Lee Oskar

Lee Oskar

Also known as: Lee Oskar Harmonicas

Unclaimed

Lee Oskar Harmonicas was founded in 1983 by harmonica player Lee Oskar — a founding member of the funk band War — in partnership with Tombo Manufacturing of Japan, a harmonica maker with roots going back to 1917. The company is based in Everett, Washington, and its instruments are manufactured by Tombo to Lee Oskar's specifications.

The brand is known for its diatonic harmonicas built around a...

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Lee Oskar Harmonicas was founded in 1983 by harmonica player Lee Oskar — a founding member of the funk band War — in partnership with Tombo Manufacturing of Japan, a harmonica maker with roots going back to 1917. The company is based in Everett, Washington, and its instruments are manufactured by Tombo to Lee Oskar's specifications.

The brand is known for its diatonic harmonicas built around a system of interchangeable reed plates, combs, and cover plates, which lets players replace worn parts rather than the whole instrument. The lineup centers on four models in the same body design: the Major Diatonic for blues, rock, country, and folk; the Melody Maker, retuned to favor major-scale melodies and second-position playing; the Natural Minor, voiced for minor blues and rock; and the Harmonic Minor, aimed at klezmer, Eastern European, and other world music styles.

Lee Oskar harmonicas are widely used by blues, rock, and pop harmonica players, and the alternate-tuning models in particular are credited with making non-blues styles more accessible on a standard 10-hole diatonic.

Lee Oskar has 14 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Harmonicas. Their gear is featured by 13 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Folk, World, & Country, and Blues. Notable users include Mick Jagger, Ozzy Osbourne, and Roger Daltrey.

Artists Who Use Lee Oskar

Mick Jagger uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Mick Jagger

Singer · The Rolling Stones

Ozzy Osbourne uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Ozzy Osbourne

Singer · Black Sabbath

Roger Daltrey uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Roger Daltrey

Guitarist, Singer · Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

Simon Le Bon uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Simon Le Bon

Singer · Duran Duran

Jeremie Albino uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Jeremie Albino

Singer, Guitarist

David Hinds uses 1 Lee Oskar product

David Hinds

Singer, Guitarist · Steel Pulse

Ketch Secor uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Ketch Secor

Singer, Guitarist · Old Crow Medicine Show

Junior Wells uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Junior Wells

Singer, Composer · Buddy Guy & Junior Wells

Paul Heaton uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Paul Heaton

Singer · The Beautiful South

Lee Oskar uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Lee Oskar

Singer · War

Joshua James uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Joshua James

Keyboardist, Music Producer

Michael Pickett uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Michael Pickett

Singer, Guitarist

Barbino il Menestrello Apocalittico uses 1 Lee Oskar product

Barbino il Menestrello Apocalittico

Singer, Composer

Gear Guides featuring Lee Oskar

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