XB bending vs Overblowing

["George Brooks" <gbrooks1@xxxxxxxxx>]

Jazmaan wrote:

>I'm curious how some of you dedicated
>overblowers who may now own an XB-40 feel
>about it? Will you stick with overblowing or
>become converts?

I haven't acquired an XB-40 yet, but I tried a couple out at SPAH.  The
instrument opens up all kinds of possibilities, not only because the
"missing" notes are now playable with ordinary bending techniques, but also
because of the availability of so many enharmonic equivalents (same pitches
gotten in more than one way).  And the opportunities for slides and other
ornaments are greatly increased over what is available on a twenty-reed
diatonic.  As mentioned in my SPAH report, the early indications are
extremely promising.  Rick Epping, the Progenitor, played killer Celtic
music on his XB-40s (including some that were in alternate tunings), and
Richard Sleigh played convincing, compelling blues lines that would not have
been playable on any other harmonica.  I am really looking forward to
hearing what players come up with on the XB-40.

Players other than me.  I have invested a great deal of time learning to
play and integrate the overblows/overdraws, and I have invested significant
other resources in building up a collection of wonderful harmonicas by Joe
Filisko, Richard Sleigh, and Jimmy Gordon.  And the instrument and this
approach to playing it have a very strong hold on me.  I am dying to know
how much farther I can take it.

So I am pretty well decided that I am going to continue to work on
customized Marine Bands as my primary instrument.  And when I have put in my
diatonic practice time on any given day, working on getting better control
over my blow and draw bends and my OB/ODs, the last thing in the world I
want to do is pick up another instrument where I have to work so hard on
issues of pitch.  So, although the XB-40 seems like a natural, I am instead
starting to work a little bit on chromatic (the kind with a button).

That's just me, of course.  I suspect that if the XB-40 had been available
back when I first started to pursue overblows and all that, or even when I
was just a couple of years down that path, my choice might well have been
different.

George