2010-01-09
Buy Low Price From Here Now
The new Blues Bender P.A.C. harmonica features Patented Acoustic Covers that are based on the design of the Marine Band Harmonica, which is the all-time favorite for serious harp players since 1896. The Blues Bender was designed primarily to make playing and note bending easy for entry level players. Originally patented by Jacob Hohner in 1897, the special shape of these covers increases the volume of air enclosed between the reeds and cover-plates which, when thrown into vibration and vented through the special side vents, allows for greater volume and projection. The Blues Bender P.A.C. features thicker than normal reed plates for a consistent tone. It is extremely airtight between the mouthpiece and the reed plates, allowing for easier note bending and making expressive playing easier. The Blues Bender P.A.C. allows everybody access to the bluesy notes needed to make any riff complete.
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By PhilipOfOregon (Western North America)
Seems to play fairly well. It's a bit "stiff(?)" with bending -- I find the Lee Oskar Diatonic and Hohner Special 20 are a bit easier to play and bend, but at higher cost. For a beginner on a budget, the Blues Bender is reasonable.
By JF (Houston)
The Hohner Blues Bender Harmonica is made in China. However, it should not be compared to the cheap, less than $10, harmonicas made there. The reeds are very responsive, simlar to the Special 20 and Lee Oskar. The tone is closer to actual pitch, as opposed to the Special 20 that is a bit flat and bluesy, and the Lee Oskar that is tuned sharper and brighter. The comb is plastic and looks to be the same at the Special 20. The reeds appear slightly thicker and Hohner's website says they are. The cover has PAC stamped on it. The Hohner website says they are using "Patented Acoustic Covers" from the Marine Band Harmonica. Not exactly. The ends of the covers have openings like the Marine Band, but the back looks more like the Special 20 or Lee Oskar. The biggest difference is that the plates make the harmonica "sandwich" thicker, thicker even than the Lee Oskar, which I thought was thick. That means your lips tend to press on the cover plates, as opposed to, sliding more over and under them. For many, this will seem different, though it is not uncomfortable and some may end up liking it better. Notes are bendable, especially the #4 hole. Others take a bit more effort. I think the Special 20 is easier to bend, it is more like the Lee Oskar. Unlike the Big River, the Blues Bender's reed plates are recessed like the Special 20. One negative is the top and bottom cover plates look almost identical, so you have to pay attention to know which side is up. At this low price, I expect it will be very popular.
By Lucky's Geist
The Special 20 is available for about $30. It's made in Germany. I was interested in this Blues Bender for a short time, until a Hohner rep confirmed that it is made in China. Don't get me wrong, Hohner makes phenomenal instruments, but the quality of the Chinese harps just isn't the same. If you doubt what I am saying and have any experience with the Special 20, Marine Band 1896, or any other German-made Hohner harps, let us all know how the Chinese harp stacks up.
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