Re: [Harp-L] Custom Harmonicas - Worth It?

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Apr 15, 2008, at 3:05 PM, groovy gypsy wrote:

> i believe the recently gregarious and benevolent maestro Phil Isko  
> is the
> one who has coined the term custom harmonica. his original models were
> available with customized  cover plates, just/equal/compromised  
> tuning,
> blues or jazz set ups, round holes, square holes etc...
>
> ALL OTHER "CUSTOMIZERS" are copy cats to one extent or another
>
> i prefer the term "set up" or "modified"

Yes gypsy (btw, my favorite type music), I prefer 'Race built'
First off the race car nomenclature is used to separate a purpose  
built specific  task car from a regular out of the show room just  
plain 'car'.

When we went to Camp Perry for the shooting tournaments there were 3  
basic categories of shooting.
1... 22 rim fire. You could use any 22
a... Some (me ) would show up with an off the shelf Ruger auto.......  
Value? Approx $95.oo (back then)
b... Custom gun modified from stock........................ Colt  
Woodsman                         $325.oo
c....'Full Race' fit TO the shooters anatomy & style   High Standard  
(based)               $1100.oo

2...Centerfire. You could use any center fire
a...Some (me) would show up with an off the shelf S&W revolver 8 3/8"  
barrel           $300.oo
b...Custom 38 auto modified from stock but shootable by anyone  
S&W                      $1000.oo
c...Full Race fit TO the  
shooter                                                                  
                    $3500.oo or more

3...45 auto
a...Some (me) would show up with a Colt  
Govt.                                                           $350.oo
b...Custom                                                               
                                                      $1100.oo or more
c...Full Race from a specialty  
smith                                                                    
           $3500.oo or more

WAS there a difference. Sure there was. A custom set of clubs can  
bring a 72 golfer down to 63, or an 81 golfer down to 72. BUT, no  
matter what you do, a 94 golfer is NOT going to get down to  
72.......at least not right away. YOU are a 72 golfer, YOU can get  
the use out of a custom set of clubs (so to speak).
> are "set up" harps worth the money? Resoundingly YES. what's better  
> than a
> "set up" harp?  one that is set up by yourself.
>
> like the jedi that constructs his own lightsabre, everybody on this  
> list
> should try to be learn to do it to for themselves.

This is so true. I do my own. But they aren't going to do anything  
for an 81 (or 72) golfer (so to speak). I wasn't debating that custom  
harps aren't the way to go. It's just that there is a point of  
diminishing returns. For some, the cost isn't justifiable.
> are my own harmonicas as good as the recently gregarious and mightily
> benevolent masestro Phil Isko's? nope. do they need to be? for my own
> purposes, not right now.

See, here's the 'not right now' I was talking about

> what do I do when I need a harp that performs to
> level of Maestro Isko's? i use one of his harps.

Exactly. I would use a Phil Isko if I could get one. Probably to use  
it as a benchmark for my other harps.

> there is but a handful of
> players on earth that can truly squeeze out all of the nuances of red
> composite comb Phil Isko harp set up for OBs.

AND, for someone who is not at that level, it's a waste of time.
smo-joe
> thank you.
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