Harmonica Overdrive-G

Very nice harp. Feels great in your hands, delivers beautiful sounds. I'm neither a pro nor aficionado of harmonicas - this is a hobby of a hobby of mine - but I was quickly able to figure out how to use all the extra holes so I can either play one note clearly at a time or get that nice bendy sound when using like a muffler. Even for an absolute beginner, this harmonica almost plays itself. For example, my wife has never played this instrument before, but I handed her the harmonica, grabbed my acoustic guitar, and we had an awesome time making music by the fire. Wife couldn't believe how nicely the harmonica sounded when she played, since she never had any lesson or practice or anything. I just told her to breathe with a tempo and feel a melody. She didn't believe me at first, but a minute later she was a bluesy little jukebox. If I could offer 4.9 stars, I would remove the 1/10 of a star for the instructional booklet that accompanies this harp. It's not that you need so many instructions, but the best part of the booklet is the chart of corresponding notes when you exhale/inhale on certain holes, but the booklet is for Key of C Major, even though I play in G Major. A huge company like Suzuki, one may presume, would have the financial overhead to offer a correct instructional booklet to accompany harmonicas in whichever keys they manufacture.

The individual cover chambers of this harp offer interesting and novel playing possibilities, and especially aid in getting overbent notes. I've made an extensive video review of this harmonica, which you can find on YouTube. Overall, I think it's a great TRAINING aid, but probably not practical as a PERFORMANCE tool.

The Suzuki Overdrive is a very bright easily played harmonica. Mine are all very well maid and enjoyable to play. I strongly recommend them for songs that require a loud bright sound.

I got this harmonica thinking that the Overdrive concept would make playing fun, but I got annoyed with it and picked up a Horner. I've only been playing for a month and I've gained some control over bends already. I still think the overdrive concept is interesting, but not worth the money.

It's an oddball little harp, that's for sure. Nice full tone in the lower registers, but a bit pinched up high. The holes are gimmicky, okay for playing with your tone a little, but of limited value. At the very low price it was on offer here, its a decent enough harp, but at its regular price, I think it's very overpriced For what its worth, mine looked different from the one pictured in the listing. It has the black coverplates, but a red comb, rather than the black comb pictured. Looking at other sites, it appears the red comb is pretty common. Not a big deal, but the all-black design was sort of intriguing.

Though experimental in design, this is a great harmonica. Easy to play. Blows easily with bends and overblows as advertised. The price was insanely reasonable. A great buy!

Do not compare it to something that doesn't exist, or something that harmonica technology has not yet progressed to the point that it can be made. The Suzuki Overdrive is an attempt to add extra controls to a two century old technology. What it IS: a totally unique musical instrument; made with superb Japanese precision; super airtight with no leakage whatsoever; its fit and finish are nothing short of immaculate -- it is a real beauty to look at. AND it will produce a superbly accurate, yet low volume, tone with very little airflow -- which is perfect for late night practice sessions without disturbing the rest of the family. What it IS NOT: a shortcut to learning how to bend and over blow/over draw. If you know note bending techniques, it does facilitate the process... if you don't - it won't magically do it for you. In fact, I have had to do some serious work on refining the techniques for controlling bending on the holes where more than one semitone bends are possible, as blocking the hole in the cover plate tends to max out the bend right away. Also, if you have never been able to produce a true overblow or overdraw, you still won't just because you bought one of these. I know this from personal experience as well. AND it is NOT easy to block said holes while playing a tune, but I'm sure that a lot of trial and error will eventually produce some kind of techniques to facilitate their use. Who knows, maybe you will figure it out and write a guide for the rest of us.... In summary: The Overdrive is a fun harp to play... or at least to play with. If you can find one at a really good price (like the $30 I paid for mine) then it is well worth it to have something so unusual, so cool looking, so original, and so on the cutting edge of the future of diatonic harmonicas. Plus, it will blow the minds of all those that have never heard of a Suzuki Overdrive Harmonica when you pull it out and show it off. ;-)

Buy this neat harp. It is well worth the price. It sound great and is well made. Highly recomended buy.