason despite the harp...always sound killer. I worked on that violin'esk tone and found that its all about playing extremely soft as you breath in and out. You also need to kind of slightly fluctuate the volume as you play each note, very very slight decay at the end of each note. Hope this helps.
I'll be doing a Crossover VS Manji soon. I have an instructional program coming out and will be comparing alot of different harps. I will keep you posted.
Generally speaking I play the Manji if I know that I am playing with guys that are a bit louder. I find that the Manji really shines when you push the volume and all the holes are very equalized. If I am playing a lower volume gig (acoustic gig) then I prefer Marine Bands...whether its a Delux or Traditional. The benefit of the MB is its tone. Despite this, I 90% of my case is Manjis and I will sacrifice a bit of tone for durability and easy of playing at high volume. Hope this helps.
I you buy a Blues Harp here is what you should do to make them more airtight: I notice that they only have two (!) screws holding the reed-plates to the comb, even though the reed-plates have driling for about five more screws. Take it apart, drill out the comb for the extra screws and beg borrow or steel five more screws...
hi, i been trying to figure this out do you know what harmonica does jessie use in free willy the movie if you seen it because i want to buy that harmonica that he used, but i do not know which (Marine Band) harmonica i have to get can you help me out? thanks and maybe can you send me a video of you playing that song he plays on the right harmonica so i know for sure thankyou
Jason Ricci's got a video up where he seems to be in love with this harmonica. I'm not sure whether it was him or the harmonica, but it almost sounded like he was playing a violin at times.
I've been wanted to buy one of the Manji's but after playing a band mate's 3 day old Manji in the key of C, I'm not sure anymore. The 2 and 3 draw reeds were very leaky and I felt like the composite comb was recessed too far at the mouthpiece. It had a quality feel about it but this thing was all over the map as far as a proper set up. Frankly, based on this one test, I'd take a Marine Band that's spent 30 minutes in my shop before I'd lay down twice the money on this thing.
@manmaster94 To build on lmercer's advice, the Marine Band Deluxe is a great harp and not as hard to just jump into as a regular Marine Band (which takes a bit to get to play well). The MBDL is pearwood as well so you still have that fat bluesy sound.
@bjkaboom Manji's tone is more trebly while the MB Cross has a bit more of the traditional bite. however, the Manji's are more durable, overblow better, and are much more airtight than the MB Cross
@manmaster94 well, in my opinion the best "blues" harp of all time is the original Marine Band. They have enhanced them a bit and now have the Marine Band Crossover which are fantastic and will be a bit easier to play. The best thing you can do with that Hot Metal harp is put it away. Those are terrible harps but they do make you play better since they are so unforgiving. My general rule is to never spend less than $25 on a harmonica. Hope this helps
The Marine band deluxe is dead easy to blow, is the manji just as easy, I bought the seydel soloist and I thought it was pretty poor I had to huff n puff really hard
Are we talking about a simple MB 1896 or a Deluxe ? The thing I see is that the Manji are less expensive and I can open them for cleaning ..?
Sadly you don’t make anymore videos .
I like Harmonika
Jesus what's with the wailing! I wish all you guy's who compare harps. I just wish you'd all pick three tunes of different styles that would show off the characteristics of both harps better. All I'm hearing is a screeching cat. Take a leaf out of Brendan Power's book and do a tune or parts of two or three tunes to compare harps.
My Manji in G doesn't squeal, but I don't overblow.
Marine Band is superior to the Manji
It really is not.
Does an out of the box Marine Band overblow on 4, 5 and 6?
I like marine band and Manji but Marine band is difficult to maintain with those nails and delux is not available and expensive so Manji is winner
Very little air loss and very good resonance as well in Manji
MB sounds better! Manji easier to play out of the box . but MB with adjustments just way better
never knew jhonny sins has another talent :p
Manji rules !! if your not into customizing Manji is hands down the way to go!!
Why?
Marine Band straight out of the box. Can't be beat!
yes it can by many
Marine Band Crossover
I have been playing a Suzuki Manji for 19 months and it is still going strong. No harp I have ever played has lasted longer than this Manji. Tested the tuning after 19 months to a brand new Manji and tuning is the same 435Hz. When my Manji does start to feel sluggish I put it in my cleaner for 5min and it plays like new again. I have since bought two complete sets of Manji harmonicas, 24 harmonicas 2 in each key. I also have Lo C, Lo D, Lo G, Lo F, and one High G. I am waiting for my first Manji to fail before I start buying Reed plates. I also have a set of Suzuki Blues masters. I still play my Marine Bands and Special 20's but the Manji is my go to harp. The only harmonica I like Better than the Manji are my Yonbergs but the Manji is my go to harp for playing gigs.
you can fix the squikly sound in the OB by putting a tiny rectangle of micropore tape in the center of the reed, it works really well to me
Great comparison and awesome demo! Killer chops!
hy i bought a manji and it is now my favorite
Is it me or does the Suzuki have a brighter tone than the marine band. It sounds cleaner and not as muddy.
El Suzuki Manji tiene un sonido más limpio y es más fácil doblar la nota.... Easy bending that the Marine band......!
The Suzuki on the high end has a sharper more (I hate to say this) piercing sound.
dude , you're awesome.
I bought a marineband deluxe in D as my first harmonica. I hope it's a good model.
The Marine Band really needs a bit of work before it's put on the line against any harp. Out of the box it might be the worst harp ever made. Manicure the slots, gap it, seal the wood, open the back then add screws and it might be the best harmonica ever made, bar none.
True enough; unless your own expertise in tuning is advanced, the sweat equity in making any standard MB into a fully optimized utilitarian machine for pro use exceeds by far the cost of most Suzuki or Seydel models that have won over those who make a living from the tool.
Great playing bud! I'm new to harmonicas but I'm a musician for a long time. I bought 3 Bb harps a Marine Band 1896, a Crossover and the Manji. The Manji is beautifull, confortable, but even the MB 1896 sounds much better. I made a blind test with me playing the same riff with the 1896 and with the Manji to many friends and ALL of them said that the 1896 was much better. The manji is really beautifull easy to play, well constructed but got no tone compared with a Marine Band. I was disapoited!
Has anyone compared these harmonicas to a Seydel?
I have several Manji's and Crossovers. To me, they are about equal in playability. I don't notice a difference in their ease of playing - though neither compares to customised or Harrison (RIP) harps in that regard. I also consider any sound differences to be insignificant. Don't misunderstand. Both Manji's and Crossovers are pretty good (unless you get a lemon) out of the box, but they are not of customised quality.
Crossovers for me are The ones. But so $$
my cross over plays much like my marine band, its lighter and the comb ends are rounded making it a lil esier to play. though its raspier and i think that has alot to do with the change in weight and comb material
I'll try and get something together soon. I tried the 1847 a few years back and didn't like them all that much. To me, they were a bit to leaky and don't give me the freedom of the Manji or the tone of the MB. If you are a beginner I would say to go with a Special 20 because they are a bit easier to play. Manji would also be good, but I've found that new people often do better with the Sp20. Its downside is that its a relatively brittle harp and can go flat pretty easy so dont play it too hard.
agreed...nothing will ever beat the original marine band as far as tone goes
personaly, i prefer the good old marine band
cool thanks but i just randomly chose i got it right its a "C" from the looks of it
Manji is amazing. For me SUZUKI harmonica is the best in the world:)
No adjustments, all me. Still working on it but its coming along.
Coming soon.
Yea, I know exactly the one you are talking about. I think he was doing some scales, but as I recall it was one of his custom harps. Ultimately though, Jason's tone is Jason despite the harp...always sound killer. I worked on that violin'esk tone and found that its all about playing extremely soft as you breath in and out. You also need to kind of slightly fluctuate the volume as you play each note, very very slight decay at the end of each note. Hope this helps.
I'll be doing a Crossover VS Manji soon. I have an instructional program coming out and will be comparing alot of different harps. I will keep you posted.
lmercer4 - 4 years and I still waiting ur Manji vs Crossover opinion. Hahaha!
Looking forward to it.
Generally speaking I play the Manji if I know that I am playing with guys that are a bit louder. I find that the Manji really shines when you push the volume and all the holes are very equalized. If I am playing a lower volume gig (acoustic gig) then I prefer Marine Bands...whether its a Delux or Traditional. The benefit of the MB is its tone. Despite this, I 90% of my case is Manjis and I will sacrifice a bit of tone for durability and easy of playing at high volume. Hope this helps.
not sure, if you have a clip of him playing I can check it out and let you know
I you buy a Blues Harp here is what you should do to make them more airtight: I notice that they only have two (!) screws holding the reed-plates to the comb, even though the reed-plates have driling for about five more screws. Take it apart, drill out the comb for the extra screws and beg borrow or steel five more screws...
its him
hi, i been trying to figure this out do you know what harmonica does jessie use in free willy the movie if you seen it because i want to buy that harmonica that he used, but i do not know which (Marine Band) harmonica i have to get can you help me out? thanks and maybe can you send me a video of you playing that song he plays on the right harmonica so i know for sure thankyou
the munji is the mutz nuts. if ur serious even a beginner u need to try one of these. u won't look back
Jason Ricci's got a video up where he seems to be in love with this harmonica. I'm not sure whether it was him or the harmonica, but it almost sounded like he was playing a violin at times.
Hi Joe satriani!
I've been wanted to buy one of the Manji's but after playing a band mate's 3 day old Manji in the key of C, I'm not sure anymore. The 2 and 3 draw reeds were very leaky and I felt like the composite comb was recessed too far at the mouthpiece. It had a quality feel about it but this thing was all over the map as far as a proper set up. Frankly, based on this one test, I'd take a Marine Band that's spent 30 minutes in my shop before I'd lay down twice the money on this thing.
That Suzuki Manji is killer. What a great sound.
@manmaster94 To build on lmercer's advice, the Marine Band Deluxe is a great harp and not as hard to just jump into as a regular Marine Band (which takes a bit to get to play well). The MBDL is pearwood as well so you still have that fat bluesy sound.
the manji has a higher after tone.
@bjkaboom Manji's tone is more trebly while the MB Cross has a bit more of the traditional bite. however, the Manji's are more durable, overblow better, and are much more airtight than the MB Cross
@manmaster94 well, in my opinion the best "blues" harp of all time is the original Marine Band. They have enhanced them a bit and now have the Marine Band Crossover which are fantastic and will be a bit easier to play. The best thing you can do with that Hot Metal harp is put it away. Those are terrible harps but they do make you play better since they are so unforgiving. My general rule is to never spend less than $25 on a harmonica. Hope this helps
So... Do you prefer the Marine Band Crossover over the M-20 Manji?
Personnaly : Crossovers for ever but just too $$.