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From: Winslow Yerxa <76450.32~OMPUSERVE.COM>
Date: 29 Feb 96 01:00:20 EST
Subject: Big River in Low D

TO: internet:harp~arply.com

Mic'l Will shares his favorable impression of his new Big River in Low
D. I just got some new Big River harps in various keys, including a low
D. They all had the legend "ZA5" in the upper right corner of the label
on the bottom of the box.

This is exciting, because ZA5 is the new brass material Hohner is using
for the redesigned MS harps. A quick preliminary play on these harps
revealed better response at low volume, wider dynamic range, greater
airtightness, much better overblowing response than earlier ones (even
the one I bought two months ago). Tone is bright, crisp and ready to
romp. Tuning of octaves is as chancy as ever, though, and seems very
sensitive to volume (i.e. octaves involving bendable notes tend to go
out of tune when played at more than very soft volume).

These are production models, not prototypes, but I don't know if they're
ins stores yet. But it's the first robin of spring for the MS series, a
great idea that missed its potential the first time around and may be
finally getting its due.

Thorsten Nickel mentioned a bad experience with Big Rivers a couple of
years ago. That was the old MS design, which is much improved in the new
ZA5 models. Although I must agree at least about the tuning. At the low
end of the MS price range, I can understand why the Big River might not
be adjusted with all the care lavished on more expensive models (even
though machine-assembled, MS harps are hand finished). But Hohner seems
bent on promoting the hell out of the Big River, and I keep getting the
funny feeling that they're trying to link it in consumers' minds with
the Marine Band (even though there is an MS-Marine Band), so they really
should tune them a bit better.

Full Review to follow in HIP (don't laugh; it's still in the works.
It'll be a BIIIG baby when it's finally born.)

Winslow Yerxa
Harmonica Information Press
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