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Subject: "Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"     Previous Topic | Next Topic
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Snooker
Member since Apr-8-06
6 posts		 Aug-23-06, 09:52 AM (PST)
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"Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
 
   Dave or anyone had a chance to play the Suzuki Promaster 350v ? I picked one up in the Key of C just to see how it sounded. I was suprised to see how easily the blow notes could be bent and remain controlled. I was going to try one of the Hohner XB 40's but from what I've read, they are larger than a traditional diatonic, possibly because of the extra reed plates? This Suzuki is actually slightly smaller than my Lee Oskars , width, depth and length, making it feel pretty much like a standard diatonic. It resembles a Hohner Miesterclause in profile, and also has an aluminum comb. It doesn't have the extra set of reeds like the XB 40. I haven't taken it appart yet to see how they valved it because it is playing perfect right out of the box. I guess my question is "has anyone had a chance to play both ( Hohner XB40 - Suzuki 350v )and compare sound, ease of use, etc? I have 11 Lee Oskars, 6 Hohner Blues Harps and a couple Hohner Chromatics 10 and 12 hole. This Suzuki has better volume, tone and less air leakage than anything I have. Either I got a freak right out of the box or Suzuki may be on to something. No more Lee Oskars for me.I'm tired of getting my facial hair torn out by the roots when it gets snagged in the little nuts that secure the reed covers on! Dang that hurts!

http://www.suzukiharmonicas.com


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knud
Member since Aug-5-05
19 posts		 Aug-23-06, 11:26 AM (PST)
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1. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #0
 
   Hey Snooker,

I just got a Promaster valved monday. I had the Promaster unvalved. And i got the XB-40 a couple of weeks ago. Why? to play chromatically on a diatonic!

Both harps are interesting i think. The XB-40 being the most advanced. The bended notes are more "clean" - and you have many possibilities to play a given note. You can also slide with notes that you can't on a normally diatonic (valved or not). You can play 7 notes in hole 3! (full blow-bend on 3 = full draw bend on 2!). I guess you can get used to the bigger size - but i like the small diatonics. The normal diatonic is easier to hand-vibratoes and such. Much more difficult with a XB-40. The sound/tone is different on a XB-40 (just different - not bad). Size of the comb = Hohner 260 comb.

On the Promaster i could blow-bend rightaway. But draw-bends wasn't there at once (actually i first thought, there were no valves on hole 7-10, but they actually are there). Now i can get the 7 draw-bend which give me 12th position straight. To me the "new" draw-bends aren't easy - the valves rattles and so on. But i think i will have it ok in a week or so. The valves are small plastic-flaps covering the holes in the reedplate - opposite the reeds. 6 on hole 1-6 (on the drawside - you can se them through the combs-holes without dismounting the harp, they are white) - and 4 on hole 7-10 (blow-side - you can see them too from the other side of the harp). Nothing special in fact - you could make it yourself on an ordinary Promaster or other diatonic. But it works!

I have both harps in C - considering to buy the Overdrive too. But i think i will do a bit more researching first. I like them both. I wish the XB-40 was as small as the Promaster. XB-40 being the easiest to play - and with more possibilities (things that you can't do on any other harps). For the time being the Promaster is my favorit i think. The harp is much more comfortable - and i like the sound and it's size.

Here are some threads upon the XB-40 (taken from "INDEX TO POPULAR TOPICS & POSTS" - first thread in this section)

http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/dcforum/DCForumID4/35.html
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/dcforum/DCForumID4/154.html
http://www.harmonicalessons.com/members/dcforum/DCForumID4/49.html

I would like to know if you had same experience with the draw-bends being much more difficult then the blow-bends?

Knud


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Snooker
Member since Apr-8-06
6 posts		 Aug-25-06, 05:28 AM (PST)
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2. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #0
 
   Thanks for your response. After reading your reply, I did look through the reed plate covers and saw the white flaps you were talking about, but they were only visable to me on holes 7 through 10, but then again I'm blind in one eye and can't hear out of the other. I'm not going to take it appart until I absolutely need to.
As far as draw bending is concerned, I have no problem draw bending all the notes I bend on my Lee Oskars. Blow bending is pretty easy too exept on hole 10. I rarely use hole 10 on most of the songs I play so that's not a problem for me. I'm very impressed with the Suzuki 350v so far. Durability is the question. I'm using it now for all my Key of C songs, so I should know in a couple months if it is holding up. I've replaced reeds in my Lee Oskar C and D harps in the last year. I'm getting about 7 months out of a set of Lee Oskar reeds, Playing them pretty much every day.
Thanks for your tips on the XB 40. I think I'll buy one just for curiousty sake. I'm seriously thinking of switching over to the Suzuki Promasters, (not just the valved) even though they are a bit more expensive than the Lee Oskars. I'll save my Lee Oskars for those speacial times when I'm playing after eating Pizza.


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knud
Member since Aug-5-05
19 posts		 Aug-25-06, 06:04 AM (PST)
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3. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #2
 
  
Quote
As far as draw bending is concerned, I have no problem draw bending all the notes I bend on my Lee Oskars. Blow bending is pretty easy too exept on hole 10.

Well, it was the new bending-possiblities i was thinking of (i have no problem with the normal, standard bendings - else i wouldn't have bought the valved): Blowbends on 1-6 and draw-bends on 7-10. It's the drawbends on 7-10 i have a little trouble with. But you don't have that?

(btw the white flaps, hole, 1-6 are on the "mouth-side" of the comb)

Knud


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JohnM
Member since Mar-11-06
50 posts		 Aug-30-06, 06:14 AM (PST)
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4. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #0
 
Hi,
Before joining this site I began with the usual approach,book,CD and harmonica, in my case the Suzuki 350 and a few months later the Suzuki 350valved version and the Suzuki easyrider.I now have 5 Lee Oskars, 2 Hering,1 Horner marine band,1 Horner Chromatic (chromonica) and have just ordered the Horner XB -4O.I have not had a chance yet to compare the XB-40 with the 350.However, all have their strenghts and weaknesses.
The Suzuki harmonica looks good, is excellent "for playing" but I found that the reeds gave out at an alarming rate in comparison with the other types. However "for practicing" (techniques,bending etc)the Lee Oskars are in my opinion the top.I will let you know about the XB -40 when it arrives. These days we harmonica players are spoilt for choice!
Salut,
JohnM


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knud
Member since Aug-5-05
19 posts		 Aug-30-06, 08:07 AM (PST)
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5. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #4
 
   Hey JohnM,

Looking forward to your comments on the XB-40...

350 valved: Do/did you have any problems with the added drawbends like me? (mine are too weak)

Knud


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JohnM
Member since Mar-11-06
50 posts		 Aug-31-06, 11:43 PM (PST)
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6. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #5
 
Hi,
I did have a difficulty with the drawbends,that was point I was making between 'playing' and "practicing". When I began learning with a book and a CD the stress was on playing chords and for that the Suzuki was great it has a full sound. (I now realise that was not the best way to begin learning).I had difficuty when it came to single notes, drawbends etc.However,I made rapid progress with the Lee oskars on drawbends.
Looking forward to trying the new XB-40 that everybody seems to be talking about.
all the best,
JohnM


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knud
Member since Aug-5-05
19 posts		 Sep-01-06, 10:36 AM (PST)
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7. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #6
 
  
Quote
However,I made rapid progress with the Lee oskars on drawbends.

JOhnM (and/or Snooker for that matter),

My english must be bad (i'm danish) . I have no difficulties as such with the normal drawbends. It's the drawbends on the valved Promaster i'm talking about (hole 7-10). Do you have the same problems as i have?

Knud


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JohnM
Member since Mar-11-06
50 posts		 Sep-01-06, 03:09 PM (PST)
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8. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #7
 
Hi,
I had the opposite problem, no problem with valved verson of the Suzuki on the draw bends but a problem with the draw bends on the original 35O, but as the french would say c'est la vie!
Talk again,
JohnM


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JohnM
Member since Mar-11-06
50 posts		 Sep-06-06, 01:24 AM (PST)
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9. "RE: Suzuki Promaster 350 v ... Hohner XB 40"
In response to message #0
 
Hi,
I have just got my XB-40 and have been playing for a week with it.
Excellent. If I could paraphrase the expression of the american writer John Reed ' I have seen the future and it works ' I will naturally replace the reeds on the Suzuki 350 and the 350v when necessary but from now on it is "all new XB's for me.

JohnM


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