I got a stack of Jambones from Musician's Friend today. For those who were interested (as I was) about the quality of a $3.00 harmonica, here are my first impressions.
The feel is good, sound is very similar to my Big River Harps. I actually like the feel of the Jambone better, and notice it takes less air to make more sound.
I also notice it is an *exact*copy* of the Hohner Old Standby. By exact, I mean the comb is the same... the reed plates are the same... the covers are the same, except different markings, of course. It is a clone as close as you can get, even down to the same reed plates and shape of the cover. Even the screws that attach the cover and the reed plate to the comb are identical (I swapped them out back and forth to make sure.). Whatever you think about the Old Standby, you will think about the Jambone, except the 'bone is not as well constructed. It is a copy -- and a cheap copy at that. A pretty accurate copy, but it is a copy, and the workmanship is greatly overshadowed by the design. But for $3 a pop, I'm pleased.
I would like a step by step on how to valve some of these. Just something I want to play with.
I also got a pair of Golden Melodies today, and like them very much. Better than the Big River or the Bac Pac. I like the *feel* better than anything else I have tried to date. The sound seems sweeter also.
I've ordered a Star Performer, and If I like it as much as the Golden Melody, I'll never buy another 'bone again. Except to give to kids I am trying to help learn the harp (pretty hard to do when you can hardly play it yourself...) or when I want to try something new, or when I want to put a few in the tackle box... well at $3 a pop, and good sound, I guess it's hard to say no.
Also, a local pawn shop now carries a few harps, and I picked up a couple of Huang Frontier Harps. I could love these. It feels almost as comfortable as the Golden Melody, but does not have as sweet a sound. It takes less air by far to play than any of the others I have, but can squeak major bad when you put too much air through it.
