One of the best things about playing the harmonica is that it’s a fairly cheap instrument. Of course, if you end up playing the harmonica with any regularity, you’ll end up re-buying certain keys as your reeds go bad, and if you’re just getting started, you might quickly realize that you’ll have to spend a few hundred bucks to get a harp for every key.
Not to fear. There are some great deals online for cheap harmonicas that can still get the job done. However, there are a few crucial things to know before investing in these harps.
You get what pay for. You’re not going to get the tone and the playability of a Hohner Special 20 or a Lee Oskar out of a cheaper harmonica, because the harps I just mention cost about $25 each. They’ve got better parts, better plastic, and better metal. Cheap harmonicas use thin, mass-produced reeds that are difficult to bend and they’ll go out of tune much more frequently. With that being said, some models are better than others. If you’re spending ten bucks a pop for harmonicas and you’re getting Hohners or another well-reviewed brand, you’ll be undoubtedly getting your money’s worth and you won’t be spending a ton. Just be sure to read the customer reviews and avoid harmonicas that are $5 or less; they’re likely to be simple toys rather than real instruments.
Harmonica kits are only great if you’re just starting out. I’m talking about the harmonica kits that you can find online for $20, and they come with five to ten harmonicas. Those things are very cheap, and they’re going to be hard to play cross-harp. If you’re playing simple country licks, however, or if you’re just starting out and you don’t have the money to invest in a full set of decent harmonicas, a cheap set can be a godsend. Just be ready to gradually replace the set with nicer harmonicas as you become more experienced.
Buy from reputable websites. It’s a bad idea to buy cheap harmonicas online from websites that aren’t well-known to musicians. Sites like eBay can present some problems, as there are counterfeiters on there–or worse yet, people who sell used harmonicas. Gross, right?
Use websites like Musician’s Friend that are known to harmonica players and read customer reviews before you order. The quality of the harp that shows up on your door step will be much higher.
Watch the shipping costs. This is where a lot of suppliers get you, and as harmonicas are cheap instruments, it’s easy to see the pricetag and ignore the little shipping cost indicator under it. Make sure that none of your harmonicas are backordered, which can result in additional shipping costs, and make sure that you know all of the costs of your order before you pay.
Do you have any other tips for buying cheap harmonicas online? Post them in the comments section below.
