Cover Plates = Bright or Dark

Simple tip for you today. If you prefer a darker sound (highs are muted), choose a harmonica with enclosed cover plates, like that of the Hohner Special 20. If you prefer a brighter sound (highs are not muted), choose a harmonica with open cover plates, like that of the Hohner Marine Band.

A word of caution... A dark harmonica with a tight cup and dark-sounding rig (mic and amplifier) will be too dark = you'll be hard to hear. Make sure to relax your cup and turn the mid and high controls on your amp up one number. Though it will sound a little too bright for you on the stage, it will create just the right amount of clarity and cut needed to be heard in a band setting.

P.S., one of the reasons pros commonly use the Hohner Marine Band is that by playing a brighter harmonica, they match it with a dark/distorted rig and the brightness of the harp creates the cut needed to be heard. Even acoustically, you can always mute the brightness with your hands if you wish.

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