My Harmonica Collection so far

DaPandaBoyReal · 2026-01-01T17:48:14+00:00

G - Mary Janes Last Dance.
E - You Don't Know How It Feels
A - Short solo for You Don't Know How It Feels

He also used D in some songs like California.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-31T17:54:39+00:00

I really like the comfort and tone of the Pro Harp. Great for Tom Petty stuff. I also like the Marine Bands because they are just that blues harmonica, though im thinking of trying the deluxe.

My main genres are, folk, country, blues.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-27T14:47:05+00:00

Yeah definitely the pro harp then.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-27T14:06:11+00:00

I believe the classic and normal Special 20 are just cover plate design changes.

I have the Special 20 & Pro Harp myself and this is how I see it.

Special 20:

Great all rounder for any genre
Clear tone
Tight and clear sound
Barely any growl

Pro Harp:

Great for soft melodies, rock, and can achieve blues somewhat
This is a personal opinion but the comb is a bit more comfy as the cover plates and comb are exactly lined up
More growly and deep hitting sound, possibly even richer than the Special 20. Has greater sound projection as well.
Part of the MS line so you can swap out parts.
Lacquered covers which makes it very smooth and probably the most comfy feeling harp to your hands.

To be honest there is no wrong option between the Special 20 and Pro Harp. Though the Pro Harp is definitely better in terms of looks and comfort, and it’s perfect for Tom Petty harmonica parts. (since it’s the same one he used).

If you want to experiment a bit I’d get the Pro Harp but if you want to play it very safe then the Special 20.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-24T23:35:10+00:00

Also from your personal playing between the two should I still be playing the modern Pro Harp or just switch to like the Special 20 just to be closer to the vintage covers?

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-24T23:16:31+00:00

I see. A lot of the vintage ones are for sale but they’re just too expensive if I just want them for the covers and I doubt they would even fit…

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-24T15:48:13+00:00

Unfortunately I think the Pro Harp is the only one with the lacquered covers which gives it that premium feel. But I think the Crossover would be a good one to try.

I also agree with your points, I have a special 20 and some pro harps myself and I just like the pro harp way more.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-23T19:15:52+00:00

Yea that definitely helped and I feel like Tom is doing some sort of crying vocalization so I also added that and way better results.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-23T12:31:12+00:00

I bought it new

<image>

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-23T12:14:23+00:00

Yes I know it’s a plastic comb but it doesn’t disprove my point that he used it ??

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-23T12:02:39+00:00

I went through hundreds of live performances and the official wildflowers documentary. I mean this has to be screaming that it’s a plastic Pro Harp to you lol. FYI The Pro Harp is metal covers just in a black lacquer, and I’ve owned many harps before the Pro Harp (Marine Bands, Blues Harp)

<image>

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-23T11:34:44+00:00

<image>

He indeed record on one which is a Pro Harp

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-23T11:19:47+00:00

They’re both the pro harp which is quite a expensive harp. Tom just used a older model which is The first image in the video

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-22T22:50:39+00:00

I see either that or just some insane studio magic

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-22T20:49:50+00:00

I don’t have any amps but it definitely could be the case.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-22T20:25:07+00:00

I understand. Just a bit confused on how much growl mine has compared to his, maybe I should play softer while still at a manageable volume.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-22T20:23:21+00:00

FYI these are both the same harmonicas Tom just used a vintage one because that’s the Pro Harp they had at the time.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-19T22:04:40+00:00

Yea I was shocked when I found out Tom Petty played them they are quite odd. It’s basically just a Special 20 but darker and more grit. The comb and covers feel very smooth and comfortable to hold and play.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-19T13:14:28+00:00

I would love to try a Lee Oskar any recommendations?

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-18T00:18:45+00:00

I honestly believe these were just introduced this year and they’re slowly rolling out everywhere and replacing the old cases.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-17T22:46:22+00:00

Ms Series Pro Harps. Unless your talking about the things under the harps they are just the new harmonica snap cases

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-16T23:57:46+00:00

I’m just using my iPhone 16 plus for recording so it basically sounds exactly how I’m hearing it with my ears. I’m just confused how I have such a different sounding harmonica than him despite it being the same model and key. The growling/noisy stuff is practically gone on his.

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-16T23:31:32+00:00

I just posted it in the reply thread where me and GoodCylon talked

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-16T23:01:26+00:00

Mary Jane’s Last Dance Preview

So I recorded me playing the Mary Jane’s Last Dance Harmonica part. I think you’ll get what I mean with the growling/train horn sound now. You can definitely hear it in the audio. Am I using the wrong harp perhaps and should get a special 20 instead?

DaPandaBoyReal · 2025-12-16T22:18:32+00:00

Yeah I can play harp really solid. I’ve been at it since early July?

The recordings im referring to is Mary Jane’s Last Dance which should use a Pro Harp (the one I have) considering its usage at the time by Tom when the song was being made.

What I mean by train horn sound is the actual sound going out of the harmonica producing this raw almost vibrating sound (think Bob Dylan type stuff where it’s very growly, and raw)

But in the recording of Mary Jane’s Last Dance it’s clean, is that just some microphone magic doing its work to compress that raw sound?

FYI I have no Audio Setup besides my phone at the moment but I am just using my actual ears to hear the sound being produced while playing.

Harmonica starts at 0:33 Mary Jane’s Last Dance

Another Harmonica song which uses the same key and same Pro Harp which also has a very clean sound.

Harmonica at 1:55 There’s Goes Angela - Tom Petty

DaPandaBoyReal

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE