Re: [Harp-L] More XB-40 (the case will never be closed :-)

[Zombor Kovacs <zrkovacs@xxxxxxxxx>]

Meanwhile I got a little familiar with my XB40. 
I have adjusted reed gaps and sealed the comb
COMPLETELY. It is 100% sealed everywhere. Luckily I do
not have to send it back to Hohner. Now I can tell
you, it is significantly more responsive than an
ordinary harp out of the box. So much more, that now
that I have been messing around with the XB40 with
this modification, i had to readjust my normal harps
as well (I sealed some of them completely as well). So
now it works almost as it should work out of the  box.
It is right, that the XB40 is different and the
control has to be adjusted to this new construction.
Different amounts of bending are needed to get the
same notes. However it is still a bit "slippery". Sure
it takes time to learn, but I could imagine a harp
with the same bending abilities with more control and
with a  sound of a diatonic.

Z


--- Colin Fulton <justcolin@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I don't get all this mess with the XB-40. Sure it
> can't do all that a
> diatonic can, neither can a chromatic. It is just a
> different animal.
> The a lot (not all) of the people who have trouble
> with the blow bends
> are people who haven't learned to do them, or don't
> use them much
> since for most pieces of music it is never needed.
> Also seeing as you
> never do draw bends on high notes on a diatonic, you
> will have to
> learn how to do it. It is harder to play and takes a
> lot of attention
> to control some parts, but hey, when you all were
> first learning to
> play a diatonic harp you had trouble controlling it
> and it took a
> while to learn everything so take some time with the
> XB-40. It is NOT
> a normal diatonic so don't treat it like one. Since
> it is new
> technology, much like when the chromatic first came
> out I remind you,
> that has yet to find it's niche, so screw around
> with it, try it on
> different songs. I'm sure the ridiculous amount of
> bending it allows
> for you can do some neat creative stuff with it.
> 
> 
> > On 12/8/05, Fernando Bresslau <ferbress@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> > > Some time ago Zombor wrote about his experience
> with an XB-40 in C. I told
> > > him that I would talk to Rick Epping about that.
> > >
> > > Well, I did. Basically, he reinforces what I
> have stated previously. In his
> > > statement which he made public some year ago, he
> goes into full detail, and
> > > a link is appropriate in this case:
> > >
>
http://www.planetharmonica.com/ph5/VE/XB_40HighNotesUK.htm
> (thanks Planet
> > > Harmonica).
> > >
> > > The XB-40 reaches the physical borders of
> accoustics, and, as you get near
> > > these borders, it gets more and more difficult
> to control the instrument.
> > > This is something you can observe in other
> instruments, where some notes in
> > > the higher or lower ranges are almost impossible
> to get.
> > > Nevertheless, the possibility is there, and thus
> it makes sense to market
> > > XB-40s in difficult keys (C, C#, Low D). All
> notes on the XB-40 in C are
> > > obtainable. The notes on the highest two holes
> are difficult to get at
> > > first, and the bends are very difficult. Getting
> the higher notes is not so
> > > difficult, once the issue is understood and
> proper technique is applied
> > > (please refer to Rick's text for details).
> Getting the bends is definetely
> > > more difficult. Rick admits that he needed about
> two years of practice to
> > > achieve the skills necessary for this. It is
> important to remember that the
> > > XB-40 is a different instrument and therefore
> needs different technique.
> > > Although a lot of the diatonic technique can be
> incorporated, it is an
> > > instrument which requires extra training in some
> situations.
> > >
> > > Maybe it would make more sense to sell the XB-40
> in C major with only 8
> > > holes, since the two top holes need special
> attention to be played properly.
> > > But then, we don't have a 8 hole body, nor would
> it make sense to rob
> > > advanced players the extra range. So we make the
> XB in C in 10 hole version.
> > > Notwithstanding the fact that the two top holes
> are difficult, the normal
> > > range of the harmonica is very useful, and not
> making a XB in C because of
> > > the 2 holes would not make sense either.
> > >
> > > So, Zambor, yes, there is a greater level of
> difficulty in using the full
> > > range of high (or very low) keyed XBs. As there
> is a greater difficulty to
> > > bend the first 2 holes of a low D harmonica. But
> with proper technique it IS
> > > possible and practical. I'm afraid there aren't
> many shortcuts.
> > >
> > > Regarding the improvement suggestions (reed
> gapping, sealing, etc.), all
> > > harmonicas produced by any manufacturer can have
> their performance improved
> > > with carefull adjustment and customization. But
> this involves costs, and a
> > > quality level has to be set by the factory so
> that a reasonable price can be
> > > obtained. We could produce 5 times tuned slot
> embossed XBs. The possibility
> > > is there. But nobody here would be willing to
> pay the price of such a
> > > product. So a manufacturer has to use a
> compromise, and we at Hohner make
> > > everything possible so that this compromise is
> set at a very high quality
> > > level, which will be acceptable by the majority
> of the players. For extra
> > > wishes, there are thankfully several customizers
> out there offering a high
> > > value service.
> > >
> > > I want to thank Zambor for sharing his
> impressions and the results of his
> > > efforts in improving technique and the
> instrument, since it gave me the
> > > opportunity to analize our product better and to
> talk to Rick about it.
> > >
> > > I am travelling to Brazil this weekend, for a
> month of vacation. So I guess
> > > that I will not read the lists as frequently,
> and if I leave any questions
> > > unanswered, you know why. I wish you all happy
> holidays.
> > >
> > > All the best,
> > > Fernando, from snowy Trossingen.
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> > > Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> > >
> >
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> 


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