Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica Key of Bb

Comments about Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica:

I purchased this harmonica in the key of "E". I was not expecting much, considering the price and the gimmicky blue comb. I don't often need an "E" harmonica, mostly singing and playing solo. But the price looked good, and I was curious to see what this Hohner was all about, with its "Chicago tuning". It is made in Germany, and has the Hohner modular system, which has been much criticized in the past. Well, after inadvertently sitting on a Marine Band at a music circle (I know that you aren't supposed to sit on them!) and dealing with the pulling cover nails and bent covers, I rather like being able to disassemble a modular system harmonica for repair and cleaning. The Blue Midnight has support pillars built into the covers, and it screws together. The blue comb is attractive and the tone is very sweet. It plays easily and comes in a very functional plastic case. I checked the notes with a chromatic tuner, and found them to be very accurately tuned. Not so with some of my other more expensive Hohners. I can find no fault with this harmonica, and I don't understand why it is priced so much lower than their other German models. It is not available in all keys, but I will be buying more as needed. I do not play hard, so it is unknown to me how it will hold up to extended blues or rock. No fault or complaint can be found by me, and it is rapidly becoming one of my favorite harmonicas, right up there with the Golden Melody, which of course, is a different tuning system.

Comments about Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica:

This harp is for the beginner harp player, not an established one such as myself. As far as recommendations yes I would recommend this for someone who is beginning to learn the scales and to practice playing one note at a time. This is not a harp that I would use on stage.

Comments about Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica:

I REALLY like this tuning. It sounds like my old pre-war Marine Bands but with a plastic comb. The chords are sweet and rich.

They call it "Chicago Tuning" and to my tuner it looks like Just Intonation is all; referenced to the crossharp key. Folks who do a lot of chord vamping will appreciate that the chords are very nicely done. Take off into a melodic or scale riff and you're going to hear the "problem" that comes from Just Intonation. Even more so if you play it in straight harp.

Now, if you like that rough, street corner, sort of sound that comes from being just a touch out of tune (melodically) compared to Equal Temperament then you'll dig this one. If you're used to Hohner's compromise tuning then you might not even notice. If you prefer the Equal Temperament of an LO or the GM, you won't like this at all. My guitar picker makes faces at it though - poor guy, his ear was trained against an electronic tuner and he's an equal temperament sort of musician as are many of the generation he learned in. He makes faces at compromise tuning too. My point being that Just Intonation might not be what you want if you're playing with other people who are tuned against modern electronics. It sounds great in an unplugged sort of setting though.

Construction: To me it plays like a Big River more than a Blues Harp - except for the comb. The choice of covers a good one and places it, in my feelings, above a Big River. The comb is pretty but pretty doesn't make sounds. It feels good though and responds like the others. I've blown mine (Bb) heavy for a week and not had an issue at all with it. What I may do though is put these reeds on a dead Blues Harp and see how I like that.

I really enjoy the sound on this one for alone time putzing around and I suspect it'd make a good busker too.

Don't tune the guitars to it unless they're planning to only play in one key all night! You'll probably not want this to be your only harp if you plan to play with others unless you play street-corner unplugged.

Comments about Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica:

Harmonica blew out only after 2 times of using during practice. Could not believe it! I use a Special 20 and never have trouble. Pay the extra cash and get a Hohner Special 20.

Comments about Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica:

I ordered one of these in the key of E, this is the key i like to use as my try out key for harmonicas I have never tried before. I use juke for amplified sound and a version of sonny boy's when the lights went out for acoustic playing. This harmonica passed both tests with flying colors! I was playing right out of the box and there was no need for tweaking at all. This past weekend I used this baby live at a gig and it played so well I'am planning on buying a complete set. with harmonica prices as they are, I find this harp to be a true value not only in cost but also in sound.

Comments about Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica:

With all Harmonica prices on the rise, it's tough to keep up. This harmonica is very reasonably-priced, and plays as well as more expensive models.Reeds: The reeds are not overly-stiff as on MS models I've had in the past. They're very responsive to good technique. Reed-plates: Plates seem to be very similar to Big River plates. The only mod I made was to carefully and gently smoth the front edge of the reedplates. I normally play Special 20s, so this made the harmonica a little more agreeable to my embochure.Comb: The translucent blue injection-molded comb looks trick and expensive for a stock harmonica. Although it has fewer through-bolt holes than some MS harmonicas, the instrument was sufficiently airtight. I didn't notice that the comb made the harmonica sound especially brighter as claimed.Covers: The Stainless Steel covers look nice, have the same shape and appearance of the Blues Harp. I like the closed ends; it helps when cupping a bullet mic, and directs ALL the sound out the back of the covers. It also doesn't catch in facial hair as much as other designs. Stainless covers look better for longer than chrome or nickel. Personally, I like the way thinner Stainless Steel covers seem to respond to playing - you can almost feel the sound through the covers.Tuning: The difference in tuning is subtle. If I had to guess, I think this harmonica is tuned closer to current HM specs than the OLD 'Just Intonation' harmonicas. Chords sound sweet, but it''s not so 'Just' that it has notes that pop out as off-pitch. Overall, a good-sounding scheme.Setup: Plays great out of the box, no adjustment needed (unless you overblow, of course). All bends (blow and draw) were easy to hit and control. Harmonica played well, although perhaps a little tweaking could very slightly improve airtightness. But for me, more work than the payoff - but the time I've pleyd it a week, it will be fine (dried saliva makes a good gasket).
Plays as well as any MS-series harmonica I've tried
Fit and finish are exactly as you'd expect for Hohner - equal to higher-priced MS-series harmonicas
At 25% less than a Special 20 or Marine Band, this is a great value. You can do anything with this harmonica that the more expensive HMs will do.

Comments about Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica:

I have owned 2 harmonicas before this one and i have to say this one is better by far! I highly recomend it to anyone.

Comments about Hohner 595BL Blue Midnight Harmonica:

I'll give it a 9, simply because I really was hoping that the blue plastic really would have an effect on the tone. As of yet, I have not noticed it.
I play a lot of MS harps by Hohner. This one caught my eye and I got one to try. It's pretty nice! It combines the features of two other MS harps with the comb formation of the Big River and the cover plates of the Blues Harp. Hohner claims that the blue plastic the comb is made from allows for slightly brighter tone than a black plastic comb you usually find. I really can't tell the difference at all however. The one drawback they still have yet to fix on any MS harp is the overhang of the reedplates across the holes. This can be uncomfortable and wear down the lips.
Very high quality. Very durable.
Very good value on a creation like this. They pretty much met halfway between the price of a Blues Harp and a Big River, but the blue comb adds a little more aesthetic value to it. All in all, a good bang for the buck.