Suzuki Harmonicas

During the 1960s the company expanded into producing keyboard-based harmonicas, which also proved popular in the education sector, both within Japan and throughout the world.

Today, Suzuki manufactures a wide range of musical instruments, including electric pianos and xylophones, and even owns the famous Hammond brand, but harmonicas remain perhaps the most important product within the company's offering.

Where are Suzuki Harmonicas Made?

Like Hohner, Suzuki's lower end harmonicas, such as the Easy Rider and Winner tremolos, are made in China. However, once you go beyond entry level, all harps are made in Japan, and tend to feature phosphor bronze reeds, which have a distinctive tone and feel, and generally last longer than traditional brass reeds.

Suzuki Harmonicas - Tuning and Temperaments

Like other Japanese manufacturers, such as Tombo (who produce Lee Oskar diatonics), Suzuki harmonicas are generally tuned to equal temperament (as opposed to the various compromise tunings favoured by European manufacturers such as Hohner and Seydel). This makes them particularly suitable for melody-heavy playing, rather than chords, although the difference is subtle. Alternative tunings also feature on the Majnji harmonica, which is available in natural minor, harmonic minor and country tunings for players looking to expand their repertoire beyond the traditional major diatonic range.

Suzuki Phosphor Bronze Reeds and Innovative Composite Comb

Besides the phosphor bronze reeds, which are more durable than traditional brass reeds, and provide a distinctive bright tone, one of Suzuki's primary unique selling points is the composite comb, which features on the Manji and Olive diatonic harmonicas. This combines the tone and feel of wood with the durability and swell resistance of plastic or metal. Both of these harps are also supremely air tight, making them particularly suitable for overblows and bending in general.

Replacement reed plates are available for all of Suzuki's Japanese made harmonicas, meaning that when a reed does eventually fail, the harp can be returned to full playability for significantly less than the price of a whole new harmonica.

Suzuki Pure Harp

Suzuki has experimented with alternative materials for other areas of the harmonica as well. The Pure Harp, for instance, features a Koa comb and cover plates, making it the world's first production harmonica produced primarily from wood.

Suzuki Diationic Harmonica Range

Suzuki's diatonic range begins with the Easy Rider - an inexpensive 10 hole harmonica made in China, which is available in the keys of Low D, C and G. Next up is the Folkmaster, which is also made in China and features laser tuned reeds, but is a more serious harmonica with a full range of keys being available.

The Harpmaster and Bluesmaster are both made in Japan and are ostensibly similar, although the brass reeds in the Harpmaster give it a subtly different tone (and potentially less longevity) than the Bluesmaster.

The Promaster range features three models: standard, valved and Hammond. The first and last of these are different only aesthetically, whilst the valved model features windsavers on some of the reeds, to aid overblows. All Promasters use phopshor bronze reeds and alloy combs and are made in Japan.

The Manji and Olive are effectively the same harmonica under the good - both using Suzuki's innovative composite comb and phosphor bronze reed plates. The main difference is the cover plates, which are green on the Olive.

The Overdrive and Pure Harp are both designs unique to Suzuki> The latter features rosewood or Koa construction, whilst the former has a series of holes in the cover plates that a player can block with their finger to facilitate overblows.

At the very top of the diatonic tree for Suzuki is the Fabulous, which is a weighty harmonica with exceptional tone and response. Available in just intonation or equal temperament, it is widely regarded as one of the best 10 hole harps currently available.

Suzuki Chromatic Harmonicas

Suzuki also makes some of the world's finest chromatic harmonicas. The SCX range, in particular, offers probably the best bang for buck of any chromatic harmonica currently on the market. At the higher end, the Gregoire Maret range can go head to with any chromatic harmonica on the market.

Suzuki Tremolo Harmonicas

Suzuki offers a wide range of tremolo harmonicas in a variety of sizes, from 20 to 48 holes. At the entry level is the Winner range of Chinese made tremolo harps, with 16, 20 and 24 holes. These represent a great starting point for any player wishing to experiment with a tremolo harp. Further up the range are the Japanese made Humming Mate and SU21 and SU-24 models, which are available in a wide range of keys and are high quality instruments. Interestingly, Suzuki produces an extremely unique instrument in the shape of the SCT-128, which combines the features of tremolo and chromatic harmonicas in one harp. Shaped not unlike a grand piano, this large chromatic has four sets of reed plates and 16 holes, producing a sound not dissimilar to an accordion.

Suzuki Harmonica Replacement Reed Plates

Suzuki produces replacement reed plates for all of its Japanese manufactured harmonicas. This starts with the Bluesmaster upwards in the diatonic range, and all chromatics. Reed plates are considerably less expensive than the cost of a new harmonica, but will return most harps to playing like they're brand new again!

Read more about Suzuki and their various models .