M-20 Manji

I've played a chromatic harmonica since being given a Hohner over half a century ago, and recently bought a Swan chromatic which I found to be just as good as the Hohners though a fraction of the price. Then while researching Harmonica playing online I discovered the incredible playing of Christelle Berthon on Youtube, and decided to try a blues harmonica, realising that these are a very different instrument, much smaller, and with a different layout of notes in the lower octave. I bought a Swan ten-hole and found that it sounded very quiet and dull. So I thought I would try the Manji as used by Berthon. There is no comparison between the two! The Manji is loud, bright-sounding, and the notes ring out making it possible to get those sweet sounds on straight playing. The reeds clearly have a 'high Q factor' in engineering terms. probably because they are spot welded rather than riveted, giving a firmer better-defined fixing pont with less energy loss. It's even louder and brighter than any of my Chromatics. I can't comment on ability to bend notes as I have a whole new thing to learn here and am struggling! I opened it up and the finish on the reed edges is cleaner than on the cheap Swan. I also like the way the cover plate screws are positioned at the front. Because blues harmonicas don't have a front plate to the comb and the lips overlap the cover plates, it is important that the cover plates seal along the front edge reasonably well. The seal on the Manji is much better than on the Swan, which has central screws and a poorer fit along the edge. Rounded ends on the front of the cover plates also makes more sense than the cruder corners on the Swan. So you don't always get what you pay for - the Swan Chromatic is very good, but in the case of the Manji it's well worth the extra money.

I was obsessed with having a normal Manji (Bb).High notes are very responsive, professional. However when you go to low notes.............all the response is lost!, is hairy, you have to blow/draw ridiculous hard, is very easy to listen wind-noise.The harmonica is comfortable to handle. But the noise quality from the middle to low notes is not good.

My first Manji arrived today, I've been buying a few Harpmasters over recent months, and having become disenchanted with hohner in general, decided to try this model too.As with the harpmasters, nice silky smooth finish on the coverplates, and the composite comb adds a nice weight in the hand.Straight out of the box, nice and tight playing, not as bright as a hohner marine band, nor as "soft" as a Lee Oscar, definitely edging towards the Seydel camp.All in all, a very nice harp, I would definitely recommend adding a Manji to the arsenal@

Great tone and volume. Quality seems excellent. Not had long enough to comment on durability. Might have had second thoughts on ordering if I'd known how much tax would be due 😔

Probably the best harmonica in the market

I bought these for my husbands Christmas. He says they play beautifully with a crisp clear note ( they certainly sound lovely). The carry case is great for storing them safely and the set is great value for money! this was a really good buy and made a husband a very happy man!

I would recommend these blues harps as a real bargain - i will be buying these again - the quality of the sound is second to none!

I like the tone of this Harp and although i,m just a beginner, I think this will do me full stop, I played drums for years and i,m enjoying this instrument, and it is just for fun I don,t know far I will go with it but i,m enjoying it for now.