Our band's accordion player is indisposed, so at a rehearsal yesterday we were talking about some alternative instrumentation. I've played a bit of harmonica from time to time so I thought that might be an option for that free reed sound. I tried my old C chromatics, but they were difficult at best for this type of music in the usual keys.
Google gave me a daunting list of links and leads including the Lee Oscar Melody Maker which is supposed to be good for "world" music.
If I only want to invest in one harmonica for now, would a Melody Maker in D be a good choice? I don't have the time or inclination to learn to retune harmonicas. Any other reasonably priced suggestions?

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Got wood?
http://www.Busmanwhistles.com
Let me custom make one for you!

I started down this path before deciding to learn Irish music on the whistle. Basically, I followed Steve Shaw's advice (which he's posted on thesession.org). A standard richter tuned to low D is what he'd say if you're going to get only one harmonica. You don't need to retune it, and you play D tunes in first position. You can also play G tunes if you can get by without C nat.

I bought a Special 20 low D, but I think Hohner has discontinued it (probably to support their pricey thunderbird line). Low D puts you more in line with the fiddles, regular D with the whistles.

Near as I can see, the ONLY low D out there now is a standard model Marine Band with a wood comb. I'm considering a Seydel Paddy Richter D now.

_________________
Got wood?
http://www.Busmanwhistles.com
Let me custom make one for you!

https://coast2coastmusic.com/cgi-bin/cart/SE10201.html

I think if you peruse thesession.org, you'll see that this has come up a few times, with the usual advice to get a Richter tuned (nonpaddy) low D first.

http://thesession.org/discussions/30488

Thanks. I ordered that Seydel last night.

_________________
Got wood?
http://www.Busmanwhistles.com
Let me custom make one for you!

Got the Seydel low D yesterday and have been having a great time playing all my band's tunes, trying to figure out which ones would work well on it. Hills of Connemara, Tell Me Ma, Jug of Punch, Planxty Irwin, Irish Rover, Wild Rover, etc all work really nicely. I may have to get a Paddy G to add to my arsenal.

_________________
Got wood?
http://www.Busmanwhistles.com
Let me custom make one for you!

I bought a set of Lee Oscar Melody Makers many years ago to try them out. Truth to be told, I could never wrap my head around them. I'm sure I could have put more and longer effort into it, but I ended up sticking to my normal harmonicas - I can play whatever I want on them anyway so there doesn't seem to be much point. Certainly 'Wild Rover..'

-Tor