I have a friend who recently retired from full-time performing in an Irish/folk/bluegrass duo (originally a trio) after 20-odd years. He plays guitar and harmonica (in a neck rack, obviously), and did quite a few Irish and bluegrass fiddle tunes (including a really good version of The Orange Blossom Special) on the harp in his sets. He has boxes of old, blown out Special 20s and Lee Oskars laying around his in-home studio (he produced his own group's albums, and now records and produces albums for other Irish, folk and bluegrass singers in the area). He played at local pubs at least 5 nights a week, sometimes 6 or 7, and was replacing his most commonly used key harps pretty much weekly.
Anyway, to make a long story short, many years ago he switched to exclusively using XB-40s on-stage and in his studio. He told me they're much easier to bend in a neck rack than a regular harp, and lasted much, much longer under the grind of daily performing. More expensive to buy, but cheaper in the long run since he didn't have to replace them as often.
I was also surprised when the music store salesman let me play the XB-40. That is definitely illegal in some states, including my resident and birth state, Wisconsin.
The "no returns, no pre-testing" harmonica law serves to protect the consumer from health issues, and to protect the consumer from buying a used harmonica but paying full price for it.
It made me wonder how many other players had tried that harp before me, and after me. The salesman wiped the mouthpiece and covers with an alchohol cloth before and after I played the harp.
The music store at which I tried the XB-40 isn't the only law breaker music store in the Milwaukee area. At another reputable store, the salesman let a well-known Milwaukee blues harp player try at least a dozen new Special 20s before the player picked maybe 3 of them, and left the rest.
I witnessed the event. I don't know what the salesman did with the other harps, but the store has a reputation for selling used harps as new, and letting anyone try a harp before buying it.
I never bought a harmonica at either store. From that day forward, I only buy harps at music stores where I teach, or from internet stores.
The Suzuki Overdrive doesn't require finger playing on the holes in the covers to play it. You can play it normally, as you would play any 10-hole Richter system harp.
But, if you want easier bends and overblows, the Suzuki company says that you can use a finger to close a hole on the cover, and produce the appropriate bend or overblow note. I've tried that, and it workds fine for bends.
I bend notes on my other 10-hole diatonics. I still haven't mastered the overblow technique.
Neither the Hohner XB-40 nor the Suzuki Overdrive will give me a technique that I don't already have. They never made that claim. They just say that the techniques will be easier.
Thanks, John, You have opened my eyes on the Overdrive with the words manufacture's claims, since you are a veteran member you must know what your talking about. I think if I have to cover holes AND play I might as well be playing a woodwind instrument. I have been to a LOT of music stores since I was a kid and only 1 store let me "TRY" a harmonica before purchasing, and it was with a type of bellows box that let me see if all the holes were working, not 1 store that I know of will let anyone actually play a harmonica with their mouth due to health reasons. Thanks again, Newby-Dave.
I don't own a Hohner XB-40, but I tried one at a music instrument retail store. It's very easy to play. Every possible bend is available. I didn't explore it's full possibilities.
I do own a Suzuki Overdrive. It's the most airtight harmonica I've played. The sound isn't as mellow as a Hohner, but it's very easy to play, no lost or weak notes. The only problem I've had with it is not enough practice time.
The Overdrive is a different harmonica than a common 10-hole richter harp. It is Richter system, 10 holes, but it has "discrete" covers, where each reed is isolated from the others, like a tremolo harp or a valveless chromatic harmonica comb.
The covers are convex, covering the reed plates totally. The Overdrive has "finger holes" on the back (audience side) of the top and bottom covers.
By using your finger tips, you can cover one or more of these holes to get bend and overblow notes. At least, that's the manufacturer's claim.
I'm a slow learner on harmonicas, and I don't have enough practice time on the Overdrive for it to be of any use to me.
Both XB-40 and Overdrive harps are much more expensive than an ordinary "blues harp".
I would like to know if the XB-40 and Overdrive harmonicas are easy to play, the pros and cons. Is the XB-40 really worth that much money? does it bend too easily when playing quickly. For a beginner would I enjoy it that much for the price paid? and basically the same for the Overdrive. I have learned to bend a few notes but I am stuck in a rut of the same old thing. Thanks for all your replies in advance. Newby-Dave
