He's got the blues -- Where can I buy a harmonica in the SF bay area?
May 23, 2013 11:44 AM Subscribe
What are your recommendations for a music store in the SF Bay Area that carries a decent selection of harmonicas?
My father's harmonica broke and he's miserable without one. We tried Guitar Store, and every other music store in Portland but they carry limited stock. The broken one is a Hohner tremolo harmonica and I don't know anything about them, but I'm hoping some of you SF locals could recommend stores for us to try.
He reedy needs one! (har, har!)
My father's harmonica broke and he's miserable without one. We tried Guitar Store, and every other music store in Portland but they carry limited stock. The broken one is a Hohner tremolo harmonica and I don't know anything about them, but I'm hoping some of you SF locals could recommend stores for us to try.
He reedy needs one! (har, har!)
I remembered that Smythe's Accordion Center used to have a few. I checked and they still do, and can order them from Germany if you want, but they said that Best Music in downtown Oakland has a pretty good selection in stock.
The two stores aren't that far from each other.
They also said, as an aside, that for the past few years Hohner has been experiencing persistent defects and aren't willing to service them, so maybe try a different brand that's similar? In my limited experience with Best Music, the staff will know enough to know what other brands would be comparable.
posted by small_ruminant at 11:58 AM on May 23, 2013
The two stores aren't that far from each other.
They also said, as an aside, that for the past few years Hohner has been experiencing persistent defects and aren't willing to service them, so maybe try a different brand that's similar? In my limited experience with Best Music, the staff will know enough to know what other brands would be comparable.
posted by small_ruminant at 11:58 AM on May 23, 2013
Tremolo harmonicas are a little uncommon to find in stores. If you don't want to spend a fortune, I've had good experiences with the Huang brand. Here's a list of tremolo (and octave) harmonicas from an online store I've done business with in a wide range of prices.
Hohner's Echo Celeste model comes in a good variety of keys for modest cost. Rockin Rons, another online vendor I've been very satisfied with, has them and ships very fast.
posted by 2N2222 at 12:07 PM on May 23, 2013
Hohner's Echo Celeste model comes in a good variety of keys for modest cost. Rockin Rons, another online vendor I've been very satisfied with, has them and ships very fast.
posted by 2N2222 at 12:07 PM on May 23, 2013
Give Tall Toad Music in Petaluma a try. If they don't have what you want, they say they will order it. I've found them to be friendly and easy to work with. Even though their site doesn't show harmonicas, they have them and tons of other interesting things in stock.
Tall Toad Music: "We do (have harmonicas) ranging from $5 to $38. And if we don't have it in stock, We will order it for you."
posted by Lynsey at 2:51 PM on May 23, 2013
Tall Toad Music: "We do (have harmonicas) ranging from $5 to $38. And if we don't have it in stock, We will order it for you."
posted by Lynsey at 2:51 PM on May 23, 2013
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posted by bfranklin at 11:48 AM on May 23, 2013