RE: Megaphone? Freeway Break-In? Plastic Carrybox?

[Jack Ely <IMS_ELY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Subject: Megaphone? Freeway Break-In? Plastic Carrybox?

BEERE_MARK@xxxxxxxxxx writes...

>Hi-  speaking of non-sequiturs, I posit the following:

>1) Have any of you had any experiences playing through a megaphone?  I'm not
>sure why anybody would want to, mind you, other than to be silly.  But if you
>could figure out a way to attach it there might be some value.  Not that I 
>ever intend to be a showman.  It's just a thought.

I have not. Rudy Valley used to sing through one. Might be a cute gimmick for 
some specialty number - or kids show. That reminds me - There is a toy plastic 
microphone, with a reverb spring in it. It's big, hoakey looking as he~l, but 
the stupid thing works! Again may be something cutesy but not for a whole gig. 
They cost about a buck at Odd Lots, Big Lots, Toy stores. (Try it before you by 
it - some may be defective).

>2) Also Mike Curtis suggested the following WRT breaking in:
>way to break them in is to drive on the freeway at 40 or more.  Roll down the
>window and let the wind "play" the harp for about 5 or 10 minutes a side.
>I bet this is excellent.  Even better would be to strap the harp to a luggage
>rack so you don't have to bother with it.

Geez, I hope the May Flies aren't swarming when you do this.  :-)

~or~ I can see it now - explaining to smokey what happened when you rear ended 
that UPS truck.

>3) Finally, have any of you hand-made a good carrying case using dense gray
>foam rubber packing material and say, a plastic fishing tackle box or tool 
>box?       Any pointers, tips?  Where did you get the foam?

I have not, but one of our club members makes all kinds of wood cases. He has a 
neat trick which I never would have thought of. He builds a solid cube, or 
whatever size, shape he wants. And then cuts all around it - forming a 
perfectly fitted lid. Then just attaches hardware, finish etc.

Be careful to get a foam that does not dry out and/or crumble. I don't know 
where to get it. Maybe a hobby/crafts shop or a gun shop. I would think the 
foam they use would be safe. I have 2 or 3 gun cases (single pistol size) which 
I bought on sale from Service Merchandise for $3.99. I have kept harmonicas in 
2 of them and a SM58 and Shure 330 ribbon mic. in the other for several years.

On the other hand - I bought a metal box at a North American Aviation salvage 
sale (Oops that's Rockwell - I keep showing my age). It was perfect for my 
Huang Bass. The dense foam was pre-cut in cubes - so it was easy to make the 
bass fit. This case was SO neat! Moisture proof, rubber seal around the lid, 
carry strap, six latches so the whole top came off. (Man, I thought this was 
the greatest thing since sliced bread). Well, I didn't play the bass for a 
while (actually it was my son's and when he reached 15 he decided he wasn't 
going to blow harmonica anymore - sigh, that's another story). The point is - I 
got the bass out and the foam had crumbled - and worse yet, stuck to every 
thing it touched. It took me a week to clean it out of the bass.

       Jack Ely - Columbus, Ohio  --Internet--> IMS_ELY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx