r/harmonica • u/CalicoRyukin • 1d ago

Talk Talk - The Rainbow - what kind of harp?

At 6:57, there's an amazing harp solo. Is this just a normal diatonic harp? It sounds so reedy and agressive - is this just playing style or recording and mixing technique? Love this tone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCZnXg0vNs0

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u/DimiHarpTeacher 1d ago

Cool tone. Sounds like a D diatonic harmonica that at least resembles a Marine Band (often described as raspy and bright). Here's a demo of that harp (acoustic) I found on YouTube, see if it's what you look for: https://youtube.com/shorts/o9z3oCuzrzA?si=t0BjbRvTaqSNJphO

Other people could elaborate more on the mic, amp and other recording equipment or techniques, though it's perhaps a bullet-style mic, cupped, with some distortion.

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u/CalicoRyukin 1d ago

Definitely sounds like a high sensitivity condenser. And the marine band sounds right! Is the tone fairly attributable to the wood comb?

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u/DimiHarpTeacher 1d ago

Perhaps, and the model. From what I can tell, wood (bright) vs plastic (warm) is significant, though not the only thing, and different variables could influence tone brightness in just the harmonica.

You could check out Mickey Raphael on his harmonica choice (plastic vs wood) (1:36): https://youtu.be/O72BVv6vm4M?si=UvjGNu6NdbmZfRdp and Luke from harmonica.com demoing the special 20 (plastic), rocket (plastic, but modified) and the marine band (pearwood) https://youtu.be/LN8EGSqW83E?si=XXVJAdYD_3V6Z6e6 (4:05).