Special 20 Diatonic Harmonica, C-major - Professional, Responsive Reeds, Injection Molded Plastic Comb with Projecting Mouthpiece

A couple months ago I decided out of the blue that I wanted to learn to play harmonica. I love blues and blues rock, but also a fan of the sounds of Irish and Celtic tunes and civil war era music. I don't know how to read music, but I do play acoustic guitar (well) and keyboard (mostly chords and arpeggios) by ear. I consider myself to be an casual player with basic skills and intermediate knowledge, but I am still serious about instrument quality, versatility (what can I do with it) and sound. Since I'm not a band member and just play for fun and for me (or anyone in earshot), I don't need a high-end instrument, but I do desire anything reliable and economical. After much research, I decided I'd start with the Horner Special 20 in key of C. I really like it! In just the short month's time I've had my harmonica I've picked it up quickly and have taught myself everything I know so far (well, besides playing by ear and feel I did also pick up some tricks and riffs from YouTube). But this review isn't about me (though I give myself 4 stars). Regarding the harmonica, from what I can in my research, it's basically the same thing as a Marine Band except that it has a black ABS comb rather than a pear wood comb (the comb of the Hohner 560 Special 20 is also ABS, but made to resemble the pear wood). My mouth glides quite easily across the ABS comb without the need to slobber on it to keep from sticking (I'm led to believe wood is better, but I get the feeling it's more of a purists' preference). It is easy to get air across the reeds, producing both very nice sound and volume, and the hardware is solid and doesn't feel like a toy at all. Seems when I ad lib with songs on the blues satellite radio it is very well in tune with the music (perhaps not in the right key, but the notes are still spot on). Recently after playing it hard and long the 6 blow seemed to be causing the 5 or 7 read to buzz, though they seemed fine by themselves. The harmonica still played in tune, though. I rinsed it, shook out excess moisture, and let it air dry and "cool off" for a while before playing it again and it seems to be just fine. I have difficulty bending any of the lower notes with consistency, but I'm certain it's more of a problem with my technique, not the harmonica (I really should take some lessons). I always have it in my pocket or readily available nearby and play it frequently. I will be fond of this -- my first -- harmonica and hope it lasts longer than I do! If you're looking for something with reliable quality and performance yet economical, whether your new or experienced, definitely consider this harmonica. Since I have no complaints about this harmonica, and although I have nothing to compare the performance and quality of this harmonica to, particularly since it's the only harmonica in my life I've ever played and thus I have zero experience as a harmonica player, I can't give it less than a 5-star review.

I almost gave up on learning harmonica after I bought a Hohner Bluesband set of 7 on impulse. The sound was off key and the effort to make a decent sound in any key was tough to stay motivated...Being a Blues Traveler/John Popper fan, I did a little research and stumbled on the Hohner Special 20 Key of C, and I have to say, the difference in quality was obvious out of the box. The instrument was in tune, and the draw notes were so much easier to hit. The overall sound is worlds above the the lesser quality Made in China Bluesband Harp Set, and as a beginner the Special 20 was so much more motivating to play. When you know you have a quality harp, it allows you to focus more on your progress, rather than question your instrument. Once more, I can't say enough about the quality of these harps, the Special 20 is made in Germany, has an air tight plastic comb which makes it less susceptible to moisture than wooden combs, and in my mind easier to clean. Since switching to the Special 20, I have ordered this 5 harp kit and have been very happy with the collection. It comes in the Keys of A, C, E, D, & G, with 2 additional slots for expanding your collection. Recently I have added the Keys of F, Bb, and Eb to my collection, as well as 2 Special 20 Country Tuned Classic reed Harmonicas in the Keys of C & E. I do have one negative aspect that I have noticed with the Special 20...sometimes my facial hair gets caught in the sides. But given my lack of playing experience, I attribute this to my incorrect form, and assume I would have similar problems with other brands in this price point. Bottom Line: If you are interested in playing harmonica I suggest skip the bargain Made in China blues harps, and start off with a Hohner Special 20 in the Key of C...the price is worth it and you won't regret it. When you decide to add to your collection, the Case of 5 Special 20 Harmonicas is a great deal, and will give you plenty of Keys to be able to jam in.

I'm still learning, but I'm old and know what sounds good. I really like the sound of this F harmonica. Sometimes I grab it just to mess around. Very nice quality finish and tuned perfectly. These harps are great for beginners like myself and professionals as well. This is the 6th addition to my Special 20 set. Each one functions perfectly. Bring on the Bb and I'm complete.

I briefly tried playing diatonic harmonica around 1953, without much success, although I still retain my Marine Band in its original box (cost then: $3.59). Instructional materials back then were sparse and I was impatient, so I quit when I did not have instant success. I flirted with chromatics in the 1970s (and still have my four Hohners to show), again with little success and less persistence. Now, in my 70s, I returned for one last fling with this instrument which just sounds, well, so cool. Virtually all the web-based diatonic instructional sites include Lee Oscars and Hohner Special 20s in their lists of great harmonicas for beginners--I bought both. Then several Suzukis, a couple Seydels, three Herings, and two Bushmans followed. But, despite wanting to be clever and say I discovered some unknown model from the brands just-listed that knocked my musical socks off, guess what? I have returned to the lowly Special 20 again and again, after flirtations with other (usually significantly more expensive) brands and models--including the Hohner Crossover. Love the sound. Love the ease of blowing/drawing. Love the plastic comb that is easy on lips and tongue. The Special 20 is not the heaviest, most substantial, harp in the hand(try a Hering Blues or Suzuki Promaster) or the sexiest-looking (like most Suzukis), but it makes music for me with an ease I have yet to find from the others. So, I can't give it up. The Special 20 is the one I pick up when I just want to play. I'll continue to try the others, but this harmonica will have a special place in my collection. P.S. I think the closest siblings to the Special 20 in other brands are the Lee Oscars, also light weight, plastic combs, fine sound. A Lee Oscar would be my second choice for a go-to harp. The Lee Oscars are slightly bigger, if that makes any kind of difference (it doesn't to me). The Special 20 is a great value. I don't see how you can go wrong with this purchase.

Beautiful sound. Great harp and I seem to have gone through five either clogging a read and trying to fix all that messing with the guts

I am a beginner at harmonica. I read many reviews, Reddit posts, and watched many videos before buying this harmonica. I know a lot of people who don't want to spend $50 for an instrument they might not enjoy go with the $25 East Top. I am a musician (guitar for 45 years) and I know Hohner has always made quality instruments, it was a no-brainer. They say, "It's not the tools, but the one using them that's the problem," but I can tell you that it is usually the other way around with instruments. If you cheap out, you're not getting the full experience and things might not work the way they're supposed to and it can be frustrating for a beginner. Now, it has a free month of lessons. You can choose from a couple of sites. I chose BluesHarmonica. Mistake. When I did all of my research, everyone said get a C because most lessons are in that key. Imagine my surprise and disappointment when I started the lessons at BluesHarmonica that they only use an A. There went that! Back to Youtube. I still watched the videos and learned a lot from them, but I learned more from Youtube. Now, I did buy a Kongsheng in A off Temu to mess with on BluesHarmonica, so I could play along. Kongsheng is considered a decent brand along with East Top, I do like it, but it is nowhere near the quality and sound I get from the Hohner. I'm working on bends and they are much easier on the Hohner. For those still wondering if this is a good harmonica, John Popper uses Hohner Special 20's exclusively. If that's not an endorsement, then I don't know what is.

Great sound from all holes easy to breathe.

So, the products is awesome. Really lovely. Great for the money. Awesome to learn on. I just wouldn't recommend it to anyone with a girlfriend they care about. See, I was dating this girl. We had been together for six years. She was the love of my life. The most important thing in the Universe to me. Anyway, I got this harmonica behind her back. I wanted to get good at it, then impress her. Well, that didn't last long. I popped it out and showed her what I had got and she loved it. In fact, we both got a little more into music because of it. Blues to be precise. What I had to be blue about back then.... I don't know. Not really anything. We got in this rut where I was working and going to college every single day. I really didn't have any time. I'd play the harmonica on my security job, and was getting pretty good! Great product! I recommend youtube videos for lessons. Anyhow, my girlfriend had a lot of time on her hands, and not a lot of friends. I eventually convinced her to rekindle her relationship with an old girlfriend. They'd hit the bars on the weekends, and I stayed at work doing security. My job relief thought I was insane. I explained to him though that six years was a long time, and I trusted her with my life. With everything. Even then, I knew I sounded incredibly naive. I was proud though. Proud of her. Proud of me. We were special. We were important. It was us, and THEN the world. Nothing comes between that. Her blues thing got kind of important to her, but she never wanted me to come out with her. No big deal. She was with a bunch of girls, and I respected that space. A month later, she slept with a 30 year-old recovering meth addict blues band guy from one of the bars. She was 21. I was 22. It hurt. It still hurts. To fall asleep, I have to pass out. This means I stay up for days haunted by memory. Then I pass out for 10 hours of nightmares. She cheated on me July 4th of 2009. It's May 12th of 1010. I'm two months from the anniversary of that night. She's with a different guy now. I loved her. I say that every day. It's automatic now. A pout that escapes my thoughts, to my voice, every single day. It happens before I can realize I'm going to say something. I never realize I've said it, until it's past my lips. I loved her. I loved her. I don't care who you are, what you do, or how important she says you are to her. A 30 year old hipster with a harmonica can make your girlfriend think you're holding her back from her life. You want to learn the blues? Go right ahead. Buy it. Just be prepared to sing em'. Be prepared, to sing the blues.