******
- Verified Buyer
It is one of Hohner's more expensive harmonicas so I have been disappointed that I am having problems with the upper end reeds locking up. I am thinking about returning it.I received this yesterday, and right out of the box, all the holes blow and draw perfectly. I don't know if it gets any easier, but I like it the way it is.I already have a couple of Low Key Harmonicas. One is a Special 20 in Low E, and the other is a Big River in Low F. This Thunderbird is in the Key of Low Bb. All of these Harmonicas play nicely, but of course, as usual, you get what you pay for. The Thunderbird seems to be the King of the Low Key Harmonicas.It's not good for playing Folk Music. But it makes you want to just jam all day long. It has a very echo-y sound. It's my first Thunderbird and I would like to get all of the available Keys. I highly recommend this Harmonica._____________________________________________________________________________________I had to do a little update on my first review. I got this Thunderbird a day before Christmas. It's February, 2013 now, so I've had it for over a month.In my first review I said that it wasn't good for playing Folk Music. I was wrong. With a little practice,my playing it has improved. I liked it right out of the box, but now it's awesome. I was just playing the old Spiritual song "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", and I'm just loving the raspy sound of the Thunderbird. I'm gonna have to dig deep and get more Thunderbirds. Yeah, I know, they're pretty expensive, but if you like Marine Bands, and Crossovers; this is as good as it gets.Wow! Just breathe thru this with minimum effort and a beautiful deep sound plays. Was not sure how to play at 1st but went to youtube and watched a sample and picked it up fast. Blowing with extreme effort would probably damage. I am looking for other low tuned harmonicas that can be played quietly like this one.Wow! When I pull this harmonica out and play around, it turns heads. The sound is amazing and can go so low it seems almost impossible for a such a little instrument to be able to do. I find rhythm playing on it a blast because of its sound. Maybe it's just me but I whenever I play this particular harmonica, my cheeks hurt afterwards from smiling so much. I am so excited about this harmonica, I see it being in my jam bag at all times! As always, Amazon got my harmonica here fast and in perfect condition. I now know where to get all my harmonicas and am looking forward to purchasing other types of instruments in the near future!I love my 16 hole chromatics, but sometimes I just want something in one hand that makes me feel the music is so low I'm going right through the floor. First it was the double low C. I hardly have to get my lips close to it, just breathe and the depth is there. On to the low G, the Eb. What's next?This is a "private audience" instrument, not for the grand performance. Since I go to bed early, I typically take one harmonica with me to help me relax. Now it is always a T-bird.I showed it to a harp store manager who also sells guitars and harmonicas. There we were, nose to nose over the counter, as he marvelled at this sound of a low low C from this pint-sized 10 hole! get it watch them marvel!The Hohner Thunderbird is often praised as the best low key harps made. Maybe. The design is optimal, the price is high and I have a Suzuki Olive in low F that plays equally well and, to me, is more comfortable. So, Hohner lovers will love it, others may want to try Suzuki or Seydel.I have a variety of makes and models of harps. In general, I like Lee Oskar because of they're durable and the holes are spaced just a bit wider than most others. They don't make harps tuned this low though. My Thunderbird (D) is probably the highest quality out-of-the-box diatonic I've ever bought, although it's also one of the most expensive. No tweaks were needed to get a sweet, full sound. The modified cover plates reduce reed rattle but don't eliminate it unless you play very softly.This thing feels so good, sounds so amazing, is such a pleasure to play, man, I’d buy a dozen. It’s laugh out loud cool.Excellent low harp , so good i put it on my new album .
