RE: [Harp-L] XB-40

["Eric Neumann" <eneumann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"I can produce on the the XB-40 is much thinner than what I can get out
of a standard diatonic."
To that - I am in utter agreement. Not about "you" but about the
instrument - however, there are applications where a clavenette is
better suited than a piano too. I am, however, asking you to consider
that.

"I'm may not be a serious XB-40 player but I am a serious harmonica
player and well versed enough to have legitimately put the XB-40 through
it's paces." 
I agree again, and I don't doubt it. Do you tongue block though?

"It works great for blues but won't give you that traditional ballsy
bluesy harp sound."
Are you sure about that? I still say that the ballsy blues sound will
come from the player, not necessarily his axe. I won't go to the extreme
if saying "any" harp can sound ballsy though, but I wouldn't count the
XB out again, entirely. Subjectiveness again, ya know...

"It works ok for jazz if its coupled with a 2nd position mentality."
Don't forget coupling Jazz with a I, IV, V mentality then either, and
you have a nice blues sound afterall. haha

"The XB-40 is tough to play and one needs extremely good intonation to
make it sound right.  
I know of very few players that have the intonation skills to do the
XB-40 justice."

I wish I would have just said that, Chris. 
Thanks.