[Harp-L] Hohner low keys, Thunderbird

[Steve Baker]

John Mayall told me that Sonny Boy 2 got Hohner to give him a
selection of low tuned Hohner Echo Vamper harps in all keys down to
low C when they met in 1964 0r 65 during Rice Miller's tour of
Britain. This would indicate they were being manufactured at that
time. Around 1970 when I started in London, they were only available
there in C and G.

The Marine Band Thunderbird shares some features with the Crossover,
most notably the case and the bamboo comb. However, the covers are
new and use the conical form pioneered by Joe Filisko. Also, the
reeds are profiled differently to ensure optimal response at ultra
low pitch. I have prototypes and they play very well for such low
tuned harps, loud and powerful without reed rattle.

Steve Baker
www.stevebaker.de
www.bluesculture.com

[Mund...@aol.com]

I used Echo Vamper 12 hole harps exclusively as my diatonic harmonicas,
when I was working 5 or 6 nights a week as a young teenager, with my band.
Trying to make "the big time".. I am still trying!. Overnight success is
just around the corner.
I only changed to the cheaper 10 hole available on the British market,
"Echo Super Vamper". Which was exactly the same as the "Marine Band", except
for the engraving on the cover plates, when Hohner stopped selling
harmonicas to me wholesale (by the dozen)..... And then I could no longer afford the
superior 12 hole instruments... Must have been 1964, 1965 or 1966? Not sure
exactly. Back then the 10 hole harp was 5 shillings (25 Pence) and the 12
hole was 7 Shillings and 6 Pence (37.5 Pence) in British Sterling...
John "Whiteboy" Walden
English, but just now living in the Philippines.


In a message dated 3/15/2011 12:38:34 A.M. Malay Peninsula Standard ,

[Robert Koch]

Steve Baker wrote:
"The Marine Band Thunderbird shares some features with the Crossover

(...) they play very well for such low tuned harps, loud and powerful"
> Listen to a low G TBird here:
http://juke-myharmonicablog.blogspot.com/
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