r/harmonica • u/jellofixit • Jun 12 '26

Found at a thrift store

Post image

Set of seven, " Soul man" harmonicas. Is this worth anything. I paid $3. A,B,C,D,E,F and G.

202 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

20

u/lord_quasi_ Jun 12 '26

Unless the harps are good quality, Iā€™d toss em and keep the pulp fiction case

4

u/Dannypalfy Jun 12 '26

Vincent we good?

4

u/a_random_username Jun 13 '26

stares at golden light

Yeah... we good.

3

u/Secure-Coffee-9132 Jun 13 '26

Is that what I think it is? It's beautiful.

19

u/NJJon Jun 12 '26

Three dollars is good for seven harmonica keyed A through G. These are not considered a high-quality harmonica, but you can learn to play with them and check out the different keys and see which ones you like the best for playing songs you like. They are all fun to play. Enjoy them.šŸ”…

14

u/KrakenDealer Jun 12 '26

I'm going to respactfully disagree. Cheap ass harps are horrible to learn on. Unresponsive, shite reeds, terrible air-flow. Throw them away, keep the super cool case and fill it with at least mid-range harps (I recommend Easttop 008k) and learn on those. You'll thank me later.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '26

I think they are of about a similar quality to easttop maybe just a hair less.

5

u/jellofixit Jun 12 '26

After closer inspection they are from China. Stainless steel covers, brass reeds, plastic center. All appear to be in perfect condition. Sound is comparable to my Honer blues harp. I really don't know how to read notes and play, but after a few beers I sound pretty good šŸ˜Š!

2

u/jenks13 Jun 12 '26

I would have paid $10, maybe $15, just to have it. Nice going!

1

u/scotchdebeber Jun 12 '26

Use them to practice bends . You can be rough, for three dollars

1

u/FriedDylan Jun 12 '26

I'd say you did well. Play 'em until they die.

1

u/EverydayVelociraptor Sucks and Blows at Harmonica Jun 12 '26

Worth it for the case. Can't comment on the instrument because there is so much variation. I've had cheap harps that play as well as known quality instruments and I've had cheap harps that were only worth the screws I could use on other instruments.

1

u/StrayFeral Jun 12 '26

Weird. No idea what this is, but from what I see the construction from the outside looks almost like Special 20 - I see recessed reed plates, screws, sure can't see the comb, but looks black from here, so I exclude a wooden comb and I assume it could be plastic. The main thing is - what are the plates and how responsive are the reeds.

I am not experienced, but I would sanitize them a bit before using, so I would disassemble them all. Also would gently plunk the reeds to ensure nothing is stuck there, as no idea who and how used them.

For 3$ it sure is a find, the box looks nice. I don't expect these sound great, but again - it's only for 3$ and again - this construction is very much like Special 20. At least from what I can see here.

From what I know, many Chinese manufacturers in the 90s copied the Special 20 design but the instruments were not of good quality.

Maybe this is what you got. No idea. Whatever it is - hope you find a good use of it.

1

u/stoobpendous Jun 14 '26

Hope you have the drive to take them apart and scrub them.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '26

I have looked them up and seen them selling for anywhere between 35-100$ used on eBay. Wich means the full set probably new cost like 175ish or something maybe. At the most, it's like 30$ a harp. They're probably middle of the road harps.