Re: Sugar Blue's weapon of choice

[CHRISTOPHER PAUL HARRIS <cpharris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry if my original message wasn't clear.  The harp in question as very 
accurately described by Barry is a number 7 polyphonia.  I have one at 
home and both the box label and bottom coverplate describe it as 
a #7 polyphonia (and it matches the description perfectly).  I called it 
a "bass" poly because it goes down to the D two octaves below middle C 
(I checked last night).

The 263 poly is a bigger beast, covering 3 octaves. It is called a 
"Chromonica" by Hohner on the cover plate and in the price list, but I've 
always heard these harps referred to as polyphonias or polys (just like 
the 270 and 280 are called by Hohner "Super Chromonica" and "64 Chromonica" 
respectively, but most people just say "Super", or "64").

And perhaps they are referred to as "zip-zip"s in the UK (though it sounds 
like a David Michelsen term to me!).

What ever your preferred name, Kim Field's book has a nice paragraph on 
these harps (found under "polyphonias" in the index, p.48)


 -- christopher


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 28 Nov 1994 16:22:21 -0800 (PST)
From: CHRISTOPHER PAUL HARRIS <cpharris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: <cpharris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Sugar Blue's weapon of choice



On Fri, 25 Nov 1994, Barry Schaede wrote:

> Recently the question was asked as to what the heck was in Sugar Blue's 
> hand on the most recent album cover.  I for one am very curious.  It has 
> 25 holes.  Yes 25.  It's huge.  It has note names starting with D on the 
> left and they keep going up.  The front notes are the unflatted or 
> sharped notes and the back has the sharps and flats.  The back note names 
> are in raised square shaped boxes that are stamped into the cover plate.  
> The covers appear to be held on by 2 screws per end.  If this question 
> was already answered and I missed it my apologies.  FJM
> 

It's a number 7 bass polyphonia.  It goes down to the D two octaves below 
middle C, I believe (I have one at home but didn't bring it along with 
me to 
school).  No longer made by Hohner, I bought mine about 10 years ago when 
Hohner sent a sale list to all the harmonica clubs.  Cost me 
a mere $35.  A great harp even if I don't find much use for it.  
Polys are a dying breed of harmonica as there aren't many harmonica bands 
around and Hohner only makes one now (the 263, or is it 267, or ?).  
All polyphonias are chromatics (with out the lever) and were most 
commonly used for the trombone parts or glissandos in harp bands.  The #7 
is all 
blow, and has a great looow end.  It's not a harp to just pick up and jam 
along but it's fun to fool with.
The #263 is blow/draw and often used to play "Flight of the Bumble Bee".    

Ok, probably more than you wanted to know...

BTW, what Sugar Blue album are we talking about?  (Is it vinyl???)  Does he actually play the poly on the disc?  (I have one of his 
LPs where he plays a bass harp.  "Crossroads" I think.)  There's a great 
George Smith album (and cover) where he's pictured with a poly as well.  
Doesn't actually play it but it sure looks cool...

Sorry if this was already answered.  I didn't see a reply.

 -- christopher