Best Harmonicas in the UK

The HOHNER 560PBX-C is one of those very few examples of a product that was designed for experienced musicians, used by professionals, yet is more than suitable for beginners to practice their craft. This sort of a feat is possible mostly thanks to the 20 reed plates that are recessed into the plastic comb. With the help of such setup, the harmonica is properly sealed, so any user will be able to play this musical instrument with utmost comfort. This comfort, naturally, mostly stems from the fact that plastic is much softer and easier on the lips than metal, something that any beginner will be able to appreciate. Plus, the plastic comb doesn't absorb moisture, providing the sort of durability to the product that was otherwise somewhat diminished by the use of plastic.

All in all, the special airtight design of this Hohner harmonica is exactly what makes it one of the most popular of harmonica players that play a variety of different styles, including blues, country, folk, and rock. The key to this sort of versatility are the 12 major keys that work in combination with the possibility of lower and higher octave tunings. Other than that, the model also includes a storage case and a polishing cloth, both of which will surely come in handy in a variety of scenarios.

In conclusion, if what you're looking for is a musical instrument capable of delivering an outstanding response and one of the sweetest tones ever, this Hohner harmonica will surely prove to be right up your alley.

Harmonicas are usually depicted as an instrument for playing sad music, songs about broken hearts and such. However, if you want to create upbeat tunes, you should turn to the Lee Oskar Major, tuned slightly over to the bright sound, which is perfect for rock and folk songs that are more on the energetic side.

It’s a classic-looking diatonic Lee Oskar harmonica, preserving the quality while bringing some innovations in terms of design. The plastic comb is sealed to be completely airtight, which is vital to keeping the sound clean. We find this to be a good choice for beginners as the brass reeds in the instrument are quite responsive and all 10 holes are larger than usual. This makes long playing sessions easier on your lips and doesn’t strain your diaphragm too much. You won’t get chapped lips after spending hours practicing a new tune, all thanks to the bigger holes.

While the brass reeds in the Lee Oskar Major are very durable, they are bound to wear out eventually, be it in 10 years or 20. When that happens, you won’t have to buy a new instrument, just get a new reed plate at half the cost and revive your favorite harmonica.

Overall, the Lee Oskar Major will be a solid choice for experienced players and a great one for beginners. The large holes make it easy to play and the airtight comb guarantees that the quality of your music will depend solely on your skills.

Wanna take your sound to the next level, try your hand at some cool improvisations or diversify the kind of tunes you can play? Well, if you think you’re up to the task, take a look at the SWAN SW1040, a mouth organ aimed at skilled players and true professionals of the art. With just this one small instrument, you can lay out groovy blues and rock, pluck at the heartstrings of your audience with country and folk tunes, or get really out there by jamming a jazz medley that will take the listener on a trip.

This chromatic harmonica is a standard 10-hole model tuned to a C major key, familiar to anybody that has a little experience with the instrument. However, the phosphor bronze reeds are a nice change of pace as most musicians feel that they are more durable than the brass ones, topped only by stainless steel reeds, which, frankly, cost an arm and a leg and are hard to justify unless you’re a professional playing in a successful band.

You should also know that the SWAN SW1040 has a cross-tuned slide that’s best for lower octaves and a bit easier to master than a straight-tuned one. However, the same can’t be said about the metal comb, which may take some getting used to if you’ve played plastic ones before. Plus, it’s a bit tougher on the lips, so you might want to take it easy with the first few sets on this instrument. Give your mouth a chance to get used to the rougher surface and make sure to use the free polish cloth as often as possible to keep the metal clean and safe to use.

With all that said, you can see for yourself if the SWAN SW1040 is right for you. Unafraid of a little challenge and feel that you have enough skill to play a chromatic instrument? Then we can definitely recommend this model, thanks to its classic features and modern high quality.

So, you want to play the harmonica but have never tried it and don’t feel like spending a ton on an instrument that you’re unfamiliar with? Well, don’t fret because the Fender harmonica 990701001 is a great choice for you!

This is a pretty classic diatonic model with 10 holes and the standard C major key, which will suit both amateurs and more experienced players. However, since it’s made by Fender, the instrument does stand out with a flashy design. The chromed metal cover is shiny and sleek and will stay that way as long as you use the free polishing cloth that comes with the purchase. 

Meanwhile, the inside of the harmonica is pretty good as well with brass reeds and an ABS plastic comb. Although brass isn’t our top choice of material for reeds, it’s a pretty solid one. But when materials are less than great, the instrument likely won’t last for years and years like some high-end ones would. That became evident when we did some research and saw that the Fender 990701001 tends to get off-key after about 6-8 months of play. The low price of the instrument means that you can replace it easily though.

To sum up, we wouldn’t recommend the Fender harmonica to a skilled musician or someone that needs the instrument for extensive touring. But if you’re just starting out or need a quick replacement harmonica for a few concerts, this is a perfect choice. It’s good enough to last a couple of months and the sound quality is up to par with the more expensive models.

So, you want to play the harmonica but have never tried it and don’t feel like spending a ton on an instrument that you’re unfamiliar with? Well, don’t fret because the Fender harmonica 990701001 is a great choice for you!

This is a pretty classic diatonic model with 10 holes and a standard C major key, which will suit both amateurs and more experienced players. However, since it’s made by Fender, the instrument does stand out with a flashy design. The chromed metal cover is shiny and sleek and will stay that way as long as you use the free polishing cloth that comes with the purchase.

Meanwhile, the inside of the harmonica is pretty good as well, with brass reeds and an ABS plastic comb providing a reliable foundation. Although brass isn’t our top choice of material for reeds, it’s still a solid one. But when the materials are less than great, the instrument likely won’t last for years to come, where a high-end model just might. That became evident when we did some research and saw that the Fender 990701001 tends to go off-key after about 6-8 months of play. Of course, the low price of the instrument means that you can easily replace it.

To sum up, we wouldn’t recommend the Fender harmonica to a skilled musician or someone that needs an instrument for extensive touring. But if you’re just starting out or need a quick replacement harmonica for a few concerts, this is a perfect choice. It’s good enough to last a couple of months and the sound quality is up to par with the more expensive models.